Merger strengthens Smoky River minor hockey

Richard Froese
Smoky River Express

A newly amalgamated Smoky River Minor Hockey Association was officially launched during its inaugural meeting Sept. 26 in Falher. Smoky River Minor Hockey Association based in Falher and McLennan Minor Hockey are now merged under a new Smoky River Minor Hockey Association as the two separate organizations struggled to ice enough players for teams. “One of the biggest reasons for merging was to create better ice times for families, providing the new association with one team at each level,” says Lise Cote, who was elected president of the new association. Also elected to the inaugural board is vice-president Rene Maure , treasurer Carol Stenhouse, registrar Doris Drouin and referee-in-chief Dave Morin, who also represents the association in the All-Peace Hockey League with Lorene Owens. The position of secretary remains open. “We look forward to a much stronger minor hockey program for the region,” says Maure. “With one larger association, our region will be far more competitive in league and provincial play with improved teams.” For the coming season, the new amalgamated minor hockey association will ice teams at all levels with squirts, novices, atoms, pee wees, bantams, and midgets. More coaches and referees are still required for the upcoming season. A referees’ clinic is scheduled for Oct. 19 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m and Oct. 20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Falher Regional Recreation Complex arena upstairs. For more information on the clinic, or to volunteers as a coach, phone Dave Morin at 837-1757. Practices for the upcoming season are scheduled to start Oct. 9 in Falher, while games will be split between Falher and McLennan at H.W. Fish Arena. The new larger minor hockey association is also consulting with Hockey Alberta to combine the boundaries under one association. A new constitution was adopted which directs the new association board to elect the board at its wrap-up meeting in the spring and to add a community member on the board, a person with no children in minor hockey. Both former minor hockey associations were acknowledged for the efforts to work toward a smooth transition of amalgamating. “I want to thank all the people who were involved in the process,” says Francis Lessard, who led the meeting. “It’s an unbelievable amount of work that went into this.” “Let’s all work together with a positive attitude to make this work and grow stronger,” says Lessard. For more information For more minor hockey information, phone Cote (837-3212) or Maure (324-2124).