FEMALE BANTAM THUNDER UPDATE…
The Flooring Depot Female Bantam Thunder played Victoria in Esquimalt on Saturday January 21st. Port Alberni won with a score of 6-2 against Victoria. Lyndsey Taylor scored a hat trick! The game ended with 2 minutes on the clock remaining due to an injury to one of our local players. She’ll be ok, but will have to sit out the next few games. Their next game is Saturday January 28th in Juan de Fuca.
It has been a great year for the girls so far. The girls have been working together as a team which has proven itself to be a strong factor in their game play.
Submitted by Rhonda Dame
FEMALE MIDGET THUNDER UPDATE…
Action around Alberni Valley net minder Kendal McLellan.
On Sunday January 22, the AV CUPE Female Midget Thunder faced off against their toughest opponent in the Female Island League, the number one ranked Comox Valley. Having not lost a game all season, Comox had outscored their opposition 57 – 8. Less than 3 minutes into the game, Comox had one on the scoreboard. But the Thunder had come to play, and with 4:30 minutes left in the first and on a power play, Krista Plaunt evened the score, assisted by Shayla Frechette and Whitnie Senger.
And that was the way the score remained heading into the third period. Backed by exceptional goal tending by Kendal McLellan, who stopped 27 of the 28 shots she faced, the team skated hard and kept Comox at bay. With 40 seconds left in the game, Mariah Westra put the Thunder ahead, assisted by Shayla Frechette and Nikki Buffie. Comox pulled their goalie and fought hard to even the score, but with 11 seconds remaining, Mariah Westra took a pass from Carly Gill and put the final marker into an empty net. A hard fought and well deserved win for the girls, with every player putting out 100% every time they stepped on the ice. They made their coaches and parents proud!!
After the go-ahead goal: (l - r) Rachel Hansen, Shayla Frechette, Nikki Buffie, Carly Gill, Mariah Westra.
Krista Plaunt breaks away from two Comox defenders to score the tying goal in the first.
One happy team!!
Submitted by Shelley Arnfield
Photos by Barb Anderson
ATOMS PRACTICE
Tuesday, Jan. 17th, 2012.
AVMHA Atom House teams, Magic Moments – Red Bulls and Scotiabank – Blackhawks, took the ice for a regular practice.
I spoke with 2 of the Red Bulls players, Gage and Sean. They told me that they are working on their crossovers, stick handling and wrist shots. When asked, who on their team has the most fun playing hockey, they agreed it is Travis and Davis.
Gage’s favorite hockey player is Ryan Kessler and Sean’s favorite is Sidney Crosby.
They are looking forward to going to a tournament in Comox.
BANTAM COYOTES PRACTICE
Wednesday afternoon and the Alberni Valley News Bantam Coyotes have the ice to themselves for a practice. The team has been to 3 tournaments this season (Lake Cowichan, Powell River & Nanaimo). They placed second in the Lake Cowichan tournament. They did not know the exact standings in league play, but they are happy with the number of winning games.
They have a good team and good leader in their captain, Nick Ross. The best player at stick handling – Jaden. The player with the best wrist shot – Nick. The most enthusiastic player – Kaden.
NOVICE PRACTICE
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 Haggard’s Trucking Novice Red Devils practiced on the Weyerhaeuser Arena with their coach Wade Nicklin. Talking with some team players they said they have played a lot of games and so far, undefeated. They have not been to a tournament but hope to go to one this year. Here are a few photos from the practice.
MITES PRACTICE
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 the TimBits Mites Sharks and TimBits Mites Flyers took the ice for a regular one hour practice. Below are a few snapshots of the teams during the practice.
FEMALE BANTAM THUNDER
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The Flooring Depot Bantam Female Thunder just finished a game yesterday (Jan. 14th) against Juan de Fuca. Both teams were very well matched. In third period Bantam Thunder were up 3-1, goals had been scored by #10 – Lyndsey Taylor, #4 – Sophie Vanderlee, and #24-Kayla Groot. With only a few minutes left, JDF Grizzlies scored, making it 3-2. In the last minute, the Grizzlies pulled their goalie, however they put 7 women on the ice, receiving a 2 minute penalty for “Too Many Women”. With 3 seconds remaining, and short handed, the JDF Grizzlies scored tieing the game 3-3. An exciting exhibition game down to the last second!
Submitted by Rhonda Dame, Bantam Thunder Manager
NOVICE PLAY CAMPBELL RIVER
Our Haggard Trucking Novice Devils team coached by Brian Vallee went to Campbell River for a Jamboree the weekend of Jan.14 and 15. We won all four games with scores: 6-1, 7-2, 9-2 and 8-2. All 4 games where against different Campbell River teams It was a great weekend with some great hockey. They played so well and made amazing passing and plays. Real team work!
