Coach education keeping former players in the game

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta’s mission statement reads: to create positive opportunities and experiences for all players.

Coaches play a significant role in ensuring that.

Team Alberta alumni and NHL prospect, Morgan Klimchuk, made the transition to coaching during the COVID-19 lockdown. Following back surgery, Klimchuk was unsure if he would ever play hockey at a competitive level again, but he knew he wanted to stay involved in the game.

“I love it. It’s a new challenge every day,” said Klimchuk. “It’s one thing to know certain aspects of the game, it’s a completely different thing to be able to communicate and teach those things.”

Having played for numerous coaches with a variety of styles over the years, Klimchuk was asked if there was anyone he looked up to as a coach.

“The last coach that I played for professionally with the Belleville Senators, his name is Troy Mann. He’s not necessarily a household name,” said Klimchuk. “He’s a coach and a person who is going to get an opportunity at the highest level just because of how he treats people, how he communicates with his players aside from his knowledge of the game … (T)he way he communicates his messages, the amount that he cares about every single member of his team really resonated with me and it’s something that I try to emulate as I get started in my coaching career.”

Duncan Milroy played professional hockey for 12 seasons, including five games with the Montreal Canadiens. When he retired from playing, he had lost his passion for hockey – until he made the decision to get into coaching.

“(Through coaching) I absolutely fell in love with being on the ice again,” said Milroy. “Being a mentor for kids and the competition that comes with it … so it’s been a lot of fun coming back and it’s a newfound passion for me.”

After years of playing, it was his novice coach who left a lasting impression on him.

“I had a gentleman by the name of Dan Auchenburg, who used to be my novice coach a long time ago. Just the way he conducted himself with us as kids, I remember those things,” said Milroy.

As a former player Milroy thought he knew everything when he began coaching. His mentality was less than realistic.

“Sometimes my expectations of what players were actually able to do at that age level and their skill level might not have been there because of my lack of experience as a coach,” said Milroy. “After my first couple years and spending time with Hockey Alberta, it’s really opened my eyes up to the coaching philosophies and what you have to be looking for. It has made me a better coach … it’s given me a more realistic approach and a better teaching philosophy in order to help my kids out.”

For Stephen Pattison, Hockey Alberta’s Manager of Hockey Development, coach education programs have enabled him to provide better experiences for his players.

“The longer I’ve coached and the more education courses I’ve taken, the more I have been able to impact the players in a positive way,” said Pattison. “I have players who I coached nearly 10 years ago who I still have a relationship with, because coaching is about building relationships. Coach education programs help coaches learn ways to communicate with their players and build those relationships.”

Certain coach education programs are required to be completed each season by November 15 to be eligible to coach. Courses include information on team building, player experience, how to communicate with parents, how to organize a season and tactics/drills. Programs are available to anyone who is looking to better understand the game or may be considering coaching.

REGISTER FOR A CLINIC

For more information on coach education or how you can make a positive impact on the players experience, visit hockeyalberta.ca.

Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The day honours the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

Read more >

In the coming weeks, the 2022-23 hockey season will be getting underway. Players across the province will be on the ice for practices, tryouts, evaluations, games, and tournaments. They will be joined by coaches, officials, safety staff, and other volunteers whose hard work ensure that opportunities to play hockey exist across Alberta.

“After a successful season last year, in which players, coaches, and parents were able to come together at the rink once again, we are incredibly excited to get the 2022-23 season underway,” said Rob Litwinski, CEO of Hockey Alberta. “A big thank you to all of our volunteers and staff for their hard work throughout the offseason to get us ready for another year.”

New in 2022-23

U11 Hockey Alberta Development Program

For the 2022-23 hockey season, Hockey Alberta is expanding the U11 AA Pilot Project province wide and renaming it the U11 Hockey Alberta Development Pilot (U11 HADP). The focus of the U11 HADP is to implement amended hosting structures, player movement rules, league scheduling and Coach and Player Development Standards.

Non-Body Checking Implemented at U18 Tiers 4-6

Hockey Alberta’s Minor Leagues Committee, which is comprised of Alberta’s six tiered Minor Hockey Leagues are implementing non-body checking/body contact only hockey at the Tier 4-6 categories of the U18 division for the 2022-23 season.

The decision to extend non-body checking into the U18 division at the Tier 4-6 categories comes after having implemented the same changes two seasons ago at the U15 division prior to the 2020-21 hockey season.

