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WIN BIG, GIVE BIG WITH THE WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ONLINE 50/50 Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Hockey Alberta Foundation, is encouraging fans to win big, give big with the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship online 50/50 draw, presented by DynaLIFE Medical Labs, during every Team Canada game day starting August 20 and including the quarterfinals, semifinals and medal-round games.
DITCH THE PAPER AND SPREADSHEETS AT TRYOUTS WITH TEAMGENIUS Hockey Alberta and TeamGenius are partnering up this season to help minor hockey volunteers ditch the paper and spreadsheets at tryouts this season.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECRUITMENT NOTICE The Alberta Amateur Hockey Association (Hockey Alberta) is seeking qualified candidates for three (3) Director at Large positions on its Board of Directors. Deadline to submit a nomination package is AUGUST 31, 2021.
BID FOR A CHANCE TO BRING THE WORLD JUNIOR TROPHY TO YOUR COMMUNITY Hockey Alberta, Hockey Canada, and the World Juniors are teaming up to give your community the chance to host the World Junior Championship Trophy this fall. The deadline to apply is September 1.
ONE WEEK LEFT TO REGISTER FOR HOCKEY ALBERTA’S INDIGENOUS HOCKEY SUMMIT Registration is open for the 2021 Indigenous Hockey Summit, which runs virtually on August 27-28, beginning with a keynote panel on August 27 featuring Wacey Rabbit, his father, Marvin Yellowhorn, Jordan Courtepatte, and Theo Fleury. REGISTER NOW >
UPDATE ON 2021-22 COACHING CLINIC REGISTRATION Hockey Alberta has been working diligently with Hockey Canada over the past few months to ensure an efficient and positive registration experience for coaches entering clinics this fall. As with any new program, the new HCR 3.0 system has come with a few setbacks during the initiation process. We are currently working through those setbacks and hope to have clinic registration ready in the next couple of weeks.
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Ice Times Newsletter
News
Challenges, opportunities and potential solutions
RED DEER – Indigenous youth face many challenges when it comes to participating in hockey in Alberta.
And while the challenges are significant, the opportunities and potential solutions were an important focus during Friday night’s keynote discussion to open Hockey Alberta’s Indigenous Hockey Summit.
The virtual event opened with a Zoom roundtable featuring Theoren Fleury, Wacey Rabbit, Marvin Yellowhorn, and Jordan Courtepatte. The discussion was moderated by Travis Plaited Hair of the Blood Tribe.
Fleury is well known for his career with the Calgary Flames, and as a victor over trauma and abuse. Rabbit played on the 2003 Team Alberta squad that won gold at the Canada Winter Games, enjoyed a successful junior hockey career, and played professionally around the world, most recently in the East Coast Hockey League. Courtepatte’s career included junior hockey in the BCHL, and a professional stint in the Central Hockey League in Texas. And Yellowhorn has been involved in hockey most of his life as a parent (he is Rabbit’s father), coach, and volunteer.
As the panelists reflected on their careers and lives in hockey, they identified three areas where the hockey community can focus to help increase the number of Indigenous participants and improve their experience in the sport.
One area is cost. Rabbit reflected on how much the cost of a hockey stick or a pair of skates has increased since he played as a child, and said he believes “a lot of natural athletes are missing out because of the pricing.”
Courtepatte, who helped found the Enoch Cree Minor Hockey Association near Edmonton, said the sport is simply getting too expensive.
“The average family can’t afford to pay for one kid… There needs to be additional resources in place to offset costs,” said Courtepatte, adding that it’s also important to make sure parents are educated to know where to apply for assistance.
The second area that must be addressed is racism.
Courtepatte said that while steps have been taken to address racism, it continues, and it’s not acceptable.
“It’s a lonely place when it feels like no one wants you,” Courtepatte said.
Rabbit said he has experienced racism while playing hockey.
“It’s in the world right now, it’s happening everywhere,” Rabbit said. “It’s happened to everyone on this panel. It is important for minor hockey associations to acknowledge (when racism occurs) and do something about it.”
The third area involves understanding the challenges that Indigenous youth are facing in their personal lives. Fleury talked about a need for “trauma-informed education” within schools and the sporting community.
“We have no idea what these kids are experiencing before they get to the rink,” Fleury said. “A lot of their behaviour is based on what they’ve experienced at home. We have to be aware that when a kid is acting out it’s because of their trauma experience, not because he’s a bad kid. Often, the only place he gets peace and joy is playing hockey, so we’ve got to make it the best experience we can.”
The panelists agreed that a key part of the solution involves more Indigenous people being involved at all levels of the sport including board members, coaches, managers, and officials.
“When you come to the rink and see a person who looks like you, that’s important,” said Rabbit. He also reminded everyone that it’s important to celebrate the success stories, highlighting Brayden Arcand, an official who is now working in the Western Hockey League.
The panelists agreed that the benefits to addressing these challenges are immense. Positive hockey experiences will help Indigenous youth learn to deal better with adversity, develop important life skills, and have family and community growth opportunities. And, as Fleury suggested, he believes the next Wayne Gretzky is out there, if given the chance to play hockey.
Hockey Alberta, in partnership with the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta, is hosting the Indigenous Hockey Summit to gather hockey leaders from around the province to continue the growth of the game in Indigenous hockey communities and allow for networking and sharing best practices.
The Summit continues Saturday with separate day-long sessions for Minor Hockey Administrators, Coaches and Officials.
