#hockeytalks - bell let's talk - 26 january 2022

Photo Credit - Hershey Bears

Story by Steve Erickson

Each year we are fortunate to watch several teams feature what has become the “World Famous Teddy Bear Toss” but none will ever hold the world record – except the Hershey Bears. 

In their recent 5-0 win over the Hartford Wolfpack they shocked the world and set a new world record Saturday at Giant Center, but it wasn’t for what the Bears did on the ice; but rather after they scored the game’s first goal.

Making it a record in the hockey history was Axel Jonsson-Fjallby who was fortunate to be the one to open the scoring at 6:13 while his team was on a PP that saw thousands of Teddy bear’s tossed on the ice.

Each year the event is held and has raised international attention as the Bears host a Teddy Bear Toss night where fans bring stuffed toys and are allowed to throw them on the ice after the team scores its first goal in the game and on this night it was Jonsson-Fjallby who sent the stuffed toys flying on the ice.

All of the bear’s will be donated to over 25 local organizations and distributed to children in the greater Hershey area and this year they set a new world record of 52,341 stuffed toys raining down. 

Jonsson-Fjallby told the media after the game “I feel like you want to be on the ice for that first goal” and ironically had just returned to Hershey after a stint with the Capitals this past Thursday. 

Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch also mentioned “The excitement in the building, the fans, the Teddy Bear Toss, I thought that [Hershey] played an excellent game and we did create some scoring chances, and when we did, their goalie [Pheonix Copley] played outstanding.”

Last season due to COVID-19 the event prevented the Bears from hosting the Teddy Bear Toss and it goes to say that this is one of the toughest tickets on the team’s home schedule. 

While the team did have a drive-by toy collection last season, the organization’s front office spent months planning the in-arena return of the event.

Zach Fisch, Bears manager of media relations and broadcasting mentioned “It takes a village, and we have a ton of volunteers. We count them very quickly. It’s a very robust operation who make it a very smooth and make it the viral sensation that it is.”

Continuing to mention “Kudos particularly to [marketing coordinator] Meredith Bair in our offices for her hard work as well as Kathy McGraw as part of our corporate communications team [with the Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company]. [They] do a lot of the heavy lifting.”

If we reflect back a few years it appeared that both the Bears and the WHL Calgary Hitmen were competing with each other mainly after the Hitmen had set a new world record. 

Not to be outdone in 2019 the Bears outdid the Hitmen with 45,650 toys  and according to Fisch “it gained in popularity as Hershey fans.our fans want to win, but with the Calder Cups, we only hang Calder Cup banners.” 

It does appear that that’s the mantra of the fan base and once they set the world record, it just continued and turned into an event each year everyone wants to be a part of, which is no different from the Vancouver Giants Teddy Bear Toss.

Hershey first entered the AHL in 1938 and have become committed to not only staying in Hershey, but also becoming a winning franchise and to date has won 11 Calder Cup championships.

While there are other Teddy Bear Toss events they are nothing compared with the one in Hershey, for a couple of reasons.

The first is the overall size of the building and second is  due to the restricted access for tossing the Bears on the ice, due to the netting around the rink.

It’s all about safety in today’s world and for whatever reason the world has become far too sensitive and according to some ‘it’s only going to get worse” as we move forward

Sad to think about, but full codo’s to Hershey on setting this record – but can they break it next year!!!

“‘Let’s not only be the world-record holder, but let’s also extend that kindness, that caring, that compassion that our town was built on, and let’s be the world record holders and put that many more smiles on kids’ faces from this event.’

”

Story by Rocky Rhodes

We all know and understand that any and all sports ca be aggressive given the fact that games can “test’ all players regardless of the sport.

Reflecting back, many will remember the incident with Sudbury’s Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Moore March 8th, 2004 which changed the way ‘payback” is dished out from one player to another.

Fast forward to a tournament that was played December 10th in Grimsby Ontario at the Fleming Memorial Arena that saw a 17 year-old goalie intentionally struck an opposing player in the head with their stick.

He is now facing a charge of assault with a weapon and according to Niagara police, the goaltender allegedly hit an opponent in the head with his stick during a youth hockey tournament.

