The St. Paul Canadiens hockey team needs new blood not only on the ice playing against other teams in the Northeast Alberta Junior B Hockey League, but also to help out on the team’s board, according to the team’s general manager, Gary Ward.
Ward, who has been with the team in one form or another for the past 14 years, said every year, the Canadiens have struggled to find volunteers to commit and give up some of their free time to help out the team.
“Yes, it’s tough to get people to help and to get involved,” said Ward, adding, “We’ve been actively looking for board members and people to help out with the organization.”
There are currently about seven to eight members who serve in different roles to help out the team, explained Ward, but more people are always welcome to join.
Ward said the team requires fresh and different ideas on attracting and generating more people in the stands to watch the weekly games. “We (also) need ideas on the different things that we can do in terms of raffles and entertainment,” said Ward.
Pierre DeMoissac, one of the members on the Canadiens’ board, agrees there is a need for new blood on the board.
DeMoissac has been on the board for five to six years, and currently helps out with maintaining and sharpening the Canadiens’ skates for their games. “Gary has done so much that he’s burning out, and we definitely need some help,” he said.
Although the board is stretched, Ward says he doesn’t see the Canadiens folding any time soon. “Not this year anyways,” said Ward. “I would not like to see this team fold because there’s a rich history in this team … it has roughly 55 years right now.”
DeMoissac agreed with Ward’s viewpoint by commenting, “(The Canadiens) been pretty popular since 1958 … although they had to fold twice in the past.”
Although people used to turn out to watch the games regularly, now there are other events and entertainment competing for people’s attention, explained DeMoissac. “It’s really hard to get people to go out to the arena weekly.”
One of the things DeMoissac feels would attract people to the weekly home games is by getting more local kids to play on the team; right now, some local kids travel out of town to play for other teams. “We’re in a market now with Saddle Lake and Cold Lake being in the league, and they’re attracting the kids who normally play here,” said DeMoissac.
DeMoissac went on to say, “I’m not sure if it’s folding because of lack of support from the board because I think Gary is doing a great job … it’s more of combination of injuries right now, and kids not interested in playing.
“I think we need to see a board starting for next year already.”
Ward said that the door is wide open for anybody to help out at the Canadiens, in regards to “fundraising, to help out during the game day, and to help out looking after the little things right now.”
People interested in finding out more or volunteering for the St. Paul Canadiens Junior B hockey team can contact Ward at (780) 645-1414.
