Kitchener Minor Hockey Association

To Our KMHA Coaches, Players and Parents: With Hockey programs reconvening tomorrow, please be aware that all rules and guidelines provided by our Governing Bodies, the Province of Ontario, the City of Kitchener and local public health that were in place prior to the lockdown remain in place. KMHA has re-emphasized in Purple certain parts to ensure clarity of the restrictions. KMHA asks that everyone re-read the rules to ensure you are familiar and ready to comply. Restric...Continue reading

KMHA Skills Video - Week 4 - Shooting in Stride with Alumni Braeden Bowman Braeden Bowman played his entire minor hockey career as a Jr. Ranger. While KMHA develops hockey players, they also develop better people, teaching our players life skills. Braeden is giving back to KMHA and providing insight during this difficult time for our current players and providing some helpful tips they can work on at home.... As a hard working winger who could not only score, Braeden was also recognized for his awareness away from the puck. His anticipation and uncanny ability to read the play allowed Braeden to play in key defensive situations where he disrupted many opposition attacks and in turn counterattacked quickly. Braeden’s hard work was recognized during his minor midget year where he had 17 goals and 35 points in 32 regular season games. Braeden was selected in the 5th round, 96th overall by the Guelph Storm of the OHL. Braeden progressed from minor midget directly to the GOJHL where he played with his hometown Kitchener Dutchmen. Braeden quickly adjusted to junior hockey and was recognized as the Mid-Western Conference Rookie of the Year. In his one season of Jr. B Braeden scored 28 goals and added 24 assists for 52 points in 56 regular season and playoff games. While with the Dutchmen, Braeden suited up for 2 games with the Storm and looks forward to playing full time in Guelph once the OHL season resumes. Goalies: You are encouraged to complete the shooting (wrist shot and backhand shots) along with the puck control drills when they are sent out. Goalies that are comfortable and capable of handling and shooting the puck is a weapon that very few minor hockey teams have. A team that has a goalie comfortable handling the puck is like having a third defenceman on the ice. Setting pucks up for their defence, making passes to their forehand and eventually being strong enough to clear the puck allows your team to spend less time in their defensive zone. Like everything else it takes practice however very few minor hockey teams have their goalies work on puck control, passing and shooting. Goalies shooting pucks with their goal stick and goalie gloves takes time and practice. You won’t be perfect at first however you’ll notice the improvement with practice. It’s a game changer, like that big glove save or pad save in the last minute of a game. Be a game changer and work on your puck handling and shooting skills! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc_oJw9SK0U&feature=youtu.be

KMHA Skills Video - Week 4 - Walk The Line with Alumni Katina Duscio Katina Duscio played the majority of her career within KMHA. Katina, known for her strong defensive play, played boys hockey and switched over to the Lady Rangers in Bantam. Known for her shot, blocking and strong play in all zones, it is her leadership skills that truly set her apart.... After playing Lady Rangers, Katina earned a spot on her hometown Kitchener Rangers of the PWHL and is captain of the team. Her strong play and leadership skills didn’t go unnoticed as Katina earned an NCAA Division 1 scholarship to St. Lawrence University where she’ll play and study Kinesiology. Katina understands where she came from and how she developed her skills, for this reason she is giving back and providing helpful pointers to all of the Lady Ranger players who can work on these skills at home during this difficult time. Goalies: You are encouraged to complete the shooting (wrist shot and backhand shots) along with the puck control drills when they are sent out. Goalies that are comfortable and capable of handling and shooting the puck is a weapon that very few minor hockey teams have. A team that has a goalie comfortable handling the puck is like having a third defenceman on the ice. Setting pucks up for their defence, making passes to their forehand and eventually being strong enough to clear the puck allows your team to spend less time in their defensive zone. Like everything else it takes practice however very few minor hockey teams have their goalies work on puck control, passing and shooting. Goalies shooting pucks with their goal stick and goalie gloves takes time and practice. You won’t be perfect at first however you’ll notice the improvement with practice. It’s a game changer, like that big glove save or pad save in the last minute of a game. Be a game changer and work on your puck handling and shooting skills! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfFtPvrVzpM&feature=youtu.be

Kidspired Media offers to KMHA Members KMHA is working with Kidspired Media to offer our members Exclusive Coupons from local companies. These offers and promotions will be included in the monthly KMHA newsletter as well. Membership is free for our KMHA members. https://www.kidspired.ca/home/exclusive-coupons-kitchener/... Offered from https://www.kidspired.ca/

The passing of Jeff Heibein It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jeff Heibein. Jeff was a coach within our system from 2008 to 2015. We appreciate the contributions Jeff made to our organization. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Heibein family. His infectious smile as he would walk into the hockey office will definitely be missed. https://dreisingerfuneralhome.com//Jeffrey-/obituary.html

