July's Featue Hockey Story
Update on René Faucher from Reflections & Deflections
This article was published last month in the Ottawa Citizen updating the condition of Ottawa’s René Faucher. For those of you who do not recognize the name, René Faucher is a recreational hockey player in Ottawa who was left paralyzed after he hit a rut in the ice and crashed into the end-boards at a local pick-up hockey game at Ottawa University.
Faucher has been a true inspiration not only to the hockey community but the City of Ottawa in general as he has maintained an optimistic and positive attitude throughout his whole ordeal. I cannot even imagine experiencing the trials and tribulations that Faucher has been forced to deal with in the last few months. No one could have anticipated such a disastrous result from playing a friendly game of pick-up hockey, especially considering Faucher is a father of three young children and did not have insurance at the time of the accident.
Ottawa has really come together as a community in support of Faucher as many tournaments, raffles and events have been organized in hopes of raising as much money for the Faucher family as possible. No matter which event or function the public has attended they all walk away amazed at the positive outlook and attitude Faucher has maintained since the accident.
On behalf of CARHA Hockey I would like to wish René and his entire family the best of luck, you are truly an inspiration to all of us.
Visit Reflections & Deflections
June's Featue Hockey Story
Story submitted by: Bob Dawson, SONAHHR
Hockey’s Forgotten League and Pioneers
Hockey is Canada’s national game. It’s more than just a game; it’s part of our cultural heritage as Canadians. In tracing hockey’s development in Canada, one soon realizes that it’s about who we are as a people and a nation.
The roots of early Canadian hockey originate with the North American Indians. However, the roots of modern Canadian hockey originated, in large part, with the early African-Canadians of the Colored Hockey League (CHL) of the Maritimes who because of racism could not play on White teams.
Canadian historians George and Darril Fosty, founders of the Society of North American Hockey Historians and Researchers (SONAHHR), are a driving force behind the study and preservation of minority ice hockey history in North America. In their book “Black Ice: The Lost History of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes, 1895-1925” (Stryker-Indigo Publishing, New York), they noted that the CHL was like no other hockey or sport league. Formed in 1895, it was lead by Baptist Church laymen (Henry Sylvester Williams, James Johnston, and James Kinney) and built on religious beliefs. Their “rule book” was the Bible. Their “game book”, the words, oral history and experiences derived from the Black struggle and the Underground Railroad. Their “strategy”, was based on the principles and teachings of the American Black leader Booker T. Washington and the founder of the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama.
Comprised of the sons and grandsons of runaway African-American slaves who settled in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, the League, through their “style of play” and “creative innovations”, helped pioneer the sport of ice hockey by changing the winter game from the primitive past-time of the nineteenth century to the modern game of today.
The CHL’s Henry “Braces” Franklyn of the Dartmouth Jubilees was the first goal tender to go down on the ice in order to stop the puck. At the time, other leagues consisting primarily of White teams adopted a “stand-up” style to play the puck. Going down on the ice was not Franklyn’s only innovative technique, as the pint-sized goal tender would also wander out of his net to play the puck and move it up the ice to teammates. A similar style would not be seen until the emergence of the legendary NHL goal tender Jacques Plante in the 1950s.
Eddie Martin of the Halifax Eurekas was said to have an incredible hard and accurate shot. Descriptions of his play and shooting technique indicate that he may have pioneered the “hockey slap shot”. This would have been 25 years before future hall of fame player Frank “Bun” Cook introduced it in the NHL and 50 years before Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion and Andy Bathgate perfected it as an effective way of shooting the puck in the 1950s.
With the rise in popularity of hockey in the Black communities, as many as 1,500 to 2,000 people attended the games between rival teams. Organizers of the League introduced the practice of entertaining the crowds with half-time events (e.g. musical performances, skate races, etc.). Today, events or activities are common place during games at the NHL and other levels of hockey.
Unfortunately, such was the fate of the Colored Hockey League that their contributions to hockey have been forgotten, conveniently ignored or even dismissed as being irrelevant while elements of their “style of play” and “innovations” have been copied by teams in other leagues and helped make the game what it is today. Information on the book Black Ice, the authors and how to purchase it can be found at http://www.blackicebook.com
Bob Dawson, SONAHHR (Ottawa, Ontario)
May's Feature hockey Story
CARHA Hockey Hall of Fame Nominations
Every city and town has leaders and members who go above and beyond to help out and ensure hockey continues to be a large part of their community. It’s time to recognize these hockey champions by nominating them for the CARHA Hockey Hall of Fame. The six categories for nominations are Player, Team, Builder, Media, Friends of CARHA Hockey, and International Hockey Friends.
