While travelling up the highway to Ponoka for my son’s Jr. B game (Sylvan Lake Wranglers) against the Ponoka Stampeders on Nov. 27 , I entered your dual ice pad arena facility, with each ice pad separated only by a curtain, and watched the Jr. B teams proceed with their team warm up before the game. On the other side of the ice, I watched a young peewee team go through their regular practice routine with the coach leading in what looked like a great practice. As the Stampeders and Wranglers came on the ice for their regular season game and the crowd was asked to stand for the national anthem, I was totally surprised and very happy that this young peewee team stopped their practice and all stood silently, facing the flag on the other ice surface during the playing of our national anthem. My hat goes off to these fine young players and the coaching staff from this peewee team for the respect they showed for our country, for our veterans and for those still serving in our armed forces by their actions on the ice when they could have easily just continued on with their practice. The respect shown by these young people just goes to show that hockey is just not about playing hockey but the development of fine young citizens who will one day be the coaches and teachers of other young people and who will undoubtedly carry with them what they were doing, respecting our flag and our country. My hat goes off to this fine young hockey team and Ponoka Minor Hockey.
Brent LaBrosse, Sylvan Lake