The annual Fred Heslop Minor Hockey Week Awards were presented to five (5) individuals during National Volunteer Week, April 23 - 29, 2017. The awards recognize significant contributions made to hockey within BC and the Yukon by individuals who have gone beyond expectations.

The Fred Heslop Minor Hockey Award winners are:

Deanna Cox	Cloverdale
Sue Wilson	Sunshine Coast
Sharlene Check	Alberni Valley
Cory Cross	West Kelowna
Christine Storey	Prince Rupert

Read each winners nomination by clicking on their name.

The inaugural Whitehorse Female Hockey Weekend was a resounding success, with more than 60 Initiation through Midget players who traveled to the Canada Games Centre for a weekend of skills, drills and games.

The event was well-attended by players who flew and drove in from throughout the northern region, including players from Skagway, Alaska (175km), Teslin, YT (178km), Watson Lake (438km), Dawson City, YT (532km), Dease Lake, BC (652km), Fort Nelson, BC (950km) and Inuvik, Northwest Territories (1,227km).  These road warrios were treated to a fun weekend of hockey and bonding with new teammates.

The event started with the Opening Ceremony on Friday evening, where five (5) teams brainstormed their team names, coming up with: White Karate Tigers, Green Fluffy Unicorns, Purple Lightning, Blue Thunder and Golden Rockets.  The girls then played some team building games such as 'Human Knot,' 'Line Up' and 'Over Under.' The girls bonded quickly and a human pyramid was even attempted by the Fluffy Unicorns.

The players got plenty of ice time, participating in two (2) on-ice skills sessions and two (2) games, in addition to an off-ice skills session and team building activities.  The University of BC women's hockey assistant coach Mike Sommer led the skills sessions and mentored local coaches who volunteered for the weekend.  The on-ice skills sessions consisted of plenty of drills and fun games, while the off-ice skills sessions featured stick handling training and some relay races to promote physical literacy.

In addition to the on-ice activities for the girls, seven (7) female coaches worked towards their Development 1 coaching certification in a We Are Coaches clinic.  A recruitment initiative by Hockey Canada, We Are Coaches allows female coaching candidates to attend clinics at no cost.

"It was a super weekend and we're really happy with the success of the event," said Whitehorse girls hockey coach, Pat Tobler, who helped organize the event.  "The number of girls was tremendous and drawing girls from all over the Yukon, as well as those smaller communities adjacent to the Yukon, was really great and good for the momentum of girls hockey."

"I think it was great for the girls to meet other girls playing hockey," added Tobler.  "It's a great social event and I'm sure they made a few new friends. The group had some girls who had never played hockey before that came out for the jamboree. Talking to them afterwards they said they had a blast, that they can't wait to play next year and that it was tremendously exciting!"

There were plenty of smiles throughout the arena and lots of buzz around town, giving the event an upbeat feel and creating plenty of optimism for next season. A BIG THANKS goes out to all the volunteers coaches, as well as Pat and Carl Burgess of Hockey Yukon for all their help with this amazing weekend!

c/o The Prince George Citizen

After four (4) seasons as the Prince George Cougars stickboy, Mathew Magrath has gained an in-depth understanding of what Western Hockey League (WHL) players go through before and after their games. That inside information will come in handy for the 15-year-old homegrown defenceman, now that he's been drafted into the Cougars family,

The Cougars made it official when they picked Magrath in the ninth round, 194th overall in the WHL Draft, the second player from his Farr Fabricating Bantam team to be selected.

"It's really exciting. I'll have the chance to play for the team that I grew up watching since I was little," said Magrath, the older son of Geof and Sarah Magrath. "Working for them for the last four (4) years, it's like I was on the team, kind of. Now I really am. Knowing that I could get drafted motivated me to work my hardest to try to get (drafted) and my hard work paid off."

It was expected that Cougars defenceman Jacob Gendron would get picked, but that virtual certainty was not there for Magrath. The 5'11', 145 pound Magrath blossomed in the second half of the season and that got him noticed.

