Hockey leaders from across the country gathered on the weekend for the Hockey Canada Winter Congress and Annual Meeting, closing the book on the 2020-21 season and helping set the game’s direction for the future.

The event, which included the Hockey Canada Board of Directors, Life Patrons, representation from all 13 Members and leadership from the national organization, was held virtually for the second year in a row due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Friday featured the Member Forum, which included important presentations on Hockey Canada’s long-term strategic plan, and growth and retention plan, as well as reports from task teams and committees that have been vital to successfully navigating the effects of the pandemic.

During the Annual Meeting on Saturday, a number of rule changes were approved for the 2022-23 season, including:

• Leagues at the U18 AAA, junior and senior levels have the option to enact hybrid and no-change icing.
• A coach or captain may designate any player to take a penalty shot.
• Injured players may stand on the bench if they are on the game report and wearing the minimum protective equipment.
• Additions and changes to minor penalties – charging, tripping, butt-ending and spearing.

The next assembly of Canada’s hockey leadership will take place at the Hockey Canada Spring Congress, scheduled for June 2022.

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada’s Winter Congress and Annual Meeting, held virtually for the first time due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, wrapped up Saturday with the election of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors.

The elections proved to be a significant step forward as Hockey Canada continues to address areas of diversity and inclusion throughout the organization. An important by-law change approved at the 2019 Annual Meeting requires the board to include a minimum of two men and two women to better reflect Canadian society.  

Michael Brind’Amour (Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, Que.), returns as chair of the board for a second-consecutive term. Brind’Amour practiced law for more than 40 years, specializing in civil, family youth protection, criminal and administrative social law. He has held various positions in hockey working with local, regional and provincial organizations in Quebec, including as president of Hockey Quebec. Prior to being elected as chair of the board, Brind’Amour served on various committees including governance and risk management. He has also served on numerous boards as either director or chair in the areas of education, social services and human rights. His community work extends to many not-for-profit organizations in their pursuit of more efficient program delivery and governance.

“It is my honour and a great privilege to be able to lead the Hockey Canada Board of Directors for another two years,” said Brind’Amour. “Those who serve on our board come from various backgrounds and experiences, and they all have one thing in common – they are passionate about our great sport and are committed to growing the game.”

Five directors have been elected to serve on the board for the very first time and will serve two-year terms:

Terry Engen has served the hockey community for over 40 years in administrative positions, including roles with Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada. A business owner for more than 20 years, his diverse background extends from politics to housing for seniors. Engen is councillor and reeve of Lacombe Country, chair of the Lacombe Foundation (seniors facilities), chair of Eckville Arena and sits on the Energy Conservation Board.

Bobby Sahni is a leader in the multicultural marketing business community. With a master's degree in business, Sahni has been at the forefront in developing, executing and managing diversity and multicultural initiatives for a number of organizations. He is a co-founder and partner at Ethnicity Matters, a multicultural marketing and advertising agency. Sahni has earned several national and international awards for his work, and continues to guest lecture and speak at industry events and conferences across North America. He also serves on several non-profit boards and advisory committees.

Andrea Skinner grew up around hockey and is passionate about the game. She is a former captain of the Cornell University women’s hockey team and achieved notable academic recognition while studying at Cornell. Her hockey involvement includes refereeing at the highest levels in Canada and serving as an assistant coach with the University of Ottawa’s women’s hockey team. Skinner is currently a partner at Aird & Berlis LLP, a Toronto-based law firm, where she regularly appears before tribunals and courts. She also serves as chair of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Leanne Standryk has over 20 years of legal experience and is a senior partner with Lancaster, Brooks & Welch LLP, specializing in management side labour, and employment and sports law. Standryk acts for numerous private, public and not-for-profit sector clients, including national and provincial sport organizations, where she is called to serve as an advocate before the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada. She has also acted as a mediator and arbitrator in sports-related disputes. Standryk is a recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Business Leadership Award, and is an active community volunteer with a number of organizations, including the YMCA. Standryk is also a trustee emeritus of Brock University.