The tiered minor leagues are: Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL), Northern Alberta Interlock (NAI), North East Alberta Hockey League (NEAHL), All-Peace Hockey League (APHL), Edmonton Federation Hockey League (EFHL), and Hockey Calgary.

Changes for Male AAA and AA Hockey

In collaboration with the Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL), the Elite Male Committee and the AA Committee, Hockey Alberta has implemented several changes to AAA and AA male hockey. Changes include:

• AEHL transitioning U16 AAA to U17 AAA.
• U16 AA expanding to provincial pilot project.
• U13 AA structure changes, including new criteria on the minimum number of U13 players in a recruitment area and amending the numbers at which more than one team is required.

Interleague Play

Hockey Alberta and our tiered Minor Hockey Leagues are implementing an Interleague Play Pilot Project for the 2022-23 hockey season.

Interleague Play is a mechanism within Alberta One that will help reduce travel by allowing certain associations to play League games against like-tiered teams from another Minor League. The outcome of this Pilot Project will be to identify the best overall standards required to ensure Interleague play is a viable option across the entire province to reduce travel.

Para Hockey

Hockey Alberta is hosting a para hockey development weekend at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre in Red Deer on September 10-11. The weekend will kick off with a Player Development Camp on Saturday, designed to accommodate players of all ages and skill levels and feature on-ice skill development and gameplay. Equipment (sledges/ sticks) will be provided for new players. A bonus “drop-in” ice time will be available for those who can make it on Sunday from 9-10 am.

Sunday will also feature a specialty Para Coach Development Clinic facilitated by Tara Chisholm (head coach of women’s National Para Team). The session will focus on basic skills and the importance of having players develop confidence, self esteem, and a love for the game. Coaches will be given a tailored course for those working with Para programs, an introduction to player development, coaching tools to increase knowledge of the game and effectively communicate with athletes and parents, and support Para athletes in team, practice, and game settings.

MHA Minor Leagues Communication Pathway

Streamlining communication channels between Hockey Alberta, Minor Hockey Associations, and Leagues is a key element of the ongoing review of the Minor League structure for tiered Minor Hockey and Minor Female Hockey. With the collaboration of the Leagues, Hockey Alberta has developed an MHA Communication Season Pathway which highlights deadlines and key contacts for items such as Player and Team Registrations and Discipline and Sanctioning for the streamlined Alberta One regulations, policies, and procedures as well as those of the Regional Minor Leagues. It is intended to be a training tool for MHAs that can be provided to new and existing executive members.

RED DEER – Rachel Wiebe turned heads last year when she was named an assistant coach with the University of Alberta Golden Bears hockey team.

In her new role, the 23-year-old became the first female coach to join the program, continuing her progression in a coaching career that started when concussions ended her playing career as a teenager.

“I still wanted to be a part of the game,” said Rachel. “It’s a big part of who you are and I didn’t want to lose that, so I got into coaching. I started coaching on a women’s team in Grande Prairie and once I transferred to the University of Alberta for school I started coaching with the Pandas and then the Bears.”

As a player, Rachel’s goal was to play for the Pandas. When she realized she couldn’t participate as a player, she still wanted to achieve that goal in some capacity – even if that meant filling water bottles. She reached out to Howie Draper, Head Coach of the Pandas, who took her on as an assistant coach.

Ian Herbers, Head Coach of the Golden Bears, laughs as he recalls poaching Rachel from the Pandas.

“Rachel once a week, maybe every other week, would pop her head in and come say hi. We had a chance to talk and she always came in with a ton of energy, very positive, very passionate about the game and very passionate about the Bears’ program,” said Herbers. “In the summertime, we were looking and wanted to add one more person (to the coaching staff). I thought of Rachel right away just because of the passion she had.”

As the possibility of coaching with the Golden Bears began to become a reality, Rachel needed one more nod from a crucial group - the players.

“I wanted to make sure it was good with the guys first before I said yes,” said Rachel. “I wanted to make sure they were comfortable first and foremost (with a woman joining the coaching staff) because if they aren’t comfortable, I’m not going to serve a beneficial purpose.”

Herbers was confident it wouldn’t be an issue.

“I knew we had a great group of guys with the Bears and the leadership we had on the ice and in the dressing room that it wouldn’t be an issue,” said Herbers. “(T)hey were excited…. I don’t think many of them have had a female coach so it’s something different for them.”

