Hockey 101: succeeding in the long term

The Richmond Ravens have a dedicated skills development program to ensure all its players, from beginners to advanced, have fun and continue to improve.

Don Fennell photo
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As a parent and coach, Tony Lindsay is clear about what he believes will ensure the long-term success of the local female hockey association.

“You need two things: for the players to enjoy playing and to be learning,” he says. “If we can’t provide both then it’s not going to be a fully-enriching experience.”

Lindsay is also director of hockey operations for the Richmond Ravens and demonstrates a genuine interest in helping to increase participation at all levels. His perspective stems from his many decades in the game, including several seasons coaching elite boys’ hockey.

“What’s really neat is that even the young kids at the introductory level have a sense of (what defines a quality program),” he says. “If they can skate better or faster, and then all of a sudden they can shoot the puck a little bit, they have more fun.”

Guided by Lindsay’s input, the Ravens have a skill development program that affords all its players, from beginners to Midget AA, the opportunity to accelerate the learning process. Included in the cost of registration, the enhanced program ensures there are appropriate sessions relative to the players’ experience while maintaining a focus on developing individual skills in a fun, supportive and safe environment that maximizes their enjoyment of hockey.

“They keep doing the drills because they’re fun, but also because they can see themselves improving,” says Lindsay, who believes the added emphasis on player development has inspired more young girls to want to play hockey.

“Two years ago at the beginners’ level (Tyke and Novice Divisions) we had 35 players,” he said. “We now have 86 kids at that age group (four- to seven-year-olds). It’s a really important age group to grow because in a year or two those players become our Atoms and Peewees, so it’s an age group that always needs to be replenished. A second reason is that, usually within a year after starting, they bring a friend with them to try hockey which hopefully increases our numbers overall.”

Skating is particularly emphasized in the skill development program because, as Lindsay points out, it’s essential for playing and enjoying the game. Goaltending is another area of focus, despite the fact it’s difficult to encourage players to dedicate themselves full-time to the position, says Lindsay.

“It’s a huge challenge because, especially at the younger ages, female hockey is so much of a social game. If they’re playing goal they feel they might be missing out on the stuff going on at the bench,” he says. “Sometimes parents don’t want their daughters to be full-time goalies because of the cost of equipment, or because they worry they won’t become good skaters if they are stuck in net.”

As a result, almost all the girls at the younger ages play goal at least once during the season. But Lindsay is confident that the goalie clinics, which are held every second week throughout the season under the guidance of Rob Fuchs of ProFormance Goalie Clinic, are worthwhile. Lindsay says as a result of learning to play the position properly, players and parents are seeing more value in becoming a goalie.

Parents of female hockey players have been quick to appreciate when their daughters are showing improvement, and the positive social atmosphere of playing hockey, says Lindsay.

“For many parents, ice hockey is not the first sport they think of to put their kids in, but when they hear how much their daughter loves it or how good the program is, it’s amazing how that influences growth.”

The benefits of the skill development program are also being realized by the Raven teams, which are routinely among the most successful in the province season after season. In addition, the Atom A1 team recently won four of five games against boys’ teams. Lindsay says the opportunity to play against the boys forced the girls to play harder, helping them build confidence and self-esteem and become more comfortable in competition.

Lindsay is coaching the Peewee AA team this season, basically employing the same techniques he used when he previously coached a Bantam AA boys’ team. He says while the girls are a year or two younger than the boys, their attention span is remarkable and perhaps helps them digest the information more quickly or easily.

“I find as you give them more they just soak it up,” he says.

A former collegiate player at Cornell University, Bantam AA coach Melanie Jue grew up in Richmond playing mostly on boys’ teams outside of Team BC and the Pacific Steelers. While she wouldn’t trade the experience, she would have loved to play in a program like the Ravens.

“I think the growth of the female game in B.C. can largely be attributed to what BC Hockey has done the last few years, as well as the Ravens and a lot of good coaches and people stepping up and encouraging girls to play,” she says. “And I think it’s great that the girls have a good development program which will inspire more girls to want to play on provincial or national teams.”

Reflecting her naturally competitive nature, Jue challenges her players to go beyond what they perceive themselves capable of. She says they routinely rise to the occasion.

“I’ve seen it with this team, even at the onset of the season when a lot of people were telling me this team was going to be super competitive and that we were in a rebuilding year,” she says.

“I didn’t accept that and told the girls we need to change that perception. In October we beat the best team in the province, Prince George, 4-1 at the Wickenheiser hockey festival in Burnaby.”

The Ravens sport a respectable 15-12-4 record going into a tournament in San Jose, Calif. this weekend, an experience sure to further test their mettle.

“Players relish the opportunity to challenge themselves in a competitive environment,” says Jue. “While girls’ hockey is often promoted for its social aspect, that exists in every team sport. I’m hoping the girls playing rep hockey, and those who really want to pursue hockey as a career, are inspired to play for more than just the opportunity to hang out with their friends.”

Jue says she was fortunate to have several coaches who, like her parents, empowered her to believe that she could reach beyond what many thought was possible. She has modelled her coaching style to reflect that.

“I think I’ve succeeded in getting the girls to exceed their own expectations, with all 15 girls trying out for the regional team for the B.C. Winter Games (Feb. 23 to 26 in Vernon) and 10 of them making that team,” she says. “I’ve seen a lot of growth in this group and I think we’ve come together as a team,” she says.

“I think I’ve succeeded in getting the girls to exceed their own expectations, with all 15 girls trying out for the regional team for the B.C. Winter Games (Feb. 23 to 26 in Vernon) and 10 of them making that team,” she says. “I’ve seen a lot of growth in this group and I think we’ve come together as a team,” she says. “I’m coaching as if I’m coaching a college team and putting accountability back on them. Though they’re only 13- and 14-year-olds, the girls have proven to me they can handle that. Obviously we’d love to be a provincial championship team, but more importantly my goal with these girls is that they have the confidence to play at whatever level they desire and not question if they can play at that level.”

A professional power skating instructor and nationally-ranked speed skater, Michelle Pepin is a member of the Ravens’ professional skill development team. She’s also a former hockey player who grew up in a hockey-mad environment in Northern Ontario, learning all the nuances of the game.

“Having that experience really benefits in the development of youth because kids not only see a coach, but someone who can translate well,” she says. “Fun is No. 1, but you also have to able to coach or translate that into healthy competition as a kid grows and develops.”