During the Christmas Break, the Novice Devils went to a tourney in Nanaimo, Dec. 27 & 28th. They played 4 games with a record of 3 wins and 1 tie. Another great job!
AVMHA Novice Devils in Campbell River
Proud sponsor of the AVMHA Novice Devils
Submitted by Kellie Steel
BANTAM BRUINS WIN GOLD IN PORT MCNEILL
Alberni’s K&F Roofing Bantam Bruins are having a great season so far. In league play, we are undefeated, however one game was a tie (against the Alberni Bantam Coyotes). The team is playing very well together, under the coaching of Rob Cole and Mark Addy. Our team Captain is Carson Nicholson and Assistants Danial Tavares & Logan Henson.
We attended one tournament in Port McNeill in November, where we took first place. More information on the Port McNeill Bantam Tournament – North Island Gazette-Nov 24/11.
Bantam Bruins win Gold in Port McNeill Tournament
Proud Sponsors of the Bantam Bruins
Submitted by Renee Tavares
FEMALE MIDGET – Tournament Update
During the Christmas break, the CUPE 118 Female Midget Thunder competed in the Oceanside Icebreaker Female Tournament, December 27 – 29 along with teams from Comox, Sooke, Victoria, Kerry Park and North Shore. Port Alberni brought home the bronze medal after playing some of their best hockey of the season.
The only loss for the team came in their first game vs North Shore. They took a 1 -1 tie into the third period but lost 4 -1, with the fourth being scored into an empty net. Brenna Cox was outstanding on defense and was awarded the game MVP. North Shore went on to win the tournament in a shoot-out victory over Comox.
Two wins followed in the round robin play, 5 – 2 vs Kerry Park and 6 – 3 vs Victoria. Rachel Hansen, with a hat trick against Kerry Park, and Faith Lariviere were named game MVP’s.
Port Alberni finished second in their pool and played for the bronze medal against Victoria. It was a decisive 10 – 2 win with Britney Savard scoring 4 goals for the Thunder and Mariah Westa adding another 3. Carly Gill took game MVP honours.
CUPE 118 Female Midget Thunder Team with Bronze Medals
Thanks to CUPE 118 and AAA Sports Photography for their sponsorship of the team this year.
Submitted by Shelley Arnfield
Game Photos credit to Barb Anderson
Team Photo: Leanne Savard
FEMALE MIDGET Update…
The AAA Photography Female Midget Thunder are heading into the Christmas break with a 4-2-0 record.
Two of these wins came on the Dec 17/18 weekend as league play wrapped up for the break. On Saturday December 17 the girls played in Kerry Park, winning 6-0. Rachel Hansen and Kaitlyn Heck led the scoring with 2 goals each. Mariah Westra and Krista Plaunt added singles. Kendal McLellan had a strong game in net recording her first shut out in league play this year.
On Sunday December 18, the Thunder played Victoria at home and recorded a 6-3 win with Josey Watson in the net. Goals were scored by Mariah Westra (2), Shayla Frechette (2), Faith Lariviere and Krista Plaunt.
The team is playing in the Oceanside tournament on Dec 27-29.
Thanks go out to coaches Andre Savard, Heather Senger, Jordan Dowling and team manager Leanne Savard for the great start to the season this year.
Sponsor of the Female Midget Thunder Team
Submitted by:
Shelley Arnfield
Female Division Manager
AVMHA at the Bulldogs Game
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs treated the players at Alberni Valley Minor Hockey Association with complimentary tickets for the Bulldogs afternoon game on Sunday, December 11th Vs the Langley Rivermen. Approximately 100 AVMHA players from Mites, Novice, Atom & Pee-Wee Divisions were in the stands cheering on the team; many with their faces painted “Bulldog” colours and waved hand drawn signs. Some of the players received Bulldog merchandise and one team won mini Bulldog hockey sticks for being the loudest team.
AVMHA thanks the AV Bulldogs for inviting the players and look forward to the next “AVMHA Day”.
AVMHA President Al McCulloch, with a many of the AVMHA players
ATOM Blackhawks Update
Photos are from Sunday, Dec 4th when the Alberni Valley Scotiabank Atom Blackhawks played Oceanside’s Atom team.
