There’s no denying that Athabasca loves its hockey, and the 2010-11 hockey season proved that once again.
It was a busy year for the Athabasca and District Minor Hockey Association (ADMHA) and all of the young players that wear the Hawks jersey. With 12 teams competing in different age groups and leagues throughout the autumn and winter, it was a rare night indeed when blades weren’t carving into the ice at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex.
There was plenty of success to go around for all of the teams. The Midget ‘AA’ and Bantam ‘B’ squads hovered around the .500 mark for most of the season, while both Peewee teams came on strong in the second half of the season after starting slow. The two Atom teams met in their league final, while the Novices did well in the newly formed Elk Island Hockey League. And the new generation of Athabasca hockey players is already looking like a bumper crop, as there were enough youngsters to fill three Pre-novice teams.
But even though everyone wants to score goals and win games, the true measure of the organization’s success this past year would have to be the enjoyment that all of the kids had on and off the ice.
“Fun; that’s what it’s all about,” said ADMHA president Darcy Tangedal. “If we only looked at wins and losses, we would be a different league. You can tell success by the number of kids in the program and the positive aspects hockey brings to children.”
As you would expect from someone who volunteers his time to serve as president of a minor hockey organization, Tangedal is passionate about the game. He plays it, as do his children, and he believes the sports best days in Athabasca are still to come.
“It’s a really good program. It’s great for kids and it keeps them in Canada’s game. It’s the best sport you can play in northern Alberta,” he said.
Another encouraging sign, according to Tangedal, is the growing number of girls that are playing the sport. They were sprinkled throughout the 12 teams last year, and if the number of female participants keeps growing in the near future, the president is hopeful that Athabasca can once again be home to a dedicated girls program.
Off the ice, there are plenty of opportunities for hockey enthusiasts and community-minded individuals to play a part in the continuing success of the organization. They can start by coming out to the annual general meeting Wednesday night at the Multiplex, beginning at 6:30 p.m. A number of executive positions will be up for election, and volunteers are always welcome.
“We’re starting to see some turnover, people leaving the executive. We’re looking for new people to join in and for younger groups to get involved,” said Tangedal, who is willing to pass on the president’s torch if anybody else wants a turn carrying it. “It’s always good to get involved. You have a say on how thing are run and can make improvements. It’s a lot of fun.”
Tangedal hopes the association can build on its success next year by having two teams in each age group, coupled with a full and energetic executive.
“Athabasca has been very lucky to have the support of local businesses and community members. The multiplex is a great place to play hockey. Girl’s hockey is on the mend,” he said. “I think Athabasca hockey is growing.”
With so much passion for hockey in the community, it looks like the ADMHA has nowhere to go but up.
