Volunteer Spotlight - Tosha Sim & Pete and Crystal Swales

RED DEER - To celebrate National Volunteer Week, Hockey Alberta is shining the spotlight on a handful of volunteers who make a huge impact on the sport in Alberta.

More volunteer profiles can be found on Hockey Alberta’s Volunteer Appreciation page.

Tosha Sim

Tosha is the trainer for the Red Deer Junior B Vipers, a position she’s held since 2016, having previously been the volunteer coordinator for the team. She has been a volunteer coach for the Red Deer City Soccer Association since she was 16 years old.

"I volunteer because so many people have volunteered for me," said Tosha. "Growing up playing competitive soccer and being actively involved in my school community has taught me the importance of giving time to people and causes."

Tosha’s most memorable moments are the pair of Heritage Junior Hockey League North Division and League titles the Vipers brought home in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.

"It was an amazing opportunity to be part of the team and watch them work their way to the top," she said. "Also, I volunteer with my husband (Brady Sim). He has been with the team for 7-8 years. He does the play-by-play and announcing. It is really special to volunteer together, he is a superstar."

Tosha is currently an Elementary Education student, going in to her fourth year through the University of Alberta and Red Deer College.

Pete & Crystal Swales

Pete and Crystal Swales are both longtime volunteers in Central Alberta, and currently volunteer with the Red Deer Senior AA Rustlers. Pete has been the team’s trainer since its inception a little over two years ago, with Crystal helping out in various roles during games and practices.

Both Pete and Crystal volunteer together in many roles outside of sport as well, including (what was then known as) the Suicide Prevention Line when they met 35 years ago.

As a registered RMT since 1995, Pete has worked with athletes in various roles, and began volunteering as a team trainer 15 years ago, spending five years with the Midget AAA team in Red Deer, before moving on to more volunteer roles outside of hockey, before returning to hockey in 2018 with the Senior Rustlers. In his sixth year with the Natural Health Practitioners of Canada, Pete is President of the Board of Directors.

"I was once asked why I volunteer... the simple answer is free pizza on the bus after a long trip to somewhere rural Alberta," said Pete. "The real reason is so much deeper, a sense of community and supporting others. At this point though, Crystal and I know now that if we need help or support the team is here for us. How do you put a price on that? Both my beautiful bride and I been so fortunate to have volunteered or served with so many groups and organizations, being asked to list them brings back many memories."

One of Pete’s favourite memories goes back to when he was first asked to join the Bantam AAA team for Westerns in B.C.

"It was a hectic week, neck injuries to band-aids on sore toes. What I didn’t realize then is for the most part the players of those days are part of our lives today," he said. "When Mikayla, our eldest granddaughter came to her first game, she leaned over the bench only to say ’oh Grandpa, those boys smell!’.

Outside of hockey, Crystal has volunteered with RCMP Victim Services, Suicide Prevent Crisis Line, helping organize Red Deer Firefighters retirement parties, and most recently was the Chairperson of the Central Albert Quilt Guild’s Quilt Show.

"I volunteer to give back and I feel that is so important," said Crystal. "Volunteers are the backbone of so many communities and organizations, which is very rewarding"

Crystal’s favourite moments came from volunteering with Red Deer’s Midget AAA team, travelling to Kenora in 2004 to the Telus Cup and bringing home bronze, and then again when Red Deer hosted in 2007 and won sivler.

Pete is the owner of a theraputic clinic in Red Deer, which is currently closed for safety reasons during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After a 30-year career as an emergency 9-1-1 dispatcher with Red Deer Emergency Services, Crystal retired and now is a part of the front-line staff at the Red Deer Hospital, and as an essential employee continues to work and serve her community.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is pleased to join organizations across Alberta and Canada in celebrating National Volunteer Week, which runs April 19-25.

Hockey in Alberta relies on thousands of volunteers who freely give tens of thousands of hours of their time each year. Those volunteer roles include, but certainly aren’t limited to, serving as:

• Executive members, directors, coaches, trainers, managers and many other positions within our Minor Hockey Associations, leagues and club teams, ensuring that the more than 3000 teams in the province can play, practice, and travel throughout the season;
• Chairs, members or delegates on Hockey Alberta’s operational committees, making key decisions to ensure the smooth operation on a day-to-day basis; and
• Coaches, trainers, directors of operations and mentors within Hockey Alberta’s Team Alberta high performance programming.