Most Recent Inductee
Milos Sluga, Slovenia – 2008 - International Friends Category
Over the years, Milos Sluga has been a dedicated and valued friend of CARHA Hockey. He has consistently gone above and beyond to assist the organization in its attempts to liaison internationally with other hockey associations in countries all across Europe. Furthermore, he has actively participated in each of the four CARHA Hockey World Cup events, including the most recent tournament in Québec City, QC (March 30 – April 6, 2008). Milos brought two teams to the 2008 edition of the CARHA Hockey World Cup as well as lent a hand in the organization’s endeavor to further develop its camaraderie and collaborations with hockey participants over seas. It is for this reason, that Milos Sluga was selected as the most recent inductee into the CARHA Hockey Hall of Fame.
On behalf of CARHA Hockey, thank you for all that you have done Milos.
Player Category
Due to the fact that CARHA Hockey's programs promote participation, fitness, and sportsmanship, points of excellence and past hockey experience are of minimal use in the criteria for selection to the Player Category. The most important points for consideration are the individual's commitment to the association's success and a true appreciation for the enjoyment of the game. Highlights of continuance in the dedication to the team, individual team players, and their community are critical consideration factors.
Nomination Procedure
The player nominated must be a member in good standing with CARHA Hockey. The submission should clearly highlight the reasons why the Board of Management should consider the nomination, preferably in point form. Understandably, the nomination carries more weight when accompanied by additional support documents. Suggestions for support letters include those from other teams, community associations, teammates, and friends.
Team Category
Throughout the association there are many teams who have earned the right to be honoured through their induction to CARHA Hockey's Hockey Hall of Fame. To date, only seven teams have received this highest form of recognition by their peers. Although many teams may deserve this acknowledgment, it takes a special effort from someone to put this type of nomination together.
Nomination Procedure
A team nominated in this area must be a member in good standing with the association for a sufficient number of years. By their commitment to CARHA Hockey's philosophy regarding the game, they will have established a reputation as a fun team to be a part of and to play against. The team's ability to play the game is not used as a critical point in the selection process. Areas that assist with the decision of the Board of Directors are the team's activities in support of community charities and projects, and the team's continuing efforts to promote the development of the game and to increase membership in the CARHA Hockey. It is extremely important that a nomination in this category be accompanied by detailed and adequate documents of support.
Builder Category
The Builder Category has the largest number of honoured members in CARHA Hockey's Hockey Hall of Fame, with 30 inductees. This figure is understandable when we consider the amount of work and dedication required of individuals to build the association from infancy to the strong national organization it is today. Also, the strong promoters and leaders of our hockey programs are easily identified. Their stories of commitment are quickly attested to, requiring less work to document and submit, but their necessity to the success of the association is extremely important.
Nomination Procedure
The candidates for induction in this category come from every facet of our game, including players, team representatives, league executive, team/club executive, tournament committee members, sponsors, referees, CARHA Hockey Board of Management, CARHA Hockey employees, and others. The submissions for inductees will emphasize the individual strengths in their respective area of expertise and commitment-specifically directed at how these efforts enhance the growth and development of the association and its hockey programs. Once again, appreciating that the selection committee may not know the candidate, the nomination package must contain sufficient documentation to allow for a fair and informed decisions.
Media Category
Every national organization, and in particular the CARHA Hockey, as a registered nonprofit charity, is most thankful when an individual from the media supports or promotes our programs. While there are few inductees in this category, we should be aware that when warranted, there is an avenue to properly show appreciation to persons from the media. The members may submit a nomination in this area when the coverage was local instead of national.
Nomination Process
The written nominations in this area must be very detailed to assure that the selection committee can adequately weigh the impact of the coverage and assistance provided from the media person. The nomination should also include copies of the coverage provided.
John Sergnese (Friends of CARHA Hockey)
The Friends of CARHA Hockey Category was established as a category in the Hall of Fame to recognize people who, although not members of the association, joined us by dedicating time and effort in the successful production of our programs. The category has been renamed to pay special tribute to a past board chairman, the late John Sergnese. John, who resided in Port Colborne, Ontario, truly exemplified a gentleman and as a hockey person, perfection as a role model whom everyone in our game should imitate. Although small in stature, John had a heart big enough to carry him to the ranks of semiprofessional hockey and to the top of our world as an executive member. It will be John's wonderful approach to life, to people, and to the game that will be used as the guide for the selection process in this category.