With 11 of her 14 playing years spent as one of a few females on male teams, Rachel’s transition to the Golden Bears was seamless.

“The coaching staff has been really supportive, the players are really receptive to feedback, they’re very respectful,” said Rachel. “People always ask how the year’s gone, what it’s been like and if there are any challenges with it and other than winning a national championship, it couldn’t have been better. It was phenomenal and a great first year.”

Rachel’s passion for the Golden Bears program doesn’t fall far from the tree. Her father, Dan Wiebe, played in the program for four seasons (1987-1991). After a coaching stint in the East Coast Hockey League, Dan returned to Alberta where he has given back to the game in a minor coach and mentor capacity.

“Having the opportunity to play and then get into coaching … at a semi-professional league, I learned a lot about the game and really my knowledge of the game would come from the Golden Bear program,” said Dan, who admits to fatherly pride in seeing Rachel’s achievements. “Having seen (Rachel) have the opportunity with that tradition and that history, I can’t say enough about it…. Hopefully down the road she will have the opportunity to share that with other coaches and players and develop her own style and grow her game as well.”

Growing up, Dan coached Rachel through the minor ranks. Now as she begins her own coaching career, although her style has some of Dan’s influence, she’s starting to create her own style too, including working to complete her High Performance 1 coach certification.

“This is such an ideal situation. It’s great to bounce ideas off each other because it’s not just me going to him and asking for advice, now he comes to me too,” said Rachel.

For Herbers, Rachel has emerged as a key part of his coaching staff because she looks at the game from a different perspective.

“She’s always looking for something different than I am,” said Herbers. “I liked the way she thought the game, what she saw development wise …. I’m always looking for ways to challenge our players and our team to keep getting better and she’s done that for us.”

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Hockey Alberta encourages everyone to take the time to recognize and thank a coach in their community this week for National Coaches Week. National Coaches Week runs from September 17-25, 2022.

RED DEER – Para Ice Hockey in Canada got its start in Medicine Hat.

With that history, it is only natural that Medicine Hat native Tara Chisholm - who is the head coach of Canada’s Women’s National Para Ice Hockey Team - found her way to the sport.

“The original sled was brought over from Sweden. They asked a whole bunch of larger disability organizations … if they wanted to start sledge hockey,” said Chisholm, “Then a women called Jean Lane in Medicine Hat said, ‘I’ll start it if no one else wants to.’ So she worked with a local playground manufacturer and they built the first ever sleds in Canada.”

HISTORY OF PARA HOCKEY >

Chisholm’s passion for hockey began like most in Alberta – coming up through the minor ranks. When she moved on to university in Edmonton, she turned to coaching. Mentoring under Howie Draper, head coach for the University of Alberta Pandas, she couldn’t get enough of the game so she reached out to a number of organizations, including a Para program. The Para program was looking for on-ice support so Chisholm began volunteering after school and Panda practices.

That was in 2008.

“At the time I got into Para ice hockey, there was also a young guy named Matt Cook who was playing junior A hockey and had osteosarcoma. He ended up losing his leg to cancer. So him and I were both trying to figure out Para hockey at the same time,” said Chisholm. “To have somebody else to stumble through it with was really nice because we knew what we were supposed to do on the ice but to be able to actually skate and get there was a different story. You have a whole new set of skills you have to learn but the game itself is the same.”

When she returned to Medicine Hat in 2013, Chisholm revived the program that Lane had begun years prior. She worked with groups from Edmonton to help write grants, get sleds in the community and book ice times to grow the program to what is now one of the largest Para programs in the province.

In 2014, Chisholm added to her volunteer resume by starting her tenure in the role she still holds as head coach of national women’s Para team.

What began as a grassroots community program is now a high-performance program with elite standards that continues strive to get the female game into the Paralympics, similar to the men’s side.

“I’ve been really fortunate to work with a lot of people who just truly love the game of hockey and want women with disabilities to be able to showcase their skills in the game of hockey and are passionate about that. When you’re around passionate people the hard work doesn’t seem quite as hard or at least you’re lifted with other people,” said Chisholm.

The first Women’s World Para Hockey Challenge took place in Green Bay, Wisconsin in August. It featured teams from Great Britain, Canada, the United States and “the World”. Team Canada earned the silver medal, losing to the USA in the final.