Atom Blackhawks have a couple games coming up the next few weeks:
- December 9th Friday 4:45 to 6:00 pm at the AV Multiplex-Weyerhaeuser Arena, Blackhawks vs. Nanaimo
- December 18th Sunday 7:30 to 8:45 am at the AV Multiplex-Weyerhaeuser Arena, Blackhawks vs. Lake Cowichan
IIHF World Girl’s Hockey Day – Oct 2
Scheduled to speak after the game are: (speakers may change without notice)
VIAHA – Female Hockey – Memo Sep 26 & 28, 2011
September 26, 2011 – MEMORANDUM
TO: VIAHA Executive Committee; Female Hockey Development Coordinators; VIAHA Female Hockey Committee
FROM: Jim Humphrey, VIAHA President
SUBJECT: Female Hockey
As has been stated in earlier correspondence VIAHA took on the responsibility of hosting the competitive female teams within Vancouver Island. This is a huge change from previous years, VIAHA consulted with BC Hockey last January on how to best move forward so as that the District would be responsible to declare where female teams would be hosted under the no competitive team in category. As such the VIAHA membership made changes to regulations so that the District would determine the residential boundaries as well as the carding association for each female competitive team.
In saying this, the VIAHA Executive Committee is very aware of the confusion that has occurred thus far and do want everyone to know that they very much support female hockey and want to see it grow. How this is to happen is where there is a difference of opinions. Those female players that have expressed the desire to play on female teams will be afforded every opportunity to do so whether it is at the competitive or recreational level.
Yesterday the member MHAs declared the following:
- Seven Atom Recreational teams
- Possible eight Pee Wee Recreational
- Possible seven or eight Bantam Recreational
- Possible seven or eight Midget Recreational
- One Competitive Pee Wee encompassing all of Vancouver island
- Two Competitive Bantam teams
- One Cowichan Valley South and One Nanaimo North
- Two Competitive Midget teams
- One Cowichan Valley South and One Nanaimo North
We have to move past what has occurred to date so therefore this coming weekend October 1st and 2nd, the District is organizing a series of ice times where we will have the players wishing to continue in their attempts to play competitive hockey being evaluated one last time. We are looking at having two sessions on Saturday October 1st and one session on Sunday October 2nd. We will assign evaluators to the sessions along with the head coaches of the respective teams with the goal being to have 21 players selected that will move forward with the coaching staff bringing the teams to 19 players by mid October. We are also at this time working on an organized structure where the teams can compete. For the Bantam “A” teams this may well be in the Female Midget C league as they did last year. For the Midget “A” teams we are looking at where they could best fit to play a series of exhibition games within the Bantam Island League as well as against each other, plus bringing teams from the mainland over to play two game weekend series.
Please note that where the teams are carded should not be of concern as it will be VIAHA that will be the host and as such the teams will not be based out of any one association rather all the MHAs in a particular region will be asked to supply both practice and game ice. The District wants to try and keep the travel and costs as
controlled as possible. Of course, in saying this, if teams want to travel for tournaments etc. there will be additional costs.
I wish that I had more details on the coming weekend to put into this memo but as we move forward be assured that as much information as possible will be sent out to the MHAs, Female Development Coordinators as well as team head coaches. We hope to have the ice times by tomorrow night and we are working on the evaluators and administration now with more out on this as well in the coming few days.
VIAHA has set the course. We now need to try and overcome what has occurred in the past three weeks and
move forward as best we can. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Sincerely,
Jim Humphrey
VIAHA President
_________________________________________________________________________________
September 28, 2011 – MEMORANDUM
TO: VIAHA Executive Committee; Female Hockey Development Coordinators; VIAHA Female Hockey Committee
FROM: Jim Humphrey, VIAHA President
SUBJECT: Female Hockey
As was indicated in my memo yesterday this coming weekend October 1st and 2nd, the District is organizing a series of ice times where we will have the players wishing to continue in their attempts to play competitive hockey being evaluated one last time. The ice times that have been arranged are as follows:
Midget Nanaimo North:
- Saturday October 1st, 12:45-2:15pm at Cliff McNabb Arena
- Saturday October 1st, 5:45-7:15pm at Frank Crane Arena
- Sunday October 2nd, 3:00-4:30pm at Sports Centre #2 (Courtenay)
Midget Cowichan Valley South
- Saturday October 1st, 1:00-2: 50pm at Seaparc Arena (Sooke)
- Saturday October 1st, 8:00-9:50pm at Juan de Fuca Arena
- Sunday October 2nd, 12:30-1:50pm at Fuller Lake Arena
Bantam Nanaimo North:
- Saturday October 1st, 10:45-12:15pm at Weyerhaeuser Arena (Port Alberni)
- Saturday October 1st, 4:30-6:30pm at Meeker Arena (Parksville)
- Sunday October 2nd, 3:30-5:00pm at Glacier Gardens Arena (Comox)
Bantam Cowichan Valley South:
- Friday September 30th, 8:30-9:50pm at Juan de Fuca arena
- Sunday October 2nd, 6:30-8:20pm at Bear Mountain Arena
We are continuing to work on arranging the evaluators but need MHA Presidents to step up and assist finding people that would be available to attend all three sessions at a particular level. Time is of the essence thus please give this your urgent attention, the decision was a VIAHA one and now we need to ensure that the evaluators are in place.