Kitchener Minor Hockey COVID 19 Update December 21st Good Day KMHA Families, The Province of Ontario has made its announcements regarding a Province Wide Lockdown to help fight the spread of COVID 19.... Effective Saturday, December 26th, The Province of Ontario is going into Lockdown. At that time KMHA will be suspending all programming, and the City of Kitchener is required to close their rinks to public access. What this means to your programming is that all scheduled times will be removed from the team calendars and moved forward in date to when we eventually return. These times will be made viewable to the public in January, as we have a better feeling about the likeliness of return. Currently the Lockdown is planned for 28 days but we are unaware if the Lockdown could extend or if we will return to Red or a different level in the Open and Safe Ontario Framework. When we do return, (currently planned as of January 24th), KMHA will continue programming, picking up where we left off. Each team will receive its ice allotment for the period of time associated with the Lockdown. If we return to Red we will operate as we have and if we return to Orange or below we will notify you of the numbers allowed in the arena and the potential to return to games as allowed in the framework. KMHA understands how much our game means to the players in Kitchener and we ask for your continued patience as we navigate and work through all these COVID adaptations. We wish you all a Happy Holiday season and ask that you keep each other safe so all of our players can return to the ice in a timely fashion. Thank you for your support during these unique times. Sincerely Kitchener Minor Hockey Association Board of Directors

Reminder that the survey will only be available until 12noon ET on Friday, January 8, 2021. For those that have completed the survey, thank you, If you haven’t please take a few minutes to do so. Thanks, Dean DeSilva... KMHA Development Coordinator KMHA Development Survey for all Coaches of Girls Rep, Girls Local League, Boys Rep, Boys HL, IP and Ice Pirates Programs - A Message from Dean DeSilva, KMHA Development Coordinator I hope that everyone had a nice Christmas and New Years. I’m in the process of development planning for next season. I’ll be sending all coaches within KMHA a short survey tomorrow (Tuesday, January 5/21) that I’m asking you to complete. The survey will be available until 12:00 Noon on Friday January 8/21. The survey will be anonymous, you will not have to provide your name or email address. There will be general questions asking what level you coach (rep v HL/LL) and if you coach boys or girls. The survey will take less than 5 minutes and it is intended to determine what you as coaches feel is important and necessary for your development and how KMHA may best support your needs. I’ll ask that this information is shown on our social media pages so coaches are aware. Please ensure you check your junk mail if you don’t receive the survey notification by noon on January 5. I don’t have emails for all of your coaching staff so I will be sending this to the head coaches only. I ask that head coaches share the email with their assistant coaches and have them complete as well if they choose. If you coach more than one team i.e. a rep and HL/LL team. You may complete a survey for each team as the needs at various levels and ages will/may be different. This survey does not replace the parent survey that is sent out each season. This survey should not be shared/sent to your parent group and parents should not be completing this survey. It is intended for coaches only as part of our development program. As KMHA Development Coordinator I will be viewing the results and I will share a summary of the gathered data with the board as part of my development planning and recommendations. Should you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly. Thanks, Dean DeSilva KMHA Development Coordinator

Season's Greetings From Our President Dear KMHA Family, I am writing you this note for two reasons. The first is to say Thank You. Thank you for loving Hockey and growing the love for it in our community, in our children and in our hearts. Hockey truly epitomizes what it means to be a Canadian. ... Justin Trudeau said, "We define a Canadian not by a skin colour or a language or a religion or a background, but by a set of values, aspirations, hopes and dreams. Hockey teaches us values such as hard work as we struggle incredibly for every inch of ice; passion as we cheer on our teammates; and character to be honest and forthright. Hockey has taught us to aspire to be better, in our skills, for ourselves, our teammates and our community. Hockey has also taught us to dream of winning the big one, of helping a friend to succeed, and even to play the game of hockey again as we have before. Through Hockey we will rise to the challenge, we will face down COVID-19. and we will skate down the ice stronger for it! As we enter the Holiday season, I, the Board of Director’s and our staff, want to wish every KMHA family a Joyous Holiday. May you experience a time that renews you, fills you, and gives you strength. Let it be filled with laughter and light and we look forward to seeing you in the new year as we strive for even greater things. Randy McCarten KMHA President High Five Of The Month - 'Tis The Season Giving back to the community at any time of year, and in particular over the holiday season, really is the best team builder that any team can do! Our U15 Tier II Jr Rangers with KW Sertoma help brought this message to life. - https://kitchenerminorhockey.com//Giving_Back_-_U15_Tier/ KMHA Highlights - Jessie's Story Continuing our theme about the Holiday Spirit of Giving, here is a message to our KMHA hockey families about one of our Lady Rangers in need of help. This is Jessie's Story - https://kitchenerminorhockey.com//KMHA_Lady_Ranger_needs_/ COVID-19 Update Good afternoon KMHA Families. As we progress through this COVID 19 season, we appreciate your patience and passion for our game. On November 23rd The Region of Waterloo Public Health Unit was moved to the RED Control level in the Open and Safe Ontario Framework. For the rest of the COVID-19 Update - https://kitchenerminorhockey.com//COVID_19_Update_-_Dec_/

Jessie and her family are beloved members of our KMHA family. Please share this with everyone possible so we can help to find her a donor.