Mary Anne Veroba has spent more than 30 years around the game of hockey, largely in administrative roles, and it is her passion that keeps her involved in the game. Her involvement began with local teams in Lampman, Sask., which led to her being elected president of her local hockey association. She served on the Saskatchewan Hockey Association Board of Directors for over 20 years, including the last seven as chair of the board. When she was not around the rink, Veroba continued to serve her community as a registered nurse for 38 years. Now retired, she has a new career writing children’s books and creating a pottery studio.

Three members of the board have been re-elected to serve two-year terms:

Kirk Lamb was first elected to the board of directors in 2018. He has been responsible for policy development and is a member of the audit and finance committee. Lamb was chair and president of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) from 2010-17, previously serving as special advisor and legal counsel for the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) from 2002-10. Lamb has degrees in both economics and law, spending 13 years practicing business, corporate and sports law. Since 2007, he has been a partner with Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLC, practicing in areas of commercial, mergers and acquisitions, sports and recreation, as well as tax law.

Barry Reynard has been active in hockey for the past four decades, coaching and chairing several task teams and committees in both men's and women's development. Reynard has over 20 years of board experience, which includes the former Hockey Development Committee. He retired as director of sport and special events with Tourism Dawson Creek after spending 12 years with the city as director of community services. Overall, he spent over 30 years in municipal and provincial government.

Goops Wooldridge has been involved in hockey for almost 50 years. He is a former president of Hockey P.E.I., where he assisted in the implementation of a new governance model. A director with Hockey Canada since 2015, Wooldridge has served on numerous committees, task teams and work groups. He was recognized as volunteer of the year in the community for his work in hockey at the local and national levels in 2017.

“We issued ourselves a directive to be more inclusive and this is an important step in that process,” said Tom Renney, chief executive officer of Hockey Canada. “Our entire organization is excited to welcome Andrea, Leanne, Mary Anne, Terry and Bobby to our board, joining Michael, Barry, Goops and Kirk as we continue the mandate that our organization and board members, past and present, have been working towards.”

Hockey Canada and its Members extend their appreciation to outgoing board members Al Hubbs (Indian Head, Sask.), Réal Langlais (Delson, Que.), Randy Pulsifer (Stillwater Lake, N.S.), Ed Pupich (Schumacher, Ont.) and Randy Henderson (Prince George, B.C.) for their ongoing dedication and contributions to the game. In particular, the organization values their leadership in helping create a more inclusive and diverse board.

Hockey Canada’s Winter Congress and Annual Meeting brought together the governing body’s board of directors and partners, along with representation from all 13 Members.  

Hockey Canada’s next Winter Congress and Annual Meeting will be held Nov. 18-20, 2021 in Toronto.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along through social media on Facebook and Twitter.

TORONTO, Ont. – Hockey Canada’s Winter Congress and Annual Meeting wrapped up on Saturday with the election of Michael Brind’Amour (Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, Que.) as chair of the board of directors on a two-year term.

Six directors have been re-elected to two-year terms, including Al Hubbs (Indian Head, Sask.), Réal Langlais (Delson, Que.), Randy Pulsifer (Stillwater Lake, N.S.), Ed Pupich (Schumacher, Ont.), Barry Reynard (Dawson Creek, B.C.) and Goops Wooldridge (Milton Station, P.E.I).

Joining Brind’Amour and the re-elected directors are two new directors elected for the first time, who will also serve two-year terms:

-- Randy Henderson (Prince George, B.C.)
-- Kirk Lamb (Calgary)

“I am honoured to be selected as chair of the board of directors, and to be able to work with such a dedicated group of individuals and thousands of volunteers from coast to coast to coast,” said Brind’Amour at the conclusion of the 2018 Winter Congress and Annual Meeting. “I look forward to beginning my tenure as chair of the board and ensuring our group works towards the continual growth of the game, creating positive hockey stories and memories, and enjoying success at all levels.”

