Baroldi, Pratt chosen to coach AWG teams

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

The 2008 Arctic Winter Games will be held March 9-15 in Yellowknife, NT next year, and Hockey Alberta has announced that two local people will be coaching staff for this event. Lindsay Pratt will be the head coach for the junior female team, and Dave Baroldi will be the assistant coach for the bantam male team. Pratt comments that the Games are meant to be fun, and that there’s camaraderie between athletes. “It’s still important to win and be successful, but the camaraderie … and learning about other cultures and meeting people is the number one priority of the Games,” says Pratt. This will be the highest level he has ever coached. He has 17 years of coaching experience, from novice to senior level. He has to attend a couple of Hockey Alberta seminars before the Dec. 7-9 High Prairie selection camp. There will be only one team building weekend following the selection camp. “It’s very important in our team selections that, not only (do we need to) pick quality players, but quality people. Over and above the talent that we’re looking for, we’re (also) looking for kids that are willing to work together, work hard and represent the northern half of the province in the best way possible. We’re looking for a first class type of group, that everybody is there for everybody else.” Pratt also says the biggest thing is the team concept, and making sure that everybody is on the same page as far as teambuilding. Everyone selected will have the ability to play at that level. Pratt looks forward to working with Marj McAusland of Grovedale, who will be the assistant coach. They’ve had many discussions and are on the same page on lots of issues. Pratt says that, though he is the head coach, they’ll work together as co-coaches. He adds that there will be great support staff above and below him to rely on. Dave Baroldi has coached hockey for many years, and is a veteran of two Arctic Winter Games as well as the Alberta Winter Games. He has won a couple of provincial championships and numerous zone championships. He wants to work on the basics with his players. “I feel that if you do the basics well, that the rest comes pretty easy,” says Baroldi. To him, the Arctic Winter Games is an opportunity to teach the players a higher level of hockey – a more in-depth level of hockey. They can learn some basics of the game, some systems and so on. “It’s a good experience for the kids to learn some stuff that they possibly wouldn’t get at home,” says Baroldi. He will be working with Don Terpsma of Valleyview, who will be the head coach of the bantam male team. The bantam male selection camp will be held in Valleyview from Jan. 11 to 13, 2008. The Arctic Winter Games are an international sport festival, bringing together athletes from the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut, Alaska, Greenland, Northern Alberta, Northern Quebec, the Sami people from Scandinavia, and the Russian provinces of Yamal and Magadan. These games are known as the “friendly games,” as they combine competitive and cultural aspects.

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