RDC Kings and Queens volunteer coaching community teams

RDC’s student-athletes are often best-known in the public eye for their contributions to their own teams. However, behind-the-scenes and