Before the annual spring meeting of the Canora Minor Hockey Association, the players, coaches, managers and other staff were recognized.

            Kelly Beblow, the association’s president, introduced the staff of each team, which was followed by coaching staff discussing the year. The staff of each team was given the opportunity to pick three players for special awards: most-dedicated, most-improved, and most-sportsmanlike medals. The association presented “thank-you” certificates to the coaches and other staff members and each player received a player certificate.

IP players

IP (Initiation Program) players receiving awards were: Jack Currah, most-dedicated; Carson Heshka, most-sportsmanlike; and Walker Wolkowski, most-improved.

            Coach Jeff Sznerch was assisted by Kylee Toffan and Trent Wolkowski.

            In his summary, Sznerch said the IP team had a good season fulfilling the mandate of learning basic hockey skills.

            “The kids developed well and we (the coaches) are very proud of every one of them.”

Novice Black

Novice Black players receiving awards were: Tyson Sleeva, most-dedicated; Kale Strelioff, most-sportsmanlike; and Jessee Kopelchuk, most-improved.

            Jeff Sznerch is the coach and he is assisted by Trent Wolkowski. Cindy Sznerch is the manager and Jennifer Sleeva is the assistant manager.

            Speaking on behalf of the Novice Black staff, Sznerch said this team had many successes during the season. Building confidence was a key factor achieved when the Novice Black Cobras tied a game against one of the strongest teams in the Major Hockey League. From that point, the Cobras “finished the season really strong.”

Novice Red

Novice Red players receiving awards were: Connor Kraynick, most-sportsmanlike; Elaina Roebuck, most-improved; and Natalia Kelly, most-improved.

Head coach Kent Hembling was assisted by Kelly Beblow and Jarod Butler. Michelle Hembling was the manager.

Kent Hembling said his Cobras didn’t win as often as they would have liked. However, the players showed marked improvement through the season and they had fun.

He thanked the other members of the staff and the parents for making it an enjoyable season.

Atoms

The atom players receiving awards were: Logan Wolkowski, most-dedicated; Carson Ebert, most-sportsmanlike; and Hunter Secundiak, most-improved.

Bryan Heshka was the head coach, assisted by Kevin Ebert and Dwayne Wolkowski. Kurtis Shukin was the trainer and Genevieve Shukin was the manager.

Ebert said the staff faced an interesting dilemma with 18 players registered. There was too many for one team and not enough for two. It was tough to give everyone a fair amount of playing time.

It created a situation that enabled the teaching of a valuable life lesson – play together as a team and more successes can be enjoyed, he said.

Peewees

It was decided by the coaches of the Peewee Cobras team that it would be unfair to select individual players for the most-dedicated, most-sportsmanlike and most-improved player awards. All 10 peewee players deserve a share in each award, said Coach Kent Hembling.

            Hembling shared coaching duties with Vern Schick and Shawn Sleeva. Jennifer Sleeva was the manager.

            During the regular season the team had a record of 11 wins, three losses and four ties, but were even more successful in the playoffs, finally being knocked out just two games short of the championship, said Hembling. The staff is very proud of how these players acted on the ice and off.

            Shawn Sleeva added that there were only 10 peewee-aged players, so the team owes a lot of gratitude to the atoms who came out to offer a helping hand. On behalf of the team, he publicly thanked Coach Hembling for his leadership: “He knows his hockey and he knows how to coach.”

Annual spring general meeting

            For the annual meeting portion of the program, the hockey players were given the opportunity to watch a movie at the back of the hall, while the parents conducted business at the front.

            Kelly Beblow, the association president, chaired the meeting. After going over the routine business, Beblow opened discussions on some of the more pressing issues facing the association.

            Overall, it was a successful year and the association has a healthy bank account, he said.

            The association needs more parents to step up and volunteer to share the workload, Beblow said. More coaches and team staff are always needed.

            Having too few referees and other officials is a problem locally, but it is also a problem across the league, he said. Referees are getting younger and there is a problem with referees facing the challenge of maintaining order, especially when unruly parents are the problem.

            As the leaders of the local minor hockey program “we need to help them out,” Beblow said. One suggestion is to assist more referees to attend more seminars to learn how to handle these challenges.

Need executive members

            A quick canvass of the executive revealed that most members do not intend to return to their positions in the fall. He said. While Beblow is willing to let his name stand, most of the others on the executive will be stepping down.

            Parents were asked to consider serving on the association’s executive next season but they have until the fall meeting to make a commitment. The new terms begin with the fall meeting.

            Speaking on behalf of the executive, Curtis Wilgosh said not only is training officials a problem across the league, so is the constitution. Many aspects of the constitution are out of date. Dedicated volunteers are taking up the challenge of proposing amendments. They would welcome input from parents.

            One of the major changes proposed deals with how referees and other officials will be paid, Wilgosh said.

            Parents and the community need to understand that Canora has some wonderful facilities available as very reasonable rental rates, he said. The sport needs to be constantly promoted so that youngsters from the area can benefit from what is available.

To make sure that Canora maintains a strong minor hockey program, it makes sense to start the season earlier, Wilgosh said. Many communities have their minor hockey programs actively recruiting by the end of August.

It’s up to the parents already in the minor hockey system to keep promoting the sport, he said. They need to build on the interest that is already there and it takes years for a cycle to complete. First there is more interest at the IP and other lower levels and as the interest grows, Canora will be able to once again ice older teams such as bantams and midgets – which in turn builds community interest and excitement.

This is a hockey community and we can give them what they want,” Wilgosh said.