More details on the coming weekend will be sent out as they come available; we need those involved to ensure that the girls that have been involved are aware of the ice times and the importance to attend these evaluations. It is fully realized that some are upset with what has occurred but as indicated in prior memo’s the District has made a decision and now we must move forward in this last evaluation of our competitive female hockey players.
For those parents that have emailed or called I regret that I cannot answer you at this time, I am in Vancouver at the UBCM and tied up much of the day and evening, I am working with staff and the MHAs to ensure that we are as prepared as possible.
Again, it is realized that some of you are upset and want more answers but the fact is I have put as much information as I can/know in these past memos. Times, locations and regions have been indentified; players will only be allowed to attend ice sessions in their designated region. We can only encourage those players that have been involved to date to attend their scheduled ice times.
Sincerely,
Jim Humphrey
VIAHA President
Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association
2301-E McCullough Road Nanaimo BC V9S 4M9
info@viaha.org www.viaha.org
Ph: 250-751-8811 Fax: 250-751-8812
Ice Schedule Starts Sept. 12
The ice schedule has just been released for the first week of the season. (Weekend ice was added Sept 14th)
All ice schedules can be found on the “ICE SCHEDULES” page.
Schedules are links to .pdf files that require Adobe Reader to open. If anyone has a problem with viewing these files, please advise our web administrator - avmha.webadmin@shaw.ca
.
amended Sep 14, 2011 @ 12:11 am
VIAHA Memo – Female Regional Teams
Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association
MEMORANDUM
TO: MHA Presidents & VIAHA Female Hockey Committee Members
FROM: Barb Norton, Chair – Female Hockey
SUBJECT: Female Regional Teams
I would like to take this opportunity to clarify some issues surrounding the selection of our regional teams for our female players. I have been hearing that some players and families are feeling confused.
- We have been asked if the girls can try out for the boys’ (integrated) competitive team and failing to make that team, can they then try out for a female competitive team. According to Reg 4, 4.07, note 6 in the VIAHA handbook, players may only try out for one competitive team and failing that they must return to their home association to play on a recreational team. The girls will have to decide which team they will try out for girls or boys.
- Peewee parents and those with first year bantam players are aware of the BC Hockey U14 camp being held in Parksville the weekend of August 27th and 28th. Hopefully all interested players have registered. I have heard that parents are concerned that their bantam players will be missing their tryouts for the VIAHA Bantam A teams scheduled that weekend as well.
The VIAHA tryout weekend August 27/28 is a conditioning camp for all our participants. The U14 camp will also be an opportunity for the girls to get their skating legs back. VIAHA encourages all first year bantams to participate in the U14 camp for their conditioning. VIAHA evaluations will begin the weekend of Sept 10th and 11th and no player seeking to try out for a VIAHA team will be at a disadvantage. This will give all players the opportunity for a conditioning weekend prior to the start of evaluations on the Sep 10th weekend.
- REMINDER: REGISTRATION FORMS WITH PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED PRIOR TO TRYOUTS. These can be sent to the VIAHA office or brought to the first tryout. THESE MUST BE RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE PLAYER STEPPING ON THE ICE. The form can be found on the VIAHA website (within the next few days – form is attached to this memo).
PERMISSION FORM: THIS MUST BE SIGNED BY AN AUTHORIZED PERSON WITHIN YOUR ASSOCIATION AND BROUGHT TO THE TRYOUT OR HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY VIAHA PRIOR TO THE TRYOUT. (ALL PLAYERS MUST BE REGISTERED IN THEIR HOME ASSOCIATION IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN REGIONAL TRYOUTS.) AGAIN, PLAYERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE ICE WITHOUT THIS FORM. (NOTE: the form on the website says midget, please cross out and put appropriate division.)
SUMMING UP, NO REGISTRATION, PAYMENT AND SIGNED PERMISSION FORM MEANS NO TRYOUT ICE UNTIL THESE ARE IN HAND.
- VIAHA is the host association for all female regional teams. JDF, Nanaimo and CR have agreed to be the carding association in each region for all teams. The carding association is determined for ‘carding purposes only’. All VIAHA Presidents have committed to providing ice to the VIAHA female rep program, whether they have participants or not. Once teams have been formed decisions about where they practice and play will be determined by VIAHA.
Please continue to check the VIAHA website for further information, www.viaha.org.
If you have any questions or for further information please contact Barb Norton by email at bwnorton@shaw.ca or by telephone at (250) 743-1685.