Former chair Joe Drago (Sudbury, Ont.) served two terms as chair of the board, the maximum allowable term for the position, and will not return to the board of directors. Director John Clements (Ancaster, Ont.) will also not return.

Hockey Canada and its members extend their appreciation to Mr. Drago and Mr. Clements for their significant contributions to the game.

Hockey Canada’s Winter Congress and Annual Meeting brought together the governing body’s board of directors and partners, along with representatives from all 13 member associations.

Hockey Canada’s next Winter Congress and Annual Meeting will be held on Nov. 16, 2019 in Montreal.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook and Twitter.

CALGARY, Alta. – The leaders of the game assembled for Hockey Canada’s 2017 Spring Congress in St. John’s, N.L., at the end of May in review and celebration of the 2016-17 season, and to continue the work on developing the game of hockey moving forward.

Spring Congress is one of two annual meetings that bring together representation from Hockey Canada’s 13 members as well as the Hockey Canada Board of Directors. Motions brought forward by the Member Forum and approved by the board include:

• Effective for the 2017-18 season, it is recommended all coaches and instructors that coach Initiation Program players (5- and 6-year-olds) must be Coach 1 – Intro to Coach-trained;
• For the 2018-19 season, it be mandatory that all coaches and instructors coaching Initiation and/or Novice (7- and 8-year-olds) be Coach 1 – Intro to Coach-trained;
• In the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, it is recommended all games played at the Novice level be cross-ice or half-ice games; and
• In 2019-20, it will be mandatory that all games played at the Novice level be cross-ice or half-ice games; and
• Beginning in the 2018-19 season, all head coaches at the Atom, Peewee, Bantam and Midget levels community sport streams (as determined by the member) be Coach 2 – Coach Level-trained, and it be recommended that all assistant coaches at these levels be as well.

“Hockey Canada and our 13 members are committed to continuing to improve the delivery of minor hockey within our communities to ensure every player is getting the best possible experience they can,” said Paul Carson, vice-president of membership development for Hockey Canada. “While some of the motions approved at Spring Congress are already in place in some parts of the country, our Member Forum reviews the best practices from among its membership to apply consistently from coast to coast to coast. In the end, this is about developing players in a positive way, and ensuring that our coaches have access to the training they need to maximize the positive impact they have on the kids taking part in the game.”

In addition to the forward-looking planning sessions, delegates and other attendees of Spring Congress enjoyed the warm Newfoundland and Labrador hospitality and celebrated the contributions of the backbone of hockey in Canada, the game’s volunteers, thanks to the planning of hosts Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador and its local organizing committee. Once again, some of the game’s most passionate volunteers were honoured as part of the 2017 Hockey Canada Awards.

The next assembly of Canada’s hockey leadership will take place at the Hockey Canada Winter Congress and Annual Meeting in Ottawa in November.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, and follow along via social media on Facebook and Twitter.

MONTREAL, Que. – Hockey Canada’s Winter Congress and Annual Meeting wrapped up Saturday evening with the re-election of Joe Drago (Sudbury, Ont.) as chair of the board of directors. Drago’s term is for two years.

Joining Drago and directors Al Hubbs (Indian Head, Sask.), Réal Langlais (Delson, Que.), Randy Pulsifer (Stillwater Lake, N.S.) and John Clements (Ancaster, Ont.) are:

• Michael Brind’Amour (Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, Que.);
• Ed Pupich (Schumacher, Ont.);
• Barry Reynard (Dawson Creek, B.C.); and
• Goops Wooldridge (Milton Station, P.E.I.).

All four directors elected on Saturday were elected to two-year terms.

