Communities in, around Strathmore reflect on minor hockey

Times Reporter

 

Minor Hockey Week is taking place all over Alberta from January 16 to 22. The week is a way to recognize the sport for its positive influence and benefits to the community.

 

Strathmore Minor Hockey 

For the past three to four years, the number of registrations have been consistent, right up around the 400 mark, said Kevin Tarvyd, president for Strathmore Minor Hockey (SMH).  

“Our biggest challenge is basically available ice time,” said Tarvyd.  

He said some of the older groups are shuffled to other communities, like Hussar & Standard, for their practices, due to the lack of available ice time. 

“Although it’s close for us, the ideal situation would be to have more ice available locally.” 

He said another rink would definitely be an asset or even a practice facility like some other communities have. For example, Black Diamond created an outdoor rink, with a bubble cover. 

“Something in the future has to be done because what will happen is we’ll just be capped because of ice time and not capped because of enrollment,” said Tarvyd. 

Strathmore Minor Hockey’s mandate is that every kid gets to play. It always comes down to the fundamentals. Is the child having fun playing the game? Are they learning to skate? Are they learning to interact with their friends? said Tarvyd.  

SMH would like to see the numbers continue to grow, but without a third rink, it may not be feasible. Another rink would not only help minor hockey, but would also help the ringette teams and other people and groups in the community that use the ice. 

Tarvyd said it is great to see the number of kids that come out and continue on through the levels. Friendship and memories are the first two things that come to his mind when he thinks of the things the kids will take with them as they grow. 

“Some of the kids don’t even remember five minutes after the game what the final score was. They sure remember who was talking in the locker room or who said this, or whose buddies house they’re going to. That’s the biggest thing to take away from any team sport is the friendships they have built,” said Tarvyd. 

 

Hussar Minor Hockey 

In Hussar, it’s a completely different story in regards to registration and ice time. President CoreyAnn Sandum said one of the challenges they face is the draw to the bigger centres. 

“Just the numbers, hockey interest seems to be decreasing. It used to be every single boy played hockey, not so much any more. So we face some number challenges,” said Sandum. 

She said one of the highlights about being in Hussar and playing hockey is the ice is almost always available 

“If we want an extra practice or we want an extra game, our ice is there for our kids to use,” said Sandum.

She said it is a wonderful facility they are proud of, and they enjoy sharing it with the surrounding communities.   

“It’s definitely a central point of social life during the winter months,” said Sandum, who is there three nights a week with her family. 

Volunteers also play a big role in keeping things running, and running smoothly. This year there is a tyke team and an atom team playing out of Hussar. 

“We didn’t have quite enough for a novice team this year, and neither did Bassano, so we split the teams between Hussar and Bassano,” said Sandum.

Next year they are hoping to have tykes, novice, atom and possibly a peewee team if they can draw in the numbers. Each team practices one day a week and power skating is available two nights a week. As far as Sandum knows, there are no new coaches this year and said the coaches seem to cycle through. 

“I think hockey teaches teamwork most importantly. It teaches respect for sports and respect for others. I think the kids, especially the older they get, I think they realize being a coach is a volunteer position and I think they appreciate the coaches just for that matter.”

 

Rockyford Minor Hockey 

In Rockyford, the registration numbers are something minor hockey president Ryan Seeley, is always trying to monitor. He said, like most hockey programs, one of the biggest challenges is keeping the numbers up and keeping teams, while keeping kids interested in the game. 

Seeley also said fundraising is huge part for them. 

“We have low dues and we’re trying to keep it that way. We do it by subsidizing,” said Seeley. 

He said the low fees is just one of their attractions. There is also a power skating program every Monday and a goalie clinic every Tuesday, each lasting an hour and fifteen minutes. 

“This year has turned out absolutely phenomenal for the talent that we have that are teaching and the turnout of the kids. They all seem to really enjoy it and get quite a bit out of it,” said Seeley.   

Seeley has been president for two years. Before that, he was vice president for a year, and before that, he was a governor. He said he has helped coach the kids every year until this year, but he is still helping teach the goalie school. There are a few new/returning coaches who have coached in the past, have taken a few years off, and are now back again. Seeley also said the bantam team has outside coaches, meaning the coaches don’t have kids on the team. Because they are down one ringette and one hockey team this year, there is a lot of ice time available for the teams.  

“Tournaments are bigger and better this year with the added ice time,” said Seeley. 

Both the peewee and midget teams are currently getting ready for provincials and taking advantage of some of the extra ice time available. Seeley said for him, the biggest highlight is getting to watch the kids grow and advance their skills every year. 

 

Wheatland AA 

While they may be a different part of minor hockey, Wheatland AA works with the other levels when they can. For the AA there is an increased cost, which is something inevitable for their program, said president Sandy Henry.

“Cost is definitely a concern. That is something we wrestle with from year to year to keep the increases as small as we can,” said Henry. 

“Every year our tryout process is a highlight for us and it’s always exciting to see how good of a job you’ve done in the community.”

At the end of March – beginning of April is their three-on-three tournament, which Henry said is always exciting. 

 This is the first year they have entered all three AA teams in provincials.  

Henry said it has caused a few more struggles, with trying to fit in extra games and practices. He said they have a good chance for one, if not all three teams, to get out and play in the provincials and have a chance to play some teams they may not normally get a chance to play. 

Henry said the bantam and midget teams are in first and second place respectively. 

“The work for us is getting our teams on the ice in the fall. That’s probably the biggest time of work for us. Through the year it’s mostly monitoring and trying to look after some of the smaller details. All of our teams have individual managers that do the bulk of the work inside the teams. But if we have little hiccups and bumps and stuff concerning all the teams then we deal with it at a board level,” said Henry.