Catriona Le May Doan confirmed as keynote speaker at 2017 Hockey Conference

RED DEER - Two-time Olympic gold-medalist Catriona Le May Doan is set to kick off Hockey Alberta’s 2017 Hockey Conference and Annual General Meeting on Friday, September 29.

The keynote address by Le May Doan will kick off two days of sessions and discussions for members of the amateur hockey community in Alberta focused on the benefits of being a multi-sport athlete, and the role it plays in long-term player development.

In addition to being a busy hockey mom, Le May Doan currently works with Sport Calgary, helping to advance amateur sport in the City. The retired Olympian has also served as a board member with Winsport, as well as the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Winter Olympics, and is still actively involved in many other charity organizations. As an athlete, she won back-to-back gold medals in the 500 metre speed skating event in 1998 and 2002. As a speed skater, Le May Doan broke 13 world records, and won the Lou Marsh Award as Canada’s Athlete of the Year in 2002, and won the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as the Canadian Female Athlete of the Year three times.

Off the ice, Le May Doan has covered five Olympic Games, and co-hosted the primetime show Countdown to Beijing. She was given three honourary degrees, and was inducted in Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Sports Hall of Fame, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada - one of Canada’s highest honours. She was one of four athletes to light the cauldron at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

As a busy sport parent and active coach, Le May Doan understands firsthand the challenges that Minor Hockey Associations face when it comes to competition within the sport and encouraging athletes to participate in other sports.

The 2017 Hockey Conference and AGM runs September 29-30 at the Sheraton Hotel in Red Deer.

Hockey Alberta’s Hockey Conference provides the opportunity for member Minor Hockey Associations, Senior and Junior Club teams, Sport Schools, league administrators, and other hockey industry people, coaches, parents and officials to participate in interactive sessions targeted at some of the hottest topics in the game today.

RED DEER - Brock Harrington, of Drumheller, and Allan Mowbray, of Calgary, were elected as new Directors at Large of the Hockey Alberta Board of Directors on Saturday.

The election was part of the 110^th Annual General Meeting held at Red Deer College. A total of six individuals let their names stand for election.

Harrington and Mowbray will join current members Terry Engen (Chair), Fran Zinger (Vice Chair), Rob Virgil (Past Chair), Len Samletzki (Finance Director), and Jerrold Lemko (Director at Large).

Fred Horbay and David Sevalrud are the outgoing members of the Board. Engen presented each with a farewell gift from Hockey Alberta, and thanked them for their years of service to the organization, and the perspectives and challenging questions that each brought to discussions around the Board table.

From left: Rob Litwinski, Fred Horbay, and Terry Engen

From left: Rob Litwinski, Dave Sevelrud, and Terry Engen

In other business at the AGM, Notices of Motion were approved to expand the Board of Directors to nine members, and to shift the Finance Director position from an elected position to one that is appointed annually. As a result, the 2018 AGM will have three Directors-at-Large positions up for election.

Doug Kinsella was recognized with 2017 Chair of the Board award, presented by Terry Engen. Kinsella led the process that resulted in the creation of CR Knights through the merger of the Calahoo and Riviere Qui Barre minor associations. Kinsella is currently the Past President of the CR Minor Hockey Association.

Also recognized for volunteer service were:

• Five Years: Aaron Rawlake, Trevor Hittel, Dave Butler
• Ten Years: Betty Chmilar, Fran Zinger
• Retiring Long-Term Volunteers: Greg Nesom, Bonnie Ogilvie

RED DEER - The power of sport was at the forefront as Catriona Le May Doan delivered the keynote address to kick off Hockey Alberta’s 2017 Hockey Conference and Annual General Meeting on Friday night at the Sheraton Hotel.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist, and Olympic bronze medalist, shared stories of her journey, and the path that took her to the highest level of success an athlete can achieve.

"Those medals represent about two-and-a-half minutes of a 23-year journey. To me, success is about that entire journey," Le May Doan said of her three Olympic medals, which she brought with her to pass around the crowd. "The reason I was successful was because I didn’t burn out mentally.

Le May Doan also stressed the importance of being a multi-sport athlete, and focused on several examples of successful multi-sport athletes.

"It’s our duty to say, in hockey, and in all sports, ’what else do you do?’" she said.

She also told the 150 people in attendance it’s their job to ensure kids don’t get burnt out mentally, and to make sure they’re still having fun.

"We’re seeing kids over-scheduled these days, and we’re seeing kids over-stressed," Le May Doan said. "We’re not allowing kids to just play."

Le May Doan closed her keynote address by reinforcing her believe of the power of sport, saying "not everyone likes change, but when you put the athletes first, and you embrace sport for life, change is the right thing. Sport has the ability the change lives, and to change lives for good."

2017 Hockey Alberta Awards

Following the keynote address, seven individuals and four minor hockey associations were recognized for their outstanding contributions to hockey in Alberta, as the 2017 Hockey Alberta Awards, sponsored by BFL Canada, were presented.

The 2017 Hockey Alberta Award winners are:

Minor Hockey Association Executive of the Year: Pamela Brown (Grande Cache Minor Hockey Association)
Minor Hockey Association of the Year: Marwayne, Dewberry and Kitscoty Minor Hockey Associations
Meritorious Award: Greg Nesom
Provincial Championships Exceptional Host Site Award: Wainwright Rustlers (Senior Male AA)
Hockey Development Awards: Jeremy Congo, Keith Hurd, Ron Oscroft, Roger Wolfe

Recipients of the 2017 Referee Committee Awards were also recognized during the reception:

Ernie Boruk Award: Dave Butler (Edmonton)
Dave Ganley Award: Doug Brown (Okotoks)

Zone award winners:

• South Zone: Joyce Graham (Picture Butte)
• Central Zone: Mykle Davidson (Calgary), Brandon Renner (Cochrane), Ian Calverley (Calgary)
• North Central Zone: Darren Pickering (Sylvan Lake)
• North Zone: Darcy Carter (Stony Plain), Scott Hennig (Fort Saskatchewan), George Hart (Edmonton)
• North East Zone: Rob Larson (Cold Lake)
• Peace Zone: Bryan Turner (Grande Prairie)