"It was amazing to watch him all year develop and become very poised - his skating is off the charts," said Cougars General Manager, Todd Harkins. 'When we watched him at the BC Cup at the end of the year he jumping into the play, he was leading the offence, and he just had a knack to get up the ice. I said to Bob (Cougars head scout Simmonds) at the draft table that we have to keep an eye on this kid, he could potentially go. Nobody really saw him play in high-level competition until the BC Cup. He was right in our backyard and for us it was the steal of the draft."

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At the end of this past season, the Comox Valley Atom 1 Royals won the Western Canada McDonald's AtoMc Year End Party with special guest Drew Doughty. Below is their entry written by team manager, Terra Brown.

"The 2016-2017 atoMc hockey season had many golden moments for our team, the Royals. I had the pleasure of managing this amazing group of kids, coaches and parents. We traveled to two (2) tournaments and came home with silver and gold, both after an average regular season showing. The gold medal game was decided after an exciting game that went to a shootout for the win.

I want to share our true 'Golden Moment' as I believe it exemplifies the true meaning of Canadian hockey and for the love of the game. We were playing for the bronze medal in the final game of our season at our home tournament. We were up against another home team who we had rivaled throughout the regular season. The game was close the entire three (3) periods ending in a 3-3 tie. We then played 3-on-3 sudden death, three (3) minute overtime period, with no score. The game then went to a shootout, which is extra tense since my son happens to be the goalie. I was manning the score sheet and watching the coaches and players from across the ice. I observed our coach lean over and confer with the opposing teams' coach and wondered what they might be talking about. I was watching in the excitement of the kids getting ready to watch the best shooters line up in anticipation of winning the bronze medal. I watched the goalies make their way to the nets and get set for the next few minutes.

As I watched the first shooters emerge from the bench, I instantly knew what the coaches had been discussing; they decided to let the three (3) weakest players from each team have the chance at the shootout and a potential moment of glory. I had tears rolling down my cheeks as I watched our player take the first shot. This kids had struggled throughout the year and was on the verge of quitting hockey. The coach knew if he could send him out first, tell him to shoot for the empty space and ignore everything else around him, that he just might succeed. He made a beautiful top shelf goal that even the best goalies would not have saved. The crowd erupted in a great cheer for this young man's first goal of the season. He made a celebratory dive at centre ice and his teammates gave the loudest cheer. Five (5) more shooters took their best shot, but none were successful. That goal won the bronze and the coach presented him the MVP of the game!

Reflecting on those moments made me realize what an amazing coach he is; not getting caught in the moment and winning at all costs, but considering the impact his decision would have on a few kids who had their challenges throughout the year and may not see a shootout opportunity for some time. I also spoke to a mom from the opposing team whose daughter was one (1) of the shooters, and she too was so touched by the coach's decision.

Hockey is about so many things, and there are so many 'Golden Moments' that come from a win, but there are few moments like this that show the true meaning of being part of a Canadian hockey team!"

c/o Prince George Citizen

Nick Albinati's skin is no thicker than most humans. His ears are not equipped with an of/on switch. But in 10 years wearing the stripes as a hockey linesman, he's become pretty adept at tuning out the less-than-complimentary opinions of fans, players and coaches. Black and white and never right? Not by a country mile.

Albinati and his first cousin Anthony Maletta lived the dream as TELUS Cup whistleblowers. They've paid their dues learning the game in the Prince George Minor Hockey Association (MHA) and are now regulars making offside/icing calls and breaking up scraps as linesmen in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and BC Hockey League (BCHL)>

"It's tough to put into words but it's so much fun, it's something I've looked forward to from the beginning of the season," said Albanati. "I know basically all the officials here from past camps and different leagues and that makes it 10 times better. It's pretty easy working with these guys. We've all worked some high-level games this year and that's definitely prepared me for this. These kids are good, they're fast. The speed and skill out there is definitely noticeable."

Some of the TELUS Cup games had a near-constant parade of penalties and Albinati says it's up to the players to adapt to how the officials are enforcing the rules.

"They wanted us to have a tight standard and consistent standard," he added. "They wanted us to take out as many dangerous hits as possible; so hits to the head, the dangerous stickwork to the hand. We've tried to focus on that message to us and do our best to let the teams on the ice decide the winners."

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