To the surprise of no one the tournament has not been named and given that this took place during the on-going Pandemic this event alone has many wondering why “tournaments” were allowed to be played?

In BC, all tournaments were stopped by Dr. Bonnie Henry; BC’s Provincial Health Officer due to the escalation of Covid and while everyone has a different perspective they were shut down.

It is obvious that Ontario has a different manner in which to deal with the Pandemic, while everyone else in Canada continues to question ‘is it real or not.”

So in light of everything the situation that transpired in Grimsby while it should not have happened – it did!

Const. Phil Gavin told CBC there was a “back and forth” between the goalie and a player with the other team before the stick swing took place.

“But in this particular case it was believed that threshold was overstepped and it met the grounds for a criminal charge.”

The player who was hit was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and has since been released. 

It’s reported that his helmet did protect him from a further serious injury, but regardless the goaltender was ejected from the game and also banned from the remainder of the tournament.

Reportedly Const. Phil Gavin stated “In the end it is a game and you should be able to walk away without lasting injuries.”

The 17-year-old goaltender cannot be named due to Canada’s Youth Criminal Justice Act.

If you were thinking if this is the first time it has happened, it’s not!

Previously dating back to March 2017 Todd Ball, 38, of Fort Erie, was sentenced by Judge Tory Colvin Wednesday to serve 30 days on weekends and one-year of probation for assault causing bodily harm.

“I feel they should have made an example out of him,” victim Ryan Cox, 27, of Fort Erie said outside the courtroom. “I just don’t want this to happen to anybody else.

“He only got 30 days for breaking someone’s face. My life has never been the same.

The problem is differentiating between the physical nature of hockey — and criminal conduct that occurs outside the context of the game.

What upsets me is there was no reason behind it. There was no confrontation between us

“In my mind, the significant fact is that this was a non-contact, fun tournament,” Colvin said. “It makes it very different from cases involving competitive play, for instance in the NHL or the AHL.

The 17-year-old has been released pending a future court date.

So doing a follow-up the following are comments that were made on social media, which I reserve comments.

• Players swing sticks all the time. especially at other players. next they criminalize checking into the boards because some pansy gets hurt. get thicker skin or get out of the game. go play house league somewhere.
• it’s hockey. Yes they get hit. yes sticks fly, criminal, no way. did they hand out participation trophies too.
• Well the victim’s Mom has to be justified.

Photo Credit - D. Laird Allan/Sportswave

Story by Steve Erickson

We continue to get press releases from Dan O’Connor, Media Relations & play by play person who keeps us up to date on all moves and info made by the Vancouver Giants, which we greatly appreciate.

Trades in today’s world are part of what being a player means for not only the team, but also possible advancement for the player’s career which benefits both team and the player alike.

In light of the trading deadline we received the following trade info from Dan O’Connor regarding today’s announcement by Barclay Parneta; Giants GM regarding the following trades, which might surprise some given the movement of Giants Captain Justin Sourdif.

The first movement saw the Giants acquire 2002-born defenceman Tom Cadieux (Saskatoon, SK) from the Regina Pats and in return the Giants send a fifth-round pick in 2022 and a third-round pick in 2023 to the Pats.

Cadieux (6’1” and 177-pounds) shoots right and in his 30 games this season with the Pats, he has one goal and 10 assists for 11 points. 

He was originally selected by Tri-City in Round 2 (34th overall) in the 2017 WHL Prospects Draft and has played in 143 career games with Tri-City and Regina managing three goals and 21 assists for 24 points along with 70 penalty minutes. 

Next up saw the Giants send Tanner Brown (2002) to the Winnipeg Ice for a first-round draft pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. 

Brown was selected by the Giants in the 2017 WHL Prospects Draft (24th overall) and while with the Giants he appeared in 127 career games over the past four seasons with the Giants. 

While with the G-men he (Brown) notched six goals, 23 assists for 29 points managing a +4 rating while being no stranger to the sin-bin managing 76 PIM’s, playing in 34 games this season collecting 3 goals; 11 assists for 14 pts.

Last season he (Brown) led the Giants with a +11 rating and was also named the Team’s Unsung Hero Award winner.

