The Northern Ontario Hockey Association Program of Excellence Development Weekend was held this past weekend, May 27-29, 2022 in Sudbury, Ontario.
Ninety 2008-born players participated in the annual three-day event, hosted across Laurentian University, Countryside Arena, and TM Davies Arena. The program featured multiple off-ice fitness and education sessions, including health and nutrition, fitness testing, and mental health and team building activities.
On the ice, the players participated in four hours of practice sessions, as well as ninety minutes of game action. Goaltenders were also part of an exclusive session catered to developing their skills in the net.
The Program of Excellence is built around Hockey Canada's Long Term Player Development model, which includes Hockey Canada Skills practice sessions including skating, shooting, passing, and position-specific instruction.
On the Officiating side of the program, the NOHA hosted sixteen officials of all ages from across Northern Ontario. Officials participated in educational sessions taught by high-level instructors from the North, including communication, penalty shots and awarded goals, and incident reports. Our officials took part in both on-ice and off-ice sessions, and then officiated the games for the players. All officials also had the opportunity to obtain their Level Three certification.
The NOHA would like to thank all of our volunteers, including coaches, trainers, and off-ice officials. We look forward to providing this experience again in 2023.
The NOHA was saddened to hear of the passing of NOHA Past President and Life Member Bryce Kulik. Bryce was a valued member of the NOHA, and his contributions to the hockey community will be sorely missed.
For more information and donations: https://timminspress.remembering.ca/obituary/bryce-kulik-1085148330
The NOHA announced the 2021-2022 Award Winners at the NOHA Annual General Meeting in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Congratulations to this year's deserved award winners!
Angus Campbell Merit Award - Greg Lockeyer, Mindemoya
The Angus Campbell Merit Award is named after the founder of the NOHA and it is an order of merit awarded by the NOHA to an individual for outstanding service to the game other than as a player.
Greg Lockeyer first has dedicated more than 40 consecutive years towards Minor Hockey both on the coaching and officiating side. He spent seven seasons as a trainer for his kids' teams, including being trainer for the 2018 Telus Cup-winning Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves.
Wearing the stripes, he has been officiating games since he was 13 years old. He is always calm and cool on the ice, and off the ice is a world of knowledge. He spent five seasons as Referee-in-Chief for his District, and was the Manitoulin Minor Hockey League’s RIC for 10 seasons.
There is no one in hockey on Manitoulin Island more dedicated to hockey.
Ken Neeb Memorial Award - Steven Vachon, Timmins
This special achievement award is presented to those individuals, other than athletes, who have made an outstanding contribution to minor hockey in Northern Ontario. The award was established in 1975 in memory of the late Ken Neeb who was the NOHA convenor for the Noranda District. Ken was a great promoter of Minor Hockey and was one of the founding members of the Kiwanis Peewee Hockey Tournament, which is held annually in Rouyn Noranda during the month of February.
Steven Vachon has been involved in coaching minor hockey at pretty much every level, including Junior, since 1995. Many of his teams have won NOHA Championships and represented the NOHA at OHF Championships.
His certifications are many, including every Hockey Canada Coaching qualification available. He also facilitates many of these clinics in the Timmins area, and when needed has travelled to support these sessions in other centres across the North.
Rick F. Albert Memorial Award - Soo Peewee Hockey League
This award is presented to a person or Association which has been instrumental in the area of development within the NOHA. This award can be given to an individual involved in coaching, refereeing, training or the Initiation Programs, one who has developed a program which has been incorporated to the benefit of hockey or a person who has dedicated a great deal of time and effort to development within the NOHA. The award can also be presented to a hockey association who through its efforts during a hockey season furthered the advancement of development within the NOHA.
It has been several years since the NOHA presented this award to a Minor Hockey Association, but with the Hockey Canada Player Pathways playing a significant role in how we all operate, the NOHA felt it was an opportune time to recognize the work being done by this particular Association in implementing and following the Pathways.
The Soo Peewee Hockey League runs one of the largest programs within the NOHA, with close to 1000 registrants annually. They play a key role in the long-term development of the athletes in the community, and the on-ice success of the teams across the older age divisions is a testament to the work that they have done.
The organization has done a great job in implementing the Pathways in their community, and hosts U8 and U9 teams which follow the seasonal structure and deliver competitive programming locally.
NOHA Trainer of the Year Award - Lacey Rigg
The Trainer of the Year Award recognizes outstanding dedication and service in the areas of Safety and Risk Management within the NOHA. The recipient of this award will exemplify commitment to the values of safety, enjoyment, Fair Play, education and integrity in the game of hockey through the Hockey Trainers Certification Program of Ontario.
This year’s recipient of the Trainer of the Year award is Lacey Rigg, Trainer for the Timmins Rock Junior A Team. Over the last 4 seasons as The Rock’s Head Trainer, she has seen the team through the ups and downs and uncertainty that has come with the COVID-19 pandemic. Lacey, or “Lace” as the boys call her, deserves recognition for her dedication to the team, regardless of the circumstances, both on and off the ice.
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Keep an eye out for the Officiating Awards which will be announced once presented!