“It’s an honour to be working with such a talented and dedicated group of volunteers who make up Hockey Canada’s board of directors,” said Drago at the close of the 2016 Winter Congress and Annual Meeting in Montreal. “We share the passion that Hockey Canada’s employees and membership have of growing the game and celebrating success at all levels. I feel it’s a true privilege to be able to lead this as board chair for another two-year term.”

Hockey Canada’s Winter Congress and Annual Meeting brought together the governing body’s board of directors and partners, along with representation from all 13 member associations, and from councils that oversee female hockey, junior hockey, minor hockey, senior hockey and hockey development.

Hockey Canada’s next annual meeting will be held on Nov. 18, 2017, in Ottawa.

About Hockey Canada

Hockey Canada is the governing body for hockey in Canada and a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), with a membership through its 13 member associations of over 700,000 players, coaches and officials. Hockey Canada is a not-for-profit organization that creates leading-edge hockey development programs for its members to deliver in communities across Canada; provides consistent rules and regulations and various other membership services from coast to coast to coast; manages numerous regional, national, and international hockey championships and events; and leads the operation of all teams that represent Canada in international ice hockey competition. Hockey Canada’s mission is to “lead, develop and promote positive hockey experiences.” For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook and Twitter.

TORONTO, Ont. – Hockey Canada’s Winter Congress and Annual Meeting wrapped up on Saturday evening with an election for five seats on the board of directors.

Joining chair Joe Drago (Sudbury, Ont.) and directors Michael Brind’Amour (Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, Que.), Ed Pupich (Schumacher, Ont.), and Barry Reynard (Dawson Creek, B.C.) are:

John Clements (Ancaster, Ont.) – two-year term

Al Hubbs (Indian Head, Sask.) – two-year term

Réal Langlais (Delson, Que.) – two-year term

Randy Pulsifer (Stillwater Lake, N.S.) – two-year term

Goops Wooldridge (Milton Station, P.E.I.) – one-year term

“I’ve seen tremendous work done and commitment by the directors over the last year to move forward our mandate to grow the game across the country,” said Drago, who was acclaimed as chair of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors in Dec. 2014. “I welcome our new and returning directors, and look forward to working with them over the next year.”

Hockey Canada’s Winter Congress and Annual Meeting brought together the governing body’s board of directors and partners, along with representation from all 13 member associations, and from councils that oversee female hockey, junior hockey, minor hockey, senior hockey and hockey development.

Hockey Canada’s next annual meeting will be held on Nov. 19, 2016, in Montreal.

About Hockey Canada

Hockey Canada is the governing body for hockey in Canada and a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), with a membership through its 13 member associations of over 700,000 players, coaches and officials. Hockey Canada is a not-for-profit organization that creates leading-edge hockey development programs for its members to deliver in communities across Canada; provides consistent rules and regulations and various other membership services from coast to coast to coast; manages numerous regional, national, and international hockey championships and events; and leads the operation of all teams that represent Canada in international ice hockey competition. Hockey Canada’s mission is to “lead, develop and promote positive hockey experiences.” For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook and Twitter.

TORONTO, Ont. – Several initiatives related to the safety, growth and development of hockey across the country will be discussed during Hockey Canada Spring Congress, which runs from Thursday, May 28 through Sunday, May 31 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto.                                      

Under Hockey Canada’s new governance structure, Spring Congress replaces the annual general meeting, which was previously held in late May. The AGM now takes place in conjunction with Fall Congress in November.

More than 250 representatives from regional and provincial hockey associations will gather in Toronto for Spring Congress, with the Hockey Canada Board of Directors to be joined by Life Patrons and partner organizations, as well as councils that oversee female hockey, junior hockey, minor hockey, senior hockey and hockey development. These representatives come together to set Hockey Canada’s direction and help the growth of the game.

Hockey Canada Spring Congress will address topics that include player recruitment and retention, technology, e-learning, player safety, national championship hosting, council reports and regulation changes.

Hockey Canada’s 2015 awards banquet is set for the evening of Friday, May 29, when eight deserving recipients will be honoured in different categories for their contributions and commitment to hockey in Canada.

