ChilliwackMinorHockeyAssociation
5725TysonRoad,Chilliwack,BCV2R2L1
MailingAddress
P.O.Box2416StationSardisMain,Chilliwack,BCV2R1A7
Tel:604-858-6031/Fax:604-858-6015
E-Mail:[email protected]/WebSitewww.chilliwackminorhockey.com
As we embark on another year of minor hockey, I would like to take this
opportunity to communicate the mission of the Chilliwack Minor Hockey
Association (CMHA), which is to provide a nurturing and skill-focused
environment in which young players are given the opportunity to develop not only
hockey skills, but life skills as well. The sport of hockey is a key contributor to life
skills and it is important to develop skills that will allow us to become better people
in and outside of hockey. We want to stress that every minor hockey player will be
person longer than they will be a hockey player so it’s very important to develop
good people. In terms of skill development, the CMHA would like to bring minor
hockey back to having a primary focus on building a strong foundation of basic
hockey skills. Young players need the opportunity to develop and refine their basic
skills such as skating, puck handling, and shooting in stride in order for them to be
effective players in a game situation. The importance of this was impressed upon
me after being fortunate enough to spend 7 years playing hockey in Europe. During
this time, I was able to witness first-hand how the minor hockey programs focused
almost exclusively on developing these skills; it became clear why so many
European players are known for their remarkable skill, exceptional skating ability,
and impressive stick handling! By combining skill development with our Canadian
trademark of passion, grit, and team-focused mentality, we will be able to set our
kids up for success.
As we move forward with the season, I would also like to take this opportunity to
offer a few reminders in terms of the overall minor hockey experience.
For the parents and players:
Please respect your coaches.  Almost all of the coaches are volunteers and they
contribute a huge amount of their time to your team.  When you arrive at the rink
for a practice or a game, many hours have already been put in by your coach in
order to make your time enjoyable, as well as ensuring that it provides a variety of
learning opportunities. So at the end of all your practices and games it wouldn’t
hurt to go around to all your coaches to say thank you. It will only strengthen your
relationship.
Please respect the officials. Berating an official will not change a decision that has
already been made, nor will it benefit you or your team down the road. Keep in
mind that officials are just like anyone else and can, at times, make mistakes. Be
graceful in losing, conduct yourself with integrity, play for the love of the game,
and have fun!
Parents, please respect your children and each other. Hockey is a fast paced sport
with a lot of different factors interacting at the same time. The kids will be learning
a lot and taking direction from their coaches and will need you to support them and
be there for them to fall back on. Unfortunately, added pressure from parents
usually has the opposite effect of what is intended. Kids often just end up feeling
overwhelmed and stressed-out which is not helpful for them on or off the ice.
For the coaches:
Please respect your players and keep your parents informed. Keep in mind that your
role as coach includes facilitating the growth of a complete player and a wellrounded citizen. Helping young players find a healthy balance in hockey and life
will benefit them on and off the ice. The
time you spend now on keeping open communication with parents will pay off as
the season unfolds.
Please conduct yourself in a professional manner. In many ways, you are the face of
the organization, and as such you have a responsibility to act accordingly. This
means keeping your emotions in check, as well as speaking to players and officials
in a respectful way.
For the volunteers, board members, and office staff:
Chilliwack Minor Hockey’s success is based on the support of volunteers. We rely
on sponsors, fundraising, and the generosity of individuals and businesses to
financially support our programs. We greatly appreciate your hard work and time
commitment. Thank you for jobs well done!
Over the coming months, you may find situations that upset you, whether it be a
game time, practice time, officiating, out-of-town fans, or any number of other
circumstances. It is at these times that patience is required from all of us because
there will be some situations that just cannot be changed. The Chilliwack Minor
Hockey Association wants to make your experience as enjoyable and stress-free as
possible, and your positive reaction to a negative situation can go a long way
toward achieving this goal. It is my sincere hope that Chilliwack Minor Hockey can
be known across this province as a well-respected association. If we, as individuals,
can make a commitment to conduct ourselves in a respectful manner when at the
arena, we will not only set a great example for our children, but we will also have
an association that we can all be proud of.
The years spent in minor hockey are some of the best years you will ever have.
Enjoy each moment spent with your child or children because time will go by very
quickly and, believe it or not, you will miss the weekend games and the weekday
practices, even the early morning ones! At the end of it all, the wins and losses
become irrelevant and forgotten but the memories and friends you will make during
these years will remain. So please, have fun being involved with and playing the
greatest game in the world!
Brian Maloney
Executive Director
Chilliwack Minor Hockey
[email protected]
604-819-7019
www.chilliwackminorhockey.com