But Chisholm considers the event a win for the Canadian players because of the hurdles they had to go through just to get on the ice.

Players and staff paid their own way to the Challenge, supplementing some money from fundraisers with their own cash. The team wears Hockey Canada jerseys, but is not associated with the organization, nor is it funded by Sport Canada. The staff is composed of passionate volunteers, while the players pay to play. Personal holidays/ time off are used so staff and players can participate in the team’s events.

“Our immediate goal is to become funded, similar to our USA Hockey counterparts,” said Chisholm. “Right now, USA Hockey has decided to fund the women’s national program, even though they are not in a World Championship or Paralympic Games. They decided that it’s a priority for them to give equitable access to their women the same that they do as their men’s team. So that’s what we’ll be looking for in the short term.”

For the World Challenge, Chisholm worked to keep costs as low as possible for the players. Tryouts were hosted in April, but some players were unable to attend. So Chisholm and her assistant coach Derek Whitson (who is also her husband and a former Para ice hockey player) travelled across the country to host regional camps. With players spread coast to coast and one in England, Chisholm created an online course on terminology and systems, and scheduled team workouts over Zoom a few times a week. With the leadership of veteran players, many felt it was the closest team they had ever been on – even though most didn’t meet in person until day one of the Challenge.

As performances on the international stage become more consistent, Chisholm’s long-term goal for Women’s Para Ice Hockey is to see it in the Paralympics and a World Championship.

“Our amazing group of volunteers hope that if we can take some of the pressure of raising money for Canada off our plate, we’re able to help other countries more. Which is what we need internationally for this sport,” said Chisholm. “My husband and I have been very fortunate to travel to a few different countries to help jumpstart their programs. The less work I have to do here in Canada with other Canadians supporting our women, then the more work I can do internationally.”

In addition to her work locally, nationally and internationally, Chisholm also sits on Hockey Alberta’s Para Hockey Committee, which meets monthly to discuss the growth of the program in the province.

“We’ve seen more growth and are starting to become a leader in the sport. (W)hen I first started it was Ontario and Quebec that were leading the way,” said Chisholm. “Now people are looking to Alberta for ideas for how to get the sport growing in their own province or even in their own country. We get asks from all over the world about what we’re doing here.”

Hockey Alberta is hosting a Para Kick-Off Weekend September 10-11 in Red Deer at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre. On Saturday, para players, or those interested in trying para, are welcome to participate in a one-day camp. Then, on Sunday, Chisholm will be hosting a para coaching clinic. Those interested can still register online.

For more information on Para ice hockey in Alberta, check out the Hockey Alberta website for a list of clubs throughout the province.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is recruiting five volunteers to oversee investigations and decision-making pertaining to Maltreatment infractions and allegations based on discriminatory grounds.

The appointment of a Maltreatment Officer and four Maltreatment Investigators is part of the ongoing work to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all hockey participants by establishing a consistent process for investigation and decision-making pertaining to allegations of Maltreatment and Discrimination.

To facilitate these new positions, Hockey Alberta has amended its ‘Maltreatment, Bullying and Harassment’ Policy.

Full details on the policy, Section 11 – Maltreatment in the Hockey Canada rulebook, and the online reporting form for incidents of Maltreatment and Discrimination can be found on the Hockey Alberta website:

Maltreatment, Bullying and Harassment >

The Maltreatment Officer will work with Hockey Alberta staff to set out the requirements and guidelines for the investigation and adjudication process, as well as ensuring investigations are completed in accordance with Hockey Alberta Policy. The Maltreatment Officer will receive reports from the Maltreatment Investigators and issue all decisions. The Maltreatment Officer has been selected for the 2022-23 season.

The Maltreatment Investigators will conduct all investigations and/or hearings related to infractions and allegations based on discriminatory grounds. The Investigators will compile written reports of their findings and recommendations and submit them to the Maltreatment Officer.

Hockey Alberta is seeking qualified applicants to fill the Maltreatment Investigator positions. Included with this Bulletin is the Maltreatment Investigator Job Description. Qualified applicants should have strong communication, questioning, interview and analytical skills, and knowledge of Hockey Canada/ Hockey Alberta Bylaws and Regulations, Human Rights Legislation, Natural Justice and sanctioning to influence positive behavior.

Those interested in applying are encouraged to submit their application HERE.

BULLETIN 22-02

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Hockey Alberta office by email at [email protected].