In hockey talk, the Westlock Minor Hockey Association is on a nice winning streak this season, with increased depth throughout its lineup and numbers that are trending upwards.
With Minor Hockey Week underway, association president Denise Boulerice took some time out to talk about the state of the game in Westlock. For the 2014/15 season she said they’ve increased their numbers by about 10 per cent — jumping from 170 skaters last year to 184 this season — and have been able to add a team to the association’s roster.
Starting at the bottom, there are nine teams in the initiation, novice and atom categories — three in each tier. At the top end of the association, there’s one team at the bantam and pee wee levels, with two midget-aged squads — a feat the association hasn’t been able to achieve in years.
“The increase (in enrolment) is definitely positive, absolutely. It’s definitely strong. There’s some growth,” she said.
“We went with smaller teams at the lower age levels just to give them more ice time which allows them to not have to wait six or seven minutes to get on the ice. I think that’s worked out well.”
The numbers that are most satisfying for Boulerice are at the initiation and novice levels, where they’re fielding six squads. Those players are the future of the association, she said. As well, the initiation level is now sponsored via the Tim Hortons Timbits program, she said, which includes new jerseys every three years, as well as other perks. Westlock will also play to host to a nine-team Timbits tournament Feb. 14 at the Rotary Spirit Centre.
“We’re very happy with those numbers, absolutely. Those teams are a little smaller (numbers-wise), but that just means lots of ice time for them. I think overall parents and kids are enjoying it.”
She also noted the strong enrolment at the atom level, with the associating icing three squads — one playing in tier 1 in the 1660 Hockey League, while the other two are in Tier 4.
“There’s good support and numbers at the atom level. The kids are doing really well.”
Off the ice the association did not hold its fall dinner, dance and silent auction and are going with a raffle ticket fundraiser with tickets going on sale in the next two weeks — top prize is a new $15,000 quad, with a $1,500 travel voucher as second prize and $500 for third. Boulerice said they didn’t have the fundraiser position filled in the summer, meaning they couldn’t get working on the event. But despite that fact, she said it was time for a change.
“We thought we’d give the dinner a break and try something different. Reaction has been mixed. A lot of people enjoyed the night out, while a lot of people wanted a change. But it may come back, it just depends.”
This is Boulerice’s third year at the helm of the association and although she’s not actively looking to step down, she said if someone is interested she’s more than happy to move into the past-president seat at the association’s board table. The association hasn’t set its date for its AGM, although it needs to be held by April 30.
“I’m ready to move on and sit as past president, so if someone has the enthusiasm to run with things I’m definitely ready to pass that torch.”