Over the course of National Volunteer Week, Hockey Alberta is proud to present the names and faces of a handful of Alberta’s hockey volunteers, without whom our sport does not operate, and our players do not get the opportunity to experience our great game.

Volunteer Spotlights >

We encourage you to take a few moments to recognize and thank those key volunteers with your MHA or team.

RED DEER - To celebrate National Volunteer Week, Hockey Alberta is shining the spotlight on a handful of volunteers who make a huge impact on the sport in Alberta.

More volunteer profiles can be found on Hockey Alberta’s Volunteer Appreciation page.

Tom Chapman

Tom has been coaching hockey in Lethbridge for eight years, at every level from Peewee AA to Midget AAA. He also currently is the Lethbridge Hurricane’s assistant video coach.

"I volunteer because of my love for the game of hockey. Ever since I was a small boy hockey has been my world, it’s taught me so many life lessons and helped create lifelong friendships, and I can’t imagine my life with hockey," said Tom. "Teammates have become family the bond created between us is something that can’t be explained. I volunteer to help young players and their families fall in love with the game like I have. It’s truly amazing what the game of hockey can do for you, seeing young players fall in love with the game is priceless and why I will continue to volunteer for the rest of my life!"

Tom said his most memorable moment as an volunteer came back in the 2018-2019 season while coaching Midget AAA in Lethbridge.

"Our team attended the prestigious Macs Midget AAA tournament and earned our way to the finals, we were the first team from Lethbridge to make the finals in over 25 years," he said. "This is something myself, the rest of our staff and most importantly the players and their families will never forget."

Tom farms alongside his father in Lomond, and continues to work during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Darren Smith

Darren is a long-time hockey coach in Edmonton, and also coaches lacrosse and baseball. He’s also volunteered as an assistant coach in lacrosse, and as an player evaluator during hockey evaluations.

In addition to coaching, as a police dog handler with the Edmonton Police Service Canine Unit, Darren says he valued attending schools and community centers with his police dog to interact with elementary and junior high aged students, answering questions and discussing life choices.

As a police officer and the parent of a young athlete, I recognize the impact that sport and the coaching staff can have on the development of the individual as an athlete and who the individual develops into away from the game," said Darren. "As a member of the community developing individual values, personal life skills, and team life skills, the friendships developed through sport as an athlete, coach, or parent. I love the excitement of sports."

Darren says he’s been very fortunate as a coach to witness the excitement of the players as they celebrate winning a tournament championship, a city championship or Edmonton Minor Hockey Week.

"As a coach, my most memorable moments occur when I see players in the community whom I have coached in the past, and they stop to talk and tell me how they are doing, how their sports are going, how their schooling is going, or they invite me to watch them play," he said.

As a police officer, Darren is an essential worker, and continues to serve the city of Edmonton during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RED DEER - To celebrate National Volunteer Week, Hockey Alberta is shining the spotlight on a handful of volunteers who make a huge impact on the sport in Alberta.

More volunteer profiles can be found on Hockey Alberta’s Volunteer Appreciation page.

Kevin Kuryluk

Kevin has held numerous volunteer positions in the Grande Prairie area, including coaching minor hockey and minor baseball, and has been a minor hockey board member since 2016.

Kevin also volunteers with Hockey Alberta in several capacities, including facilitating coach clinics, on-ice instruction at development camps, and volunteer coaching.

"I feel like if I can help a young athlete grow as a person and become more confident, I can help them accomplish more," said Kevin. "If that’s carried forward with them for their entire life, it will create opportunities for others. I also think back to my youth and how many great people influenced my life through their volunteer work, and I believe we build stronger communities through sport and teamwork and I enjoy watching the players I coach grow and develop. There’s no downside to volunteering."

Kevin notes his recent experience as being part of the Team Alberta North Male coaching staff for the 2020 Arctic Winter Games as one of his most memorable moments.

"Even though the games were cancelled, just being part of the process starting in August with applying for the job through to our training weekend with the players from both the male and female teams it was a fantastic experience," he said. "Another highlight for me has been working all of the Hockey Alberta PEP camps and being with the Hockey Alberta PEP program from the beginning."

