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| | wah story and photos by John Gast What has about 800 feet, comes out when it's cold and runs on a bit of money and a whole lot of energy, dedicat- ion, effort and deter- mination? The Port Perry Minor Hockey Association, what else! With some 400 players signed up and formed into 21 house leagues and 9 all-star teams, the Port Perry organ- ization is stronger than many its' size as it finds itself halfway through Minor Hockey Week. "We've got a good strong organization here," said association president Stuart McQuade. "In fact, for the size of the community, I think we're one of the strongest around." This year marks the high- est membership either he or association treasurer Leo Taylor can remember. Leo's been active in minor hockey for some 14 years, while Stuart has been involved for 10 years. "It's the most kids we've had out, ever," said Leo. The association's steady growth and their determin- ation to allow every boy possible a chance to get out - on the ice with a stick hasn't -been like falling off a log, either. Mr. McQuade points out that while'players are drawn from area munici- palities such as Seagrave, Blackstock, Utica, Prince Albert, Columbus and other small communities, the total draw isn't exactly huge. Despite that fact, the Port Perry organization holds an impressive record of play and wins. A. Port Perry midget team brought home an All-Ontario trophy six years ago, and the Bantams did the same just two years ago. The association's showcase is full of trophies, representing wins at numer- ous tournaments, - Even against teams from Oshawa and Whitby, usually by invitation, exhibition matches, the Port Perry boys do well, according to the club president. "We usually hold our own pretty well," he said. ' 7 Peter Christie, 10, con- centrates on practice. There are problems peculiar to Port Perry, too, that must be faced by the organization at every turn. Not least among them is the fact that a good per centage of people in the area are employed at General Motors in Oshawa. "We not only have tc find a good coach, a volunteer to Warren Geer, 4, confers with his biggest fan, Mrs. Gary Geer. ESA AR IRE LL, LH BAA hic edensasiinsidniniainia 1 Vay Port Perry hockey is second to none drive the kids, or a good worker on the executive, but we have to take into account what shift he's on." In other words, is the man a good coach and does he work shifts. And it isn't only at the coaching level that shift work can effect the smooth running of such an organiz- ation. Few realize the entire operation, hundreds of boys, thousands of dollars worth of equipnfent, and more, is the responsiblility of just over a dozen volunteers. Obvious- ly, when shiftwork whittles down that number even fur- ther, the potential for dis- aster is there. So far, the local organiz- ation has bested their disad-- vantages and has made a success of it, despite the problem. Although in one way, it has probably contri- buted to a problem that plagues minor hockey from coast to coast. We've got the boys out, now where are the parents? One of the ideas behind the Minor Hockey Week declar- ation, and minor hockey in general, is family partici- pation. It is, perhaps, its biggest problem. "If you get one parent out for every four youngsters playing," said Leo, "you're doing VERY good. As the boys get older, it isn't even half that." "I think the boys need their parents' support. They obviously enjoy it more when dad comes along," he said. There are, of course, those boys who would be better off had their parents not come. Mr. McQuade recalls one boy who was driven almost to the point of .a nervous breakdown by a parent who was determined to have a big league son. A mistake on the ice earned the boy a severe tongue lashing and hours of extra practice on ice rented for that purpose by the father. That incident wasn't in Port Perry, he points out, and although Port Perry hasn't been saddled with too much of that kind of thing, there are parents here who are perhaps a bit too "involved". "By and large, though," said Mr. McQuade, "our problem here is to get the parents out." Port Perry, with few major industries or lage businesses, has done very well with money-raising ef- forts and sponsorships. "Our donors and sponsors here are mainly small busi- nesses," said Leo. "The support we get from the community here is excel- lent." This year alone, almost $5,000 in brand new equip- ment had to be purchased, and that's over and above the regular operating costs of the minor hockey program. What does it cost for the Season? Last year it was $15,000, a sum not even halved by registration. Most of the money is made through gate receipts, raffles, dances, and social events. "You can see just how important the support of the community is in this kind of thing." said Leo. ed. vey da 4 wn . ed Ngo . AY Rs LL ' ¥ sass atbeat suck hos sabatia, A ls f 738 NY YR A 3 i 44 «! > ' AA > ve / yok Avwitedsaisee vss \_ P2RT { PERRY Second Section Vol. 109 -- PORT PERRY, ONTARIO, Wednesday, January 29, 1975 -- No. 12 The idea behind registra- tion is to keep the cost down so all can afford it. In fact, most every year the organiz- ation pays for at least two or three boys who couldn't play if they had to pay. Leo knows of one case where the boy made the registration payment, but the association sent the cheque back. "We don't want to turn anyone away," said Mr. McQuade. Boys pay $20.00 a season to play hockey now. Fans also make the differ- ence, according to Mr. Mc Quade, and a winning team that goes to the finals draws well while in regular play, the arena isn't exactly pack- "It isn't too bad this year," said the association president, "but I'd like to see more out." B He thinks the winning mentality isn't a bad thing, nor does he think there is too much emphasis on winning. "You have to want to win, or you're not doing your job." Yet he said the association avoids the pitfalls of some other organizations and" demands that all boys must get equal ice team, so that the more skillfull players don't dominate the ice. While there is no pressure exerted to get qualified boys to enter all-star teams, the (continued on page 19) PAGER pty hr es Mite. 1, Sh AR ee Bring, don't send him \4 "Paul Storry (above) and Wo players go through their paces. SEARS DE PRIS Sei ~~ BR Sr NS ATE w - NE dy i». Aad, Tor SN ein "SH TRE hh Gy ew or ok AS We = SER RR CaS Hs AY WA I LEE BY: