Hockey rules in Vegreville

Hockey rules in Vegreville

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

Go Wranglers Go!

The boisterous chanting echoed from the home team’s bench, and got all of the initiation hockey players fired up during the opening game of their day long tournament on Saturday, Feb. 1.

Resounding cheering and clapping could also be heard from the bleachers across the ice by family members who came from near and far to see the players, who range from four to six years, give it their all.

Vegreville fielded two of the eight teams. Altogether there were 125 players circling on and off the ice throughout the day. Tournament Organizer Kaylee Pipke said there are a lot of players on each of the rosters, and having three games in one day gave all of them many chances to play, and allow them to continue improving their skills on the ice.

For the legion of fans, the action was thoroughly entertaining; and for the kids, it was good old fashioned fun. “The kids just want to skate and have fun.” Pipke said the players skills are “quickly progressing” and she is extremely impressed by that since several of the players have never skated before. “The first years’ are doing really well,” said Pipke. The second and third year players make up the other team, and demonstrated more advanced skating, shooting, passing skills. But the most important thing was to have fun. Prizes, raffles, medals made things even more fun for the youngsters.

The Vegreville Wranglers Team 2 faced off against the Tofield Titans Team 1 during the opening game of the tournament.

The coaches offered encouragement, advice and hugs for the players. “It takes a special person to coach these guys,” said hockey mom Jill Morrow. In fact her son Blake had been counting down the number of sleeps before the tournament began. “They’re having fun.” The kids get to hang out with their friends and enjoy all of the fun things that go along with it, added Jill.

Great Grandma Evelyn Wolinski, with her son Gregg and his wife Lori, and Great Auntie Christine Harding and her husband, were cheering on five-year-old Nash, son of Sean and Laurel LaFrance.

Grandpa Gregg could see a big improvement in the players skating since the beginning of the season. He said the tournament was a really nice thing for the players. “The kids are giving it their all.” When Nash comes over to visit, there’s hockey in the basement, with Nash firing shots away at Grandma Lori. “I call it Baba’s Bootcamp,” says Lori, who makes sure to incorporate some dryland training in between games. Lori, a competitive runner, beamed with pride when she talked about Nash running in a five kilometre race with her this past summer.

Nash’s Dad Sean built him a rink in the backyard, and they all love watching Nash play. “He enjoys the game. He always says he wants to be a goalie,” added Gregg, with his parents “trying to talk him out of it” as goalie equipment is much more expensive than regular hockey equipment. Interestingly enough though, Gregg said his parents have already purchased goalie equipment for Nash.

Auntie Christine’s two sons Cameron and Craig both played hockey, and went through all levels in the minor hockey system. She said it was a great experience, and taught the boys discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship and dedication which continue to serve them well in their adult lives. Hockey was also a great way to meet new people, and get to know the community, when they left home.

“I used to figure skate, and I played a bit of hockey,” said Christine. She encourages all hockey parents to strap on the skates to really experience what it’s like for the kids. Lori added that, “It’s important to keep the fun in the sport.”

But no matter who’s playing, the entire family are behind each other 100 per cent. “It’s so exciting and special for them.”