The Spring Congress also marks the end of Hockey Canada’s 100th anniversary celebrations. For the last year, Hockey Canada has taken the game to Canadians from coast to coast to coast, celebrating hockey and those who make it happen in every corner of the country.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Please contact Francis Dupont at [email protected] or 587-999-5681 to attend any of the Saturday plenary sessions, or to interview delegates during Spring Congress.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow through social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hockeycanada. 

OTTAWA Ont. – Hockey Canada’s 96th annual meeting, attended by more than 250 delegates from across the country, wrapped up Saturday at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa after three days of discussion to benefit the growth and development of Canada’s game.

The event coincided with the 100th anniversary of Hockey Canada on Dec. 4; a gala evening was held Thursday at the Ottawa Convention Centre to celebrate the milestone. The Hockey Canada Board of Directors also held a ceremonial meeting Thursday morning at the Fairmont Château Laurier, 100 years to the day after the first-ever meeting of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.

Hockey Canada’s annual meeting brought together the governing body’s board of directors, life patrons, associate members and representation from all 13 branches, as well as from councils that oversee female hockey, junior hockey, minor hockey, senior hockey and hockey development.

As part of the final session on Saturday, the members of Hockey Canada elected a new board of directors.

Chairman: Joe Drago (Sudbury, Ont.) – elected by acclamation
Director: Michael Brind’Amour (Saint-Charles-Borromée, Que.)
Director: John Clements (Burlington, Ont.)
Director: Dean Filane-Figliomeni (Schreiber, Ont.)
Director: Al Hubbs (Indian Head, Sask.)
Director: Karen Phibbs (London, Ont.)
Director: Randy Pulsifer (Tantallon, N.S.)
Director: Ed Pupich (Schumacher, Ont.)
Director: Barry Reynard (Dawson Creek, B.C.)

Brind’Amour, Phibbs, Pupich and Reynard have been elected to two-year terms on the board of directors, while Clements, Filane-Figliomeni, Hubbs and Pulsifer have one-year mandates.

Drago replaces Jim Hornell (Grand Falls, N.L.), who had served as chairman of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors since May 2013.

“On behalf of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors and every single Canadian involved in hockey from coast to coast, we thank Jim for all of his efforts to make our game better,” said Drago. “His leadership over the last 19 months has led to significant change, and I am proud to carry on what he has started.”

As part of the annual meeting, the Hockey Canada Board of Directors took a strong stand on violent and aggressive behaviour at the grassroots levels of the game by approving a motion to adopt the Minor and Female Supplemental Discipline Chart.

After a very successful four-year pilot project with the Junior A supplement, the Minor and Female Supplemental Discipline Chart was developed with the same principles and is intended to hold players and coaches accountable for violent and aggressive actions in the game. Accumulations of major penalties, match penalties and fighting majors in minor hockey will be met with additional suspensions on top of the penalties and sanctions assessed during the game.

The motion from Hockey Newfoundland & Labrador to re-categorize the age groups in minor hockey has been deferred to next year’s annual meeting to allow for further review and research.

Due to governance changes, the Hockey Canada annual meeting has moved from its traditional late May dates to dates in the late fall, beginning with this week’s meeting.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, and follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.instagram.com/hockeycanada.

OTTAWA, Ont. – Several initiatives related to the safety, growth and development of hockey across the country will be discussed during Hockey Canada’s 96th annual meeting, which runs from Thursday, Dec. 4 through Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Westin Ottawa.

The event coincides with the 100th anniversary of Hockey Canada on Dec. 4; a gala evening will be held Thursday at the Ottawa Convention Centre to celebrate the milestone, and the Hockey Canada Board of Directors will hold a ceremonial meeting Thursday morning at the Fairmont Château Laurier, 100 years to the day after the first-ever meeting of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.

