Minor Hockey Week deemed big success

While hockey always takes centre stage in Fort Frances each winter, its importance was heightened even more during Minor Hockey Week held Feb. 2-7.
And for all those who have groggily awaken, scraped the ice off the windshield, and trudged off to the local rink for that 6 a.m. game or practice, Minor Hockey Week symbolizes why we do it all.
For the kids.
This year, more than 400 kids hit the ice to participate in Minor Hockey Week activities, prompting organizers to call it a big success.
“It’s a time to take a step back and look at the game which is supposed to be fun for the kids,” said Lynn Kellar, president of the Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association.
“The whole week is about participation and having the family out at the rink,” he stressed.
Kellar said part of the week’s success was the fact it brought so many people out to watch the games, many whom normally would have found other things to do.
“I’ve had people come up to me who haven’t been to the rink for years. They came out for Minor Hockey Week to watch a nephew play and they said they had a great time,” Kellar enthused.
Bob Miller, chairman of Minor Hockey Week ’98, agreed it was a chance to get people more aware of the week and out to watch the games.
To encourage a family-type atmosphere, the local association entered each player’s name in a draw for prizes. And the players had their names added in the draw for each fan they brought into the arena.
A silver collection also was taken at each game, with the money raised going towards purchasing more prizes for the kids.
Still, as important as the parents and kids are to the game here, there’s another element equally vital to its success–the coaches.
Ron Kellar, in his first full season as assistant coach of the tagg’s Tom Thumb team, said the feeling of helping the kids improve is what helps keep him coming to the rink.
“My son, Nick, plays but it’s good to come out and help in any way that I can,” added Kellar, who got his start in coaching by helping out at a tournament last season.
“It’s a good idea to have the kids being eligible for the draws a few more times if they bring out a parent or grandparent because it’s good support,” he noted.