The big news of the day saw the G-men move team Captain and fan favorite Justin Sourdifto Edmonton in exchange for a pair of first-round draft picks (2022 and 2025) and 2002-born. 

Oilers send Jacob Boucher (Legal, AB) from the Edmonton Oil Kings in hopes of adding additional scoring to the forward line-up

Sourdif was selected by the Giants (3rd overall) in the 2017 WHL Prospects Draft and recently signed with the Panthers.

While with the G-men he managed to collect 69 career goals; 97 assists for 166 points managing a +82 rating along with 132 PIM’s. 

In the 2018 and 2019 seasons he appeared in 24 additional playoff games and this season he (Justin Sourdif) notched nine (9) goals; 23 assists for 32 in 24 games. 

In 22 games in the BC Division he led all skaters with 34 points (11G, 23A) as well as being named the Division’s Top Player and recently played at the 2022 World Juniors.

He was also fortunate to take home Silver with Canada at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and also played with Team Canada Red at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Story by Steve Erickson

Given all the concern of late surrounding officiating and the “lack of” as well as the abuse that is directed at them on a daily basis, one has to wonder why anyone would become a sports official for any sport.

I hear from various sources that officiating in Canada and notably in BC that the numbers have significantly dropped off with some games going with two officials when there are to be three.

Other games have been forced to reschedule which puts the association in the situation that they have to come up with additional ice or work magic at swapping ice slots with another team.

The situation is simply and honestly abuse directed at officials at all ages and some of the comments are downright degrading and to no surprise they are coming from “so-called” Adults.

Hockey is a fast paced game and situations happen in a split second forcing the official to make a judgment call all based on their perspective of what they saw occur.

While the abuse or shouting hasn’t changed it’s become far more rampant and it comes from all nationalities and races in various games.

I watch and broadcast various games and as someone who has officiated for over 60 years and yes I am giving my age away the game I see is far different from what the Parents are watching.

The reason is simply that they are only focused on having their son or daughter’s team win at all cost, but the cost is high as it’s taking its toll on not just the officials but the game as well.

In light of all the abuse I reached out to someone who has been involved in officiating for a long time, but not as long as I have and requested to get some info to share with everyone, but mostly the parents in hope that they might understand how they are changing the game.

For those who think they know the rules and the game more that the officials currently officiating, please contact BC Hockey as they are always looking for new officials.

Enjoy the read:

Since the cancellation of our Provincial championships caused by the global pandemic in March 2020, we have learned a tremendous amount about our officials resiliency across the Province & Yukon.

It was difficult to close the season in 2020 without crowning a champion, equally difficult to have a season cut short and ended by Covid concerns without a final game to officiate. The season simply ended.

Each new season begins April 1, and we began planning a new season filled with challenges & expectations  working with local, regional, provincial and national health organizations immediately after the 2020 season was cancelled.

With no clear understanding of how many games, where games would be played,or who would officiate them it was a season of resilience, resets and revisions.

With registered numbers reduced by 30% from the preCovid season, it was important to inform, educate and instruct. Communication was essential to ensure each region was informed and aware of new heath  protocols and regional provincial & national health expectations.

With most communities offering all practice over play, it left few opportunities to officiate. Based on strong leadership in each association, leads organized on-ice sessions, teaching , mentoring and training officials. Practice rather than play became the norm in all associations.

As the new season arrived in April of 2021 officiating organizers chose to ensure every opportunity was used to retain each official from the first ever Covid season, but also ensure the recruitment methods were fully utilized and engaged. Organizers met virtually daily,

A plan was set to reach every corner of BC and Yukon , to ensure officials were welcomed , valued, safe and informed of a fresh start, a new season with unique restrictions , less practice and more game play. Meaning more opportunity to officiate in a full season. More games added meant more officials needed.

Under the direction and leadership of Sean Raphael , Kirk Wood & Dan Hanoomansingh, BCHockey officiating leaders were empowered to build a certification curriculum, set more than 70 specific certification dates for virtual clinic & certify digitally our officials online.

In Spring, Instructors were trained, mentored and equipped to deliver the certification clinics across BC and Yukon, first with the inaugural virtual Summer Officiating School. 