Kevin operates a grain farm and is considered an essential worker, so he continues to work through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Janet Fairless

Janet is a long-time volunteer with Hockey Alberta as the Zone 1 Minor Administration Coordinator and Minor Administration Chair. Her long list of volunteer roles in hockey also includes coaching female hockey with the Grimshaw Minor Hockey Assoications, numerous team manager positions, registrar for Grimshaw MHA, and the manager and registrar for the Grimshaw Huskies Senior Men’s team. She also has been a member of the Arctic Winter Games Mission Staff since 2012.

Outside of hockey, Janet holds several other volunteer roles with Ducks Unlimited, the Grimshaw Community Services Board, and has volunteered for both the Alberta Summer and Alberta Winter Games.

"(I volunteer) for the joy it gives to the athletes, that’s the main reason," said Janet. "But also, these things need to be done so activities and organizations can run... someone has to do it. People ask me why I do it, what am I getting out of it. If you are doing it for the purpose of getting something out of it, then I don’t feel that you are there for the right reasons. My answer always is satisfaction from helping others, and the relationships. I have met so many great people and made so many wonderful friends through my volunteering."

Janet said her favourite moments always come from seeing the look of accomplishment on athlete’s faces when they win a banner or medal.

"One that really stands out was giving the Most Sportmanlike banner to the Indis Atom Hockey team last year at Provincials in Peace River," she said. "That was a very happy group of young players. You would think they had won the Stanley Cup and in my eyes they did. I almost cried presenting it to them, they were a great group, right from the bench staff, players to the fans."

RED DEER - Seventy-five Albertans registered in Hockey Canada sanctioned programs heard their names called during 2020 WHL Bantam Draft on Wednesday, including six in the first round.

Zemlak was taken by the Victoria Royals, with blueliner Mazden Leslie (Lloydminster) going right after him, 10th overall to the Vancouver Giants. Cole Miller (Edmonton) went 16th overall to the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Saige Weinstein (Edmonton) to the Spokane Chiefs at 18, Dawson Seitz (Medicine Hat) to the Edmonton Oil Kings with the 20th pick, and the Prince George Cougars wrapped up the first round by selecting Ryker Singer (Lloydminster) 22nd overall.

Alberta also boasted the first two goaltenders taken in the draft, with Seattle drafting Scott Ratzlaff (Irma) in the second round, 43rd overall, and Moose Jaw selecting Jackson Unger (Calgary) in the third round, 53rd overall.

A full list of Albertans registered in Hockey Canada sanctioned programs drafted can be found below:

RED DEER - To celebrate National Volunteer Week, Hockey Alberta is shining the spotlight on a handful of volunteers who make a huge impact on the sport in Alberta.

More volunteer profiles can be found on Hockey Alberta’s Volunteer Appreciation page.

Lesley Burton

Lesley holds a number of volunteer roles within her Southern Alberta community, most notably as a founding director of the University of Lethbridge Women’s Hockey Alumni Foundation.

She also is the manager of the Tilley Curling Club, President of the Tilley Hockey Academy, and a board member and coach for hockey and power skating. She also recently was a key volunteer for Hockey Alberta’s Female Hockey Day in Lethbridge.

"Growing up, I watched my parents help run our community and I was always very proud of what they did for all of us," said Lesley. "It takes a lot of work sometimes, but the friends you develop and the experiences you take away are what life is all about... ’leave it better than you found it’ is the way I look at it. Being a role model is very important to me as well, helping an athlete achieve their goals is so incredibly rewarding."

Lesley notes her time as a coach has been very memorable, as well as her position with the Tilley Curling Club, which is very near and dear to her family.

Kayne Warwick

Kayne currently sits on the Sylvan Lake Minor Hockey Association Board of Directors as the Initiation Director, where he started the Learn To Play and Junior Coach programs.

In addition to coaching within SLMHA, Kayne represents the association within the West Country league, and has also coached baseball, lacrosse, and volleyball.

"(I volunteer) for the kids and the game. Whatever small part I can play to ensure that the kids have a safe, fun and a positive experience playing and learning the game I love," said Kayne. "My most memorable moments have come from seeing the kids within the new programs attain that sense of achievement of trying something new and realizing its okay to fall, and there’s nothing that a little determination and work can’t overcome."