Hockey Canada Going With Half Ice For All New Players

There’s a big change coming to the way young Canadians start playing hockey. As of next season, Hockey Canada is making it mandatory that children are introduced to the game by playing on smaller “half-ice” rinks. A number of hockey associations have long supported the “half-ice” or “cross-ice” game for 5 and 6 year olds, but it’s been voluntary and many have resisted.

Statistics show playing on a smaller surface increases puck touches, shots on goal, battles for loose pucks, and passes. That has officials convinced it’s a better way to develop young players.

The Sylvan Lake Minor Hockey Association is an avid adopter of “half-ice” hockey. Coach Brock Armstrong stopped by Todayville to explain how the half-ice game won him over.

Up Next

A Hockey Present For The Ages

Don't Miss

Canada Winter Games Video Hosted By Ron MacLean

Duane Rolheiser

After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

Follow Author

Can’t afford Rent? Groceries for your kids? Trudeau says suck it up and pay the tax!

armed forces / 2 weeks ago

Hunter Brothers “In Flanders Fields”

COVID-19 / 3 weeks ago

Dr John Campbell urges a complete moratorium on mRNA vaccines

Local Sports

End of an era for Red Deer Minor baseball Braves

Published on December 6, 2023

Todayville

From Red Deer Minor Baseball Board of Directors

Following many discussions within the Red Deer community, the baseball community, our association members, as well as our board of directors we have made the decision to move forward with rebranding our teams, currently known as the Braves. For our association the Braves name symbolized warrior strength, bravery and resilience, all qualities we were proud to align with; and although the initial moniker of our teams was never intended to carry a derogatory or disrespectful connotation, for some, it has. The topic of our rebrand has been polarizing and arguments both for and against have been passionately presented. We have made the decision to move forward in the direction we feel is best for our association.

In alignment with the membership majority vote, the Red Deer Minor Baseball Board of Directors is excited to announce that we will now be known as the Red Deer Rangers.

The Red Deer Rangers will retain our current navy and crimson colors and will not adopt the colors or logo of the MLB, NHL, or any other Rangers franchise. We are looking forward to forging our own identity and embracing our own look.

As you can appreciate this is a complex initiative that will take time. We will remain the Braves for the 2024 season and aim to have our rebrand complete for the 2025 season.

All participants that submitted the Rangers name during our rebranding poll, will be entered into a draw to receive the first Red Deer Rangers jersey.

We hope you will join us in celebrating this positive endeavor as we create a new inclusive legacy for our association that all can be proud of.

RDMBA Board of Directors

Local Sports

Red Deer Minor Hockey is proud to announce our new General Manager Lane Moore

Published on December 1, 2023

Todayville

From Red Deer Minor Hockey

The Red Deer Minor Hockey Board of Directors is pleased & honored to announce, after an extensive search, that Lane Moore has accepted the position of General Manager of Red Deer Minor Hockey. Lane will start his new role early in the new year & is very excited about leading our organization into the future as we aim to provide a positive learning and maturing experience for all of our young athletes & coaches in a minor hockey setting.

Lane comes into the role of General Manager with an extensive resume, in both hockey and administration. Lane has led the Bentley school as principal for the last 17 years & was an educator prior to that. On the hockey side, Lane’s passion for coaching & engaging with young athletes, dates back to 2002. His most recent involvement as a coach with Red Deer Minor Hockey saw Lane lead the U17AAA North Star Chiefs for 2 seasons (21-22, 22-23). Prior to his work with Red Deer Minor Hockey Lane served as President of Rimbey Minor Hockey for several seasons.

One of Lane’s biggest strengths is his ability to create highly effective teams by building a common mission & vision & then executing on those through visionary leadership. These attributes shone through during this General Manager search and we are thrilled for Lane to lead this organization now & into the future as we aim to be one of the premier Minor Hockey Associations in the province.

Lane, his wife Kathleen & their three children Easton, Cooper & Lexi call Red Deer home. His son Cooper is the captain of Red Deer U18AAA Optimist Chiefs & his older son Easton is pursuing his hockey career and post-secondary studies in Massachusetts. Please join us in congratulating Lane Moore as the new General Manager of the Red Deer Minor Hockey Commission, welcome Lane!