After a long, hot summer Jasper is hungry for hockey yet again. On the menu this year is a nine-course meal of talent, fun, excitement and ambition. Let me be your maître d’.
For an appetizer this year, may I recommend the Initiation program. This is a serving of raw joy and fun, drizzled with sugar and honey and prepared by chefs Dave Miller, Ross Derksen and Alex Derksen. If you can’t make the practices, don’t miss their tournament. Initiation competition is an emotional dessert à la carte of pure happiness.
Next course is Novice. This year will be a generous plate of twisted al dente pasta served to you with a simple sauce and a well-paired wine by capocuochi Jim Koss and Royd Irwin. They will have a whole lot of starch on their plates this season, heaped with talent and the odd meatball rolling around.
Half way through this course, you might think you won’t be able to eat another bite. But just cleanse your palette with a unripened cheese and belly up for the next offering from chefs Steve Malcolm and Geoff Skinner. Atom hockey is where your meal will all come together as it challenges your taste buds. Until now I haven’t mentioned anyone sitting at the table, but there is a lot of buzz around the Fawcett boys, Dexter and Donovan, who are tucking in at this level. Having them join the likes of Baden Koss, Jacob Bartziokas and Josh Lee, all seasoned veterans, is going to make for a very spicy meal indeed.
At the same time, chefs Peter Hayashi and Wendy Hall will be cooking up a storm with the girls combined Novice/Atom team. This is a tossed salad of ladies who are learning the game and those who have been at it for a few years and have shown some serious talent. The lack of regional teams at this level has left them without a league to play in, but they will be competing in and hosting a tournament, so don’t miss the chance to sample from their menu, as well, this season.
We’ve been fine dining until now, but boys PeeWee and Bantam hockey is all about fast food. Buckle up, hit the drive-through and chow down as burger-flippers Geno Tassoni and John Polard serve up a young, but energized, PeeWee happy meal.
Coach Gary Hilworth has got a bucket of Bantam skaters under his wing. Down a few players, it’s more a snack pack than a full meal this season, but the talent in this group just rolls down your chin.
Not to be outdone by what the boys side has on offer, itamae Paul Fonger is riding the sushi train this year with his PeeWee/Bantam girls team. The special on this menu is Dana Angebrandt, supported by a bento box of raw and cooked talent, all of it expertly prepared and presented.
The midget squads this year, boys and girls, are being grilled by the pairings of Tony Bielec/Nathan Dheer (boys) and Mike Dillon/Darian Sillence (girls). This is hockey for the discerning connoisseur of the backyard barbeque, where you will find both sizzle and steak.
So far, the Midget boys are the only ones to hit the ice for practices, but the others will be following shortly and games will start up in October for most league-based teams.
Just follow your nose and your stomach to the arena. Supper is almost ready.
John Wilmshurst
Special to the 51°µÍø