Dozens of students registered across the province and Yukon logged in each week for hourly instruction thru the summer with special guests and officiating leaders during a multi week certification process teaching rules, procedures , positioning, life skills, dietary needs, health and fitness support and Hockey Canada officiating guidelines.

Dozens of students enthusiastically sacrificed their summers to participate in preparation for preseason play in a new season of play.

The Hockey Canada officiating virtual certification clinics for returning officials launched in September with new first year officials registering with their local associations for an in-person classroom presentation complete with ice session. 

This ensured returning officials were welcomed back, prepared, equipped, while new officials were secure in their first experience in officiating hockey and introduced to officiating in BC and Yukon. 

BCHockey returning Officials responded across each region with strong numbers while new officials were eager to launch their fresh officiating experience with an overall increase in both returning and new officials across the province and Yukon. 

This new season had a substantial increase in registration both virtually and in-person over the first Covid season.

With mentorship, teaching & training returning to each association thru on-ice training sessions , classroom learning nights and game day  mentorship, hockey officials are returning to the game they love.

With current Covid restrictions in every region the focus now is local, regional & district playoffs including provincial championships in March 2022.

It’s an exciting segment of the season. January officiating leadership select officials for playoffs locally, regionally and makes recommendations for provincial championships.

This year with the increase in returning officials, significant new official numbers and the suggestion of completing a full season we are cautiously optimistic headed into the final two months of the 2021/22 season for the next season set for April 1st.

Steve, in addition to the positive direction this season, Hockey Canada hired our local Dan Hanoomansingh as their Officiating leader, selected numerous BCHockey high performance officials for duty in and outside our country, revised the National Level system, removing the level 4,5,6.

Kirk Wood, Dan Hanoomansingh and Sean Raphael can provide information on their high performance program.

Also, with Hanoomansingh being promoted to a National role, our BCHockey female program welcomed Vanessa Stratton to the provincial high performance lead position and locally, in the Lower Mainland , 

BChockey added Alexandra Cole to the newly created position of lower mainland female lead, due to the tremendous growth in BCHockey females officiating hockey.

One of the many triumphs this season includes our record setting afternoon in White Rock as 4 females completed the first ever all-women officiated BCHL game attracting attention from around the world to the development of female officials in BC.

Another first in officiating history occurred this season with the complete certification of all Hockey  Academy elite players at Yale as part of their curriculum inside Abbotsford School Districts’ Yale Hockey Academy adding another 50+ officials in an unprecedented opportunity to partner elite hockey players with the BCHockey officiating program this season.

The BCHockey officiating program will continue to do whatever we can to teach, mentor, equip and train the next wave of hockey official. Our thousands of constituents are resilient, they are successful because of their perseverance.

So much more than simply dropping pucks.

#somuchmorethandroppingpucks

Thanks for the opportunity Steve.

Photo Credit - PJHL

Story by Bruce Nolte and Steve Erickson 

Players sign to play for the team that either first approached them or the team that they feel will be the right fit for their young career, but given the signing changes are inevitable for both the player and the team.

January 10th is the day in the hockey world that management and coaches have a hard time dealing with as it means moving players that they have grown close with and became a member of the “team.”

All teams, well most teams make moves so as to make their team more productive but not just in the scoring department, but in both the offense and defense in hopes of advancing their team to the playoff run.

Locally in the lower mainland the Pacific Junior Hockey League consists of 13 teams and while not all teams made moves January 10th which is the provincial trading day for the BC Hockey.

Junior B Hockey Leagues in BC consists of three (3) Junior “B” Leagues that have each of the leagues making moves as all teams are making moves to advance to the Cyclone Taylor Cup Championship.

This year the Provincial Championship is being played in Delta at the Ladner Leisure Centre and is hosted by the Delta Ice Hawks taking place April 7-10th.

This year the PJHL will have two teams competing in the Cyclone Taylor Championship represented by the league winner as well as the Delta Ice Hawks who are the host team.

This would be the same if one of the other two Junior “B” Leagues were to host the Championship, but we should remember that Delta is hosting this years as they were to host it two years back, but were shut down by Covid-19.

Working with the City of Delta, BC Hockey as well as the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League as well as the Vancouver Island Hockey League were willing to allow the Delta Ice Hawks to host this year’s championship.

