SMHA has productive year

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

It was another great year for Strathmore Minor Hockey Association (SMHA) in terms of seeing growth from their new player and coaching programs, while taking four league titles.
SMHA vice president Ron West said the goals that were set from the beginning of the year were successfully met and hopes they will continue to grow in future seasons.
He highlighted the inaugural Intro to Hockey which brought young players out to understand the game in a fun type of dimension.
“It’s exciting because they come out at a level now where nobody is scared to come out and try and play hockey because they’re learning at a younger level and increasing their skating ability and also understanding the game,” said West. “They all want to put on the equipment and they all want to chase the puck. This kind of helps them because they’re going to do snow angels for a little bit here and there. And by Christmas time they’re all skating around, moving the puck and it’s pretty cool to see.”
SMHA also took advantage of Coach’s Edge, a coaching development program, headed by experienced coaches Dan MacDonald and Doug Raycroft, which according to West helped a lot of the younger coaches understand the drills they’re running by having mentors there to bounce questions off of.
“It makes you want to go,” said West. “They enjoyed it and that was the crucial part to it. You’re excited to learn from these great minds and actually understand the game to that level. You’re not scared to ask a stupid question because there isn’t one.”
The Wheatland Kings also made appearances at team practices throughout the season where players would look up to them as idols and show their support for one another.
West hopes to have the local contingent on the roster to come back and coach one day if they are done in hockey.
He mentioned that to see players grow from the younger levels and up in the next five years bodes well for the association to become stronger.