Nomination Procedure
As the description suggests, the nominees for selection into this category of the Hall of Fame are very carefully scrutinized to assure that the highest level of credibility for inductees is maintained. There are many friends of our hockey programs who go all the way to assist in promoting and working with us to give recreation hockey in Canada the best service possible. The nominee induction material prepared on your recommended candidate must leave no doubt with the selection committee that this person is deserving of this honour.
International Friends
Throughout the CARHA Hockey World Cup events and other out-of-country tournaments operated by CARHA Hockey, the association has received the assistance and friendship of many people from other countries. There are also other people who, through tournaments or organized hockey programs, have done a lot of work to promote recreational hockey.
Nomination Process
The CARHA Hockey Board of Management normally submits nominations for recognition of individuals in this category for consideration. However, any member with a suggestion for consideration is requested to contact the national office, and the Board of Management will be notified of the potential nominee.
April's feature hockey story
Apple Auto Glass Wins NHL A Final with 9-1 Victory
Story by: Rick Davison
The Dawson Creek Daily News
Apple Auto Glass capped off a near-perfect season with a convincing 9-1 win over the MagnaTech Electric team to take the Northern Hockey League A Final playoff title.
The Apple team breezed through the regular season with a 21-1-2 record and a goal differential of plus-111.
Apple had a bye in the first round of the playoffs and later got past Chad Norman Trucking 7-5 in the A Division semifinal.
MagnaTech hammered Gerry’s Well Service 8-3 in the opening round of the playoffs and then beat the Spitzfires 9-4 to qualify for the A Final.
In the other A Final round 1 games, Chad Norman Trucking beat Joe Loomis Trucking 10-4 and the Spitzfires edged AIS/Surepoint 5-3.
The losers of the opening round dropped to the B Final. After its loss in Round 1, AIS/Surepoint received a bye to the B Final because it had the higher point total from the regular season.
Gerry’s Well Service edged Joe Loomis Trucking 8-7 in the B Division semifinal, but lost 9-4 to AIS/Surepoint in the B Final.
Traditionally the NHL playoffs run a week longer and the final series are best-of-three series affairs. But this season the post-season was cut short and the finals were on game because School District 59 spring break is earlier than some years and the league organizers wanted to wrap up the season before the players left for the holidays.
March's Feature Hockey Story
International Hockey Tournament for Veterans Over 35
The 4th edition of this veterans tournament is being hosted March 18-20, 2010 in the Province of Pordenone, Italy. The previous three editions were an outstanding success, as they featured famous European hockey champions and teams from countries such as the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Russia, Serbia, and Slovakia.
If your team is looking for a change and want to inject some excitement into your hockey lives you should check out this event. You will escape from your regular hockey routines and play the sport you love in breathtaking Pordenone, Italy. All games will be played in the Ice Stadium of Claut, and as an exclusive event there will only be eight teams competing so this will allow for teams to really build their networks and friendships with teams from around the world.
This event is one of many hosted by the Russian Veteran Sports Federation, you can visit their website to find out more information on this tournament as well as all other sports of interest.
Download the Tournament Invitation
February's Featue Hockey Story
2010 Hockey for Heart Season Underway!
Our first tournament of the year was in Kitchener and was a huge success.
This first year tournament raised over $32,000 and featured 14 teams plus special guest George Stroumboulopoulos (CBC's The Hour). There are 2 tournaments in February (Windsor and Alliston) which should help us reach $1,000,000 raised since 1995!
There are many more tournaments across Ontario until mid-June so please check out www.HockeyForHeart.com and contact Rob Weir (rweir@hsf.on.ca) if you are interested in entering a team. The tournaments are aimed at adult rec level teams (mens, ladies, co-ed divisions).
Each team plays three games and each player is asked to fundraise what they can. The top fundraisers get a chance to play a group of former Pros. Some of our upcoming tournaments feature Tim Taylor, Wendel Clark and Steve Thomas! It's $750 entry fee to cover ice, refs and other costs but all the proceeds go directly to the Heart&Stroke Foundation which funds life saving research and helps to place life-saving AEDs.
Check out www.HockeyForHeart.com for more details.