In conversation with one of the league coaches I asked him about the overall thought process and he mentioned “Player movement is one of the hardest things I have to deal with and the fact that they have been with the team since August, it often is emotional.”

The following is the list of trades in the January 10th within the PJHL:

1. Langley acquired the Hockey Canada playing rights to Austin Moar from the Abbotsford Pilots in exchange for the Hockey Canada playing rights to Aidan Roy and future considerations.
2. North Van Wolf Pack have acquired the Hockey Canada playing rights to Jake Loverock from the  Grandview Steelers for future considerations.
3. The Port Moody Panthers have transferred the Hockey Canada playing rights to Andrew Kim to the Kerry Park Islanders of the VIJHL for future considerations.
4. The Abbotsford Pilots have transferred the Hockey Canada playing rights to Devon Wolfe to the Saanich Predators of the VIJHL for future considerations.
5. The Chilliwack Jets have acquired the Hockey Canada playing rights to Keith Chester in exchange for future considerations.

Photo Credit - PJHL

Story by Bruce Nolte and Steve Erickson 

While sports are all competitive; accidents can and will happen when we least expect it and now I am hearing that a young grade 10 hockey player from St. Lukes School in New Canaan died Thursday evening after an on-ice collision.

This accident is far too close to me as I had this happen a while back in Abbotsford and I am hearing that Teddy Balkind was cut on the neck by the skate of another player during a game. 

Games are competitive and fast paced with things happening in a split second, but I see far too many parents trying to live their “dreams” out through their kids thinking more about winning and safety never crosses their mind.

Sad state but rules are put in place with wanting both Girl’s and Boy’s playing fair, but most of all in a safe environment.

Each year BC Hockey put on various referee clinic’s for all officials for the upcoming year and the numbers continue to drop all due to the abuse directed at them by parents, many of whom have no understanding of the rules, continuing to shout abuse to these young officials.

I ask you “Would you want a parent shouting at your young Son or Daughter not thinking of how this affects how they think let alone what they think” and we wonder why we continue to lose officials.

In a recent chat with a good friend who is one of many who run and assist in the overall development of the officials, he tells me the numbers are shocking, but how can this change?

As one can expect the accident to this young boy was nothing other than an accident with the other player completely unable to stop forcing the two players to collide at mid-ice that saw paramedics rush Balkind to Greenwich Hospital.

As a result of the serious injury he (Teddy) succumbed to the injury and eventually died as a result of the accident that happened around 5 pm that had the Junior Varsity team play St. Luke’s School from New Canaan.

St. Luke’s Head of School Mark Davis released a statement about the tragedy:

“Our community is mourning. Yesterday, we lost a precious young man in a tragic accident. Both St. Luke’s School and Brunswick School are in shock as we work to support our students and families. St. Luke’s singular focus at this moment is to care for our devastated community. Thank you for your concern and for respecting our need to grieve.”

Members of the Brunswick School community are also coping after the tragedy.

Brunswick’s Head of School Thomas W. Philip told the media “We are devastated; an unimaginable tragedy.”

He continued on to mention “I have, of course, met with the Head of School at St. Luke’s and have contacted the boy’s family to offer whatever help, support, or assistance we can during such a challenging time,” he continued. “Please keep all concerned in your prayers.”

No classes were held on Friday because of a snow storm, but St. Luke’s Head of School Mark Davis said the building would be open in the afternoon so that the community could gather to grieve.

He continued “There are no words adequate to this moment, and I know all of us will support each other as best as we can.”

While this is indeed such a tragedy I continue to see players on the ice with no neck guard or worse yet wearing it “tucked in” below their sweater.

The neck guard is there for a purpose and having this happen once to me personally, is far too close to home.

This isn’t the first time an accident has happened and if you remember think back to March 22, 1989 when Clint Malarchuk was injured when another player’s skate severed his jugular vein in a game between St. Louis Blues and the Buffalo Sabres.

Players, Coaches and most of all the Parents 

THINK SAFETY FIRST – IT CAN HAPPEN IN A SPLIT SECOND!!

The incident that happened in the game I was officiating is one that never goes away and is something that will linger in my mind forever – and some wonder why I continue to talk about player safety!!