“It’s lots of fun,” one young player nodded enthusiastically when asked his take on last weekend’s Minor Hockey Jamboree. “But I have to go now okay,” he said politely, and then took off lickety-split to join his teammates getting ready to hit the ice.
As expected, Oceanside Place was awash in smiles sticks and skates on the weekend as some 600 young players took part in this year’s Oceanside Minor Hockey Jamboree.
“It was fantastic,” OMHA special events co-ordinator Cindy Hutchison said Monday morning. “It was a lot of fun and everyone really enjoyed it — I had lots of positive feedback.”
“It was the best Jamboree I’ve been to,” agreed OMHA head ref Chris Herr, adding Cindy “needs to be thanked for all her hard work (and) I would like to thank all the sponsors, the parents/volunteers, the coaches, Brian Hagedorn and his Juvenile players for their help during the “skills and drills” and especially all the kids who gave their all this weekend.”
Longtime local referee Joe Kinch was visibly pleased when he was presented the Peoples Choice Award as voted on by the association prior to the start of the skills and drills competition.
The new award acknowledges an OMHA member who has dedicated themselves to promoting minor hockey and in doing so has enhanced the hockey experience or touched the lives of members of the local hockey community in a meaningful way. A retired MP with the Canadian Armed Forces, Joe, 55, drives a school bus, has been a volunteer ref with OMHA for 10 years.
“I had no idea it was coming,” Joe said. “I was very surprised, and very honoured. I’ve been posted in a lot of communities over the years, and here we’re very fortunate to have a great community.
“Great weekend,” he agreed. “Very well organized — the organizers of the jamboree, boy they did a super job.”
Joe also dropped the puck for the opening face-off at the Generals game against Kerry Park that evening.
Earning the fifth annual Honorary Member Award voted by the executive, was Dean Bruyckere for his many years or dedication including past president. Ian Holmes from The Beach radio station did a standup job as MC, and Oceanside’s Midget Rep Generals capped off a great weekend Sunday after their game when they were presented the banner they won for wining the Tier 1 League title.
The jamboree kicked off with about 70 initiation-aged players taking to the ice for a sponsorship parade.
Having three bands playing in the lobby “made it extra special,” said Cindy, pointing to the great entertainment provided by Gold & Shadow, Wyze Gyze, and B 2 Glee.
“It was busy,” Cindy chuckled when asked for some final numbers, pointing out pretty much all 400 plus OMHA players plus 15 out of town teams took part in the weekend celebration of hockey.
“It was busier by design,” said Cathy, pointing out, “we wanted to created some excitement; make it a real event. One thing we did differently is we included all the initiation players in the skills and drills, and that was great.”