More than 250 representatives from regional and provincial hockey associations are gathering in Ottawa for Hockey Canada’s annual meeting, with the Hockey Canada Board of Directors to be joined by Life Patrons and partner organizations, as well as councils that oversee female hockey, junior hockey, minor hockey, senior hockey and hockey development. These representatives come together annually to set Hockey Canada’s direction and help the growth of the game.

Hockey Canada’s annual meeting will address topics that include player recruitment and retention, technology, e-learning, player safety, national championship hosting, and regulation changes, and will also include the election of a new chairman and board of directors.

Due to governance changes, the Hockey Canada annual meeting has moved from its traditional late May dates to dates in the late fall, beginning with this week’s meeting.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Please contact Francis Dupont, Hockey Canada’s manager of communications, at [email protected] or 587-999-5681 if you would like to attend any of the plenary sessions or to interview delegates.

As Hockey Canada celebrates its 100th anniversary, the Century Tour is travelling across the country, celebrating Canada’s game throughout the season with support from Respect Group, Heritage Canada, TELUS, Samsung and Canadian Tire. Visiting 100 communities, the tour brings with it several interactive elements. From the Century Tour caravan powered by Samsung, to the TELUS Family Fan Zone and more, the tour has something for fans of all ages. At every stop, the Century Tour also honours a Canadian Tire Hero of Play, someone who has donated time and effort over several years back into their local hockey community.

To find out more about the Hockey Canada Century Tour, visit www.hockeycanada.ca/centurytour or follow through social media using #CenturyTour at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and @HockeyCanada on Instagram.

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, and follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.instagram.com/hockeycanada.

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada’s 95th Annual General Meeting (AGM), attended by more than 250 delegates from across the country, wrapped up Saturday at the Westin Calgary after three days of discussion to benefit the growth and development of Canada’s game.

This year’s AGM was the last for Bob Nicholson, who will step down Sunday after 16 years as president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada.

“I cannot say thank you enough to the Hockey Canada staff, volunteers, players, coaches, officials and parents who have made these last 16 years so memorable,” said Nicholson. “It has been quite a ride, and I am so excited about where our game is on and off the ice. Canadian hockey is in great hands, and the future is bright.”

“On behalf of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors and every single Canadian involved in hockey from coast to coast, we thank Bob for his tireless efforts to improve the game,” said Jim Hornell, chair of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors. “There will be another president and CEO, but there will not be another Bob Nicholson.”

The AGM was also the official launch of Hockey Canada’s 100th anniversary celebrations. Over the coming weeks, more information will be revealed for the lead-up to the Dec. 4 milestone, including Hockey Canada visiting more than 100 communities and engaging more than one million Canadians.

To help make the game safer, Hockey Canada and USA Hockey have entered into a partnership to curb violence in the game.

The Long Game, which debuted during World Girls Hockey Weekend last October, will be extended in 2014, growing from 18 hours to 23 hours and adding a Senior division. This year’s event will include more than 1,500 players in five divisions (Atom, Peewee, Bantam, Midget and Senior) playing from Newfoundland & Labrador to British Columbia.

Items approved by the Hockey Canada Board of Directors:

Hockey Canada has created a new governance structure to comply with the federal government`s Not-For-Profit Corporations Act. The size of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors will be reduced, from 26 directors to nine.

A branch forum has been created to allow for improved communication between the board and branches on a regular basis. Hockey Canada councils (Female, Hockey Development, Junior, Minor and Senior) will continue to meet twice a year, while standing committees will be reduced from 26 to eight. In addition, work groups will be created to deal with new concerns throughout the year.

The Hockey Canada Board of Directors and councils have recommended the following communities host national events in the coming seasons:

• 2015 Esso Cup – Red Deer, Alta.
• 2015 National Women’s Under-18 Championship – Huntsville, Ont.
• 2016 TELUS Cup – Saint John/Quispamsis, N.B.
• 2016 RBC Cup – Lloydminster, Alta.