2018–2019 Minor Hockey Memorial Awards: Remembering George Repka Jr.
GRANDE PRAIRIE MINOR HOCKEY 2018 – 2019 MEMORIAL AWARDS Remembering George Repka Jr. Role Models From Yesterday & Today – Leaders For TomorrowI was privileged to attend this year’s minor hockey awards ceremony and I must say – it triggered a wave of nostalgia as I recalled learning to skate on a backyard rink with […]
A Salute to GPMHA, Awards & Volunteers
GRANDE PRAIRIE MINOR HOCKEYA SALUTE TO GPMHA, AWARDS & VOLUNTEERS Female Coach of the Year and Male Coach of the Year I can’t overstate the value of minor hockey to our community: an activity that relies on the Grande Prairie Minor Hockey Association (GPMHA) to plan and organize opportunities for youth in our community to […]
Role Models from the Yesterday – Leaders for Tomorrow
The Grande Prairie Minor Hockey Association (GPMH) recently conducted its annual year-end Memorial and Coaching Awards event at the Coca-Cola Centre. I must say – this event triggered a wave of nostalgia as I recalled my personal experience in minor hockey. The story of Two Rinks on the Bear Creek Flats is central to my […]
Soldiers Ready For Rink and Battlefield
By Ron Neufeld On July 8, 2016, Prime Minister Trudeau announced, “Canada will send a battle group of soldiers to Latvia by early 2017 as part of a NATO plan to counter fears of Russian aggression in eastern Europe.” The Latvian President, Raimonds Vejonis was quick to respond acknowledging that Canadians and Latvians have a […]
NHL Hometown Hockey
On a bitterly cold January day a convoy of trucks converged on the parking lot of Revolution Place, home to the Grande Prairie Storm Junior Hockey team. Like an army of ants employees of the NHL Hometown Hockey Program swarmed the parking lot. Overnight the parking lot took on the appearance of a midwinter circus […]
Homecoming: Clint Malarchuk’s Induction as a GP Hockey Legend
A firm handshake, steady, piercing eyes, a wide warm smile and a confident bearing characterize the man who returned to Grande Prairie in 2015 following an absence of thirty-two years. Homecoming: Clint Malarchuk’s Induction as a GP Hockey Legend Grande Prairie was Clint Malarchuk’s birthplace and during his childhood it was his refuge and favourite […]