Many enjoying hockey in casual setting. Parents, organizers sing praises of pond hockey

Players in Monday night pond hockey are shown in the photo above. In the front row, left-right, are Levi Forseille, Eric Larson, Tanner Stokes, Colbi Pratt, Sara Hill, Brendyn Larson, Bryce Shunter, Adrian Backs and Kyle Dupuis. In the middle row, left-right, are William Middelkoop, Liam Lanigan, Alex Cowell, Colton Kemp, Sean Lanigan, Kevin Yang, Asa Lamouche, Jake Billard, Zac Billard, Brandon Forseille and Nic Middelkoop. In the back row, left-right, are John Middelkoop, Eileen Billard and Warren Billard.

Players in the Wednesday night pond hockey group are show above. in the front row, left-right, are Josh Halvorson, Blake Holleis, Deklan Kit, Carson Becknar, Brendan Reimer, Kolby Backs, Alex Middelkoop, Nolen Forseille, Colby McLean, Kadin Kit, Sam Basarab, Kelton Herr and Kaleb Dupuis. In the middle row, left-right, are Randy Winterburn, Kyle Cox, Riley Cox, Emma Keay, Gracie Keay, Katija Sware, Alexa Doan, Bojan Gaudet, Mason Dlugosz, Sam Holleis, Bryson Dallaire and Colby Cox. In the back row, left-right, are Jay Becknar, Darrel Kit, Darrel Basarab, James Keay, Jerry Dlugosz, Cody Herr, Samuel Reimer and Cory Reimer.

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

A local pond hockey program run by volunteers wrapped up for the season March 4.

Eileen Billard, one of the volunteers, says the program is an opportunity for children to play non-competitively.

“It was an alternative to minor hockey, as about half of our group have played minor hockey. Half have always wanted to play hockey and just didn’t want to go the minor hockey route,” says Billard.

“This is an option for some of those kids that have never played organized hockey, to get on the ice and have a chance to play with other players.”

The program started in October 2008 with 40 players and it grew to 55 by Christmas. It was held in the Gordon Buchanan Recreation Centre, with the one group participating Monday nights and the other Wednesday nights, for one hour each night.

Her family knows first-hand the time commitment required for hockey.

“Both my boys have played minor hockey for five years and we found that it was a huge time commitment,” says Billard. “So, with the opportunity for them to still get out on the ice, but not have as many hours, we thought it was a good alternative.”

Based on feedback she has received from parents, the program should be offered next season. She also says having the second ice surface made it possible to hold the program.

“That was the determining factor . . . to run this program,” says Billard. “Without this second facility, there’s no way that we would have had enough ice hours to put this program together.”

Overall, the pond hockey program has been successful.

Kory Reimer, an organizer for the Wednesday session, has received similar feedback.

“I’ve had really positive feedback from everybody,” says Reimer. “It was a really successful first year, we learned as we went and we’ll try better for next year.”

The children in his group were ages 5-9 and there was some focus on skating and skills development for the first few weeks.

“There was a large range of kids who could barely skate, so we did a bunch of skill development then we went on to play our scrimmages,” Reimer says.

One parent, Charlene Dupuis, appreciates not having to make a major time commitment for her son, Kaleb, to be in the program and she commends those who volunteered to run it.

“The coaches are great, they taught the kids a lot,” says Dupuis. “One day a week is nice. I had one child in the other group, but it was still nice.”

Dupuis likes the fact the program is not competitive, making it more fun for the players.

“We don’t even keep score as to who wins the game, the kids all leave the ice happy but sad that their time is up for the week.”

It is more affordable than minor hockey, under $200, she adds.

Billard says information about next season should be available in the spring.

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