Championships and smiles is what the past hockey season was all about.
With a number of Ponoka Minor Hockey Association (PMHA) teams claiming league and provincial championship titles, the measure of success of the organization was more about seeing happy players than banners hanging from the rafters.
That was the feeling reflected by the outgoing president Mark Prefontaine of PMHA in his report at the organization’s annual general meeting and registration night on Tuesday, April 12 at the Ponoka Royal Canadian Legion auditorium.
“I want to thank the board members for fulfilling their roles this season and those that are leaving and for the support of all of the volunteers, parents, officials and players. It is through their collective efforts that we have had a successful season. But it is the smiles I saw on the young players every time I saw them at the rink, that is the litmus test for me,” said Prefontaine.
“That is the key thing - developing better young men and women.”
Another welcome sight for parents was the announcement that registration fees would be frozen of the third straight season, following the organization being able to find efficiencies in ice time used - dropping the amount of unused ice which saved $16,000 this past season.
While the season was good on those fronts, Prefontaine added there were challenges they faced last season and will continue to see further issues next season.
Among those challenges are the status of where players wanting to play AA hockey will move to and just what is going to happen with league play in the North Central Minor Hockey League (NCMHL).
Last season, any players wanting to tryout and play AA hockey were sent to Wetaskiwin, but now that regional hub will be moved to Lacombe for any local players wishing to try their hand at a more elite level. Prefontaine stated the travel may still be there - as practices are sometimes in Clive or Blackfalds - though there may be more opportunities for Ponoka to host both practices and games with the pressure of finding ice times in Lacombe continuing to build.
For the local teams though, playing in the NCMHL may be getting a bit tougher as Prefontaine told the small crowd gathered that several teams have left the league for the upcoming season which leaves fewer clubs to play. That has necessitated talks between the league, Hockey Alberta and other leagues in the region that are focused on possible interlocking play for the coming year, though Prefontaine said any details on the outcome of those talks will be presented in the fall.
One issue that will be dealt with by the new executive, Prefontaine stated, is on how to maintain a level of respect among coaches, players, parents and officials.
“Whether that is through placement of signs or other means, there are lots of ideas out there and that will be up for discussion by the board,” he said, noting it wasn’t a big issue in this association though there is always room for improvement to help build better young people and role models.
Volunteer award
A pair of well-known coaches and mentors, Peter Hall and Ron Klinger were presented as co-winners of the Dave Simanton Volunteer of the Year award at the meeting.
“This is a very special honour for me as Dave was a good friend and a great guy,” said Hall, who made the comments when contacted last weekend. “I was very disappointed I wasn’t able to be there in person.”
Both men were selected based on their dedication and commitment to give of themselves as well as present themselves in a fashion where they were role models to their players.
New board members
With a few positions up for grabs on the board, all of them were filled by acclamation.
Cam Rice will take on the role as president, while Michelle Senft is the new treasurer and Calvin David remains as registrar.