By TERRY PUGH
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) is betting that relocating the Notre Dame Hounds to Warman will turn out to be a good move in the long run.
So far, the newly-branded Warman Wolverines are meeting those high expectations.
With near-capacity crowds during pre-season games, and a full rink for the team’s home opener in late September, there’s a definite buzz around the community for the new team.
Wolverines Head Coach and General Manager Brett Pilkington is confident the positive vibes will continue for the rest of the season and beyond. The key, he said, is community involvement.
“This is a great hockey area and it’s gratifying to have folks filling the seats,” said Pilkington. “Getting some more big wins will certainly help keep the crowds coming in over the course of the season, but the biggest piece for us as a team is having players and staff out in the community and being involved.
“It’s not just about hockey activities; it’s community relationships in general. If you have those connections every day, then people will feel a sense of pride and ownership in the team.”
Pilkington said players will be in schools greeting kids and at sporting events throughout the year, as well as regular involvement with the team’s sponsors.
The team is also hooking up with Warman KidSport to help children in the community get involved in organized sports. Players and staff took part in the Warman KidSport breakfast in mid-September, and are implementing a ‘Goals for Good’ program whereby every Warman goal this season translates into a $10 donation to Warman KidSport.
The team provided a ‘Skate with the Wolverines’ event at the Warman Home Centre Communiplex (WHCC) on Tuesday, September 30. They’re also going to be on hand for the grand opening of the WHCC expansion rink on Wednesday, October 8.
Pilkington said the expansion and renovations to the arena also help provide a fresh start for the team.
“When the players feel comfortable at their home rink, it goes a long way toward helping them bond and create true friendships,” said Pilkington. “Those relationships are important for building a successful team. And the players and staff are excited to call this building home.”
Pilkington said the past summer has been busy for team management.
“Ever since the SJHL board gave final approval for the relocation of the team back in June, it’s been a whirlwind,” he said. “There was a lot that needed to be done in the arena, and also a lot of work from an organizational standpoint.
“We’re well into the new season now, and we’re still finalizing things. It’s a work in progress.”
BUILDING ON DEFENCE
Pilkington said the team consists of a mix of veterans and younger players.
“I’d say our strongest points are our goaltending and back end,” he said. “We’ve got three goaltenders: Eric Kahl of Saskatoon, Griffin Wright of Edmonton and Taye Timmerman of Winnipeg.”
The defence corps is led by Vincent Palmarin of Saskatoon, one of three 2005-born players on the team. The other two more-experienced players are forwards Hudson Kerr of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Lame Kennedy of Airdrie, Alberta.
Pilkington said 2007-born blue-liner Pherson Loehndorf of Macklin is also one of the veterans they’ll be relying on to anchor the defense and help mentor the younger players.
ACADEMIC FOCUS
He said the organization aims to help the players develop their on-ice skills so they can step up from the SJHL to a higher level, whether that’s major junior hockey or college athletic programs in Canada and the United States.
The players practice every day from 1 to 3 p.m.,” he said. “They also have strength and conditioning workouts in the gym, and we have video sessions to go over game film and work to improve their performance.”
But, he added, there’s also a strong emphasis on ensuring players’ off-ice skills keep pace with their hockey knowledge.
“Education is the number one priority for the players, particularly the younger ones that are still in high school,” said Pilkington. “It takes precedence over hockey. If a kid falls behind in school, we make sure he has the resources he needs to pull his grades up. Academics are essential, because for the majority of players, they’ll eventually be entering a profession other than hockey when they get older.”
For those players who continue to move up the hockey ladder, the team staff helps them map out their best options.
“It’s more than just hockey,” said Pilkington. “There’s the X’s and O’s that go into coaching them for the next game, but there’s also the off-ice stuff that ensure they have opportunities to succeed in life.”
Pilkington said a big part of the ‘family’ aspect of the team is the involvement of billet families for players.
“They’re a huge part of the program,” he said. “Without billets, we don’t have a team. So for families here in the community to step up and take in our players is a huge contribution.”
Pilkington said the team is quickly putting down roots.
“The plan is to stay here a long time,” he said. “We look forward to providing great hockey for the community.”