SUNDRE — An almost one-week delay in the municipality’s effort to prepare the ice surface at the Sundre Arena did not significantly hamper the start to the Sundre Minor Hockey Association’s season.
“We had dry land [training] on the soccer fields the week before because we didn’t have ice,” said Tim Kennedy, association president and U13 coach, referring to his team as well as the U15s.
The U18s spent some time at the Sundre Community Centre prior to the arena eventually opening almost a week after the initial planned date of Sept. 19.
The focus for those early-season gatherings was less about jumping right into practising drills and more about making introductions as well as giving coaches and players a chance to know another a bit more, he said.
Shortly after those first couple dry land meet-and-greets, players were able to tie on their skates and get back on the ice.
“We were on this Monday and Wednesday night, with another practice tonight,” Kennedy said on Friday, Sept. 30.
“Tomorrow, we have an exhibition game in Cremona already,” he said, adding it was more like a fun practice to provide an opportunity for the kids to get their legs back under them while also enabling coaches to begin assessing the players’ abilities.
Overall, the association was able to field six teams this year, he said.
There are about 17 players on the U7 squad, 10 on the U9 team, 16 on the U13s, and about a dozen on both the U15s and U18s, he said.
“At this time of year, it fluctuates. People are trying out for other teams,” he said.
But there weren’t enough players to form a U11 team this season, Kennedy said, adding he to no avail tried to do what he could to fill up the roster.
A few of the players that would have been on the U11 roster were bumped up to the U13 squad and are already fitting in nicely, he said, adding a couple of others ended up playing elsewhere.
And while the early bird spring discount has long since past, along with a regular rate leading up into the season, the association will still accept players; albeit for an additional late registration cost.
Kennedy said the season ahead is looking good so far and added he doesn’t anticipate any issues at this time.
“I don’t know if we’ll go all the way to the provincials this year with any team, but we’re certainly going to give it a shot,” he said.
Even if none of the squads make it that far in the Central Alberta Hockey League, all of the teams will still have the opportunity to experience hosting a big event on home ice.
“I don’t have the dates in front of me, but we have all our dates for our tournaments already,” he said. “Every team has a tournament.”
From a coaching perspective, Kennedy said, “You just hope for a good season and that everybody has fun and learns, and take this later on in life; what they’ve learned. That’s why we coach.”
