High School Hockey
At the beginning of last year's hockey season, there were a number of people who started having conversations about where our high school aged players would end up playing for the '17-'18 season, as the league they were in was starting to run out of teams. It was then that we contacted the Westman High School Hockey League about the possibility of joining, and they were very excited about the prospects of bringing in an expansion team. After attending their final league meeting in the spring, we found out we were one of four new teams entering into the league.
The team will be called the McCreary Mountaineers, and will join the WHSHL and play in one of the new divisions the league is set to create. Anyone from grade 9-12 who is enrolled in one of the high schools in the Division is eligible to play on the team, and yes, girls are more than welcome to play, as well.
The team will practice in McCreary, as it is central to all communities involved, but home games will be shared between McCreary and Ste. Rose. We would like to see each community host a game at some point, but we aren't currently able to make that work.
There will be a meeting for all prospective players with their parents on September 11 to organize a few details. The season will start at the end of October, but players will be doing some dryland training and on-ice practice prior to that opening game. Ice is usually ready in McCreary by October 15, so the first practice will be shortly after that.
In terms of goals and expectations for the upcoming season, we're more focused on the off-ice coordination rather than the on-ice product right now. As an expansion team playing in a new league with new players who may know each other but have not played with each other, we know there are going to be some hurdles. Our major focus to begin the season will be in player development, and creating the environment we want to surround our players in. Winning and being successful in hockey requires the proper mindset and positive attitudes, and bringing a group of teenagers together to all work as one is never an easy task. Doug is certainly the right guy for the job though, and we are very fortunate to have him signed up as our Head Coach.
If people have questions or are looking for more information, they can contact me at 204-228-3092, or by email at [email protected].
Submitted August 28, 2017
The team will be called the McCreary Mountaineers, and will join the WHSHL and play in one of the new divisions the league is set to create. Anyone from grade 9-12 who is enrolled in one of the high schools in the Division is eligible to play on the team, and yes, girls are more than welcome to play, as well.
The team will practice in McCreary, as it is central to all communities involved, but home games will be shared between McCreary and Ste. Rose. We would like to see each community host a game at some point, but we aren't currently able to make that work.
There will be a meeting for all prospective players with their parents on September 11 to organize a few details. The season will start at the end of October, but players will be doing some dryland training and on-ice practice prior to that opening game. Ice is usually ready in McCreary by October 15, so the first practice will be shortly after that.
In terms of goals and expectations for the upcoming season, we're more focused on the off-ice coordination rather than the on-ice product right now. As an expansion team playing in a new league with new players who may know each other but have not played with each other, we know there are going to be some hurdles. Our major focus to begin the season will be in player development, and creating the environment we want to surround our players in. Winning and being successful in hockey requires the proper mindset and positive attitudes, and bringing a group of teenagers together to all work as one is never an easy task. Doug is certainly the right guy for the job though, and we are very fortunate to have him signed up as our Head Coach.
If people have questions or are looking for more information, they can contact me at 204-228-3092, or by email at [email protected].
Submitted August 28, 2017