SMHA’s focus is to enhance player development

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Strathmore Minor Hockey Association (SMHA) president Blair Wilson wants more of a developmental approach through every level for the 2014-2015 season.
“SMHA has always been about making sure getting as many people (to) play, they have fun doing it and develop through the season, that is our key philosophy,” said Wilson.
“It’s always nice to put up banners on the ceiling in the arena but it’s not our end (goal).”
Wilson and the rest of the association revamped some of the age-groups starting with the Timbit teams.
“We’ve revamped the entire Timbit program, it’s a new model that’s being promoted by Hockey Canada. It’s actually a USA hockey model, the southeastern states have developed a new model based on smaller groups, more puck touches, and the theory behind is more a developing player touches the puck and steps on the ice in any scenario the better they get,” said Wilson.
“So what we’ve done is we’ve taken what is normally four Timbit teams, and we have huge numbers this year, and made six teams which are small and purchased big red bumpers.”
The idea behind the bumpers for this season is to separate the players into comparative skill levels at different stations.
“Basically what we can do is separate the ice into sections and then you can have stations and develop players of like skill at the same time throughout the practices. What we do is split the teams up and let’s say there is 10 third year top skaters, we’ll split those among all the teams so each team has the same skill level throughout,” said Wilson.
The association really wants to get as many coaches certified and onto the ice quickly as possible so they are able develop by teaching the players the game.
“We’re trying to develop coaches at that same group level and get as many coaches on the ice, put them through the Hockey Alberta coaching basics and get them certified right away,” said Wilson.
“They’re learning with us and it seems to be working really well, we’ve had great comments from that.”
Concussions have been an issue in hockey for a few years, and a topic of discussion in any league, and SMHA is following the protocols that Hockey Canada has implemented.
“For concussion awareness we’re making sure that midget-age kids who can drive to games aren’t driving because you never know when you have been concussed. We instituted some rules over that the last couple of years,” said Wilson.
SMHA is also looking at bringing in specialized goalie clinics this year to help the goalies get stronger and quicker.
“We’re trying to get goalie-specific development clinics, we’re just working on ice to do it because as coaches it’s hard to coach goalies if you don’t know it,” said Wilson.
Wilson also wants to a build a strong relationship with the local elite teams in the Bison and the Wheatland Kings.
“We’re working with coach Dan and Wayne to get the Bisons with the minor hockey teams during practice. The kids look up the Bisons, so it’s great even to have them to put out pylons. I want to make it a little bit better where we utilize those boys’ skills,” said Wilson.
“Mike Langen and I are working on the same thing with the Kings and I think we’re going to do that with the midget level.”
The whole goal for him is for minor hockey to be a fun, safe environment and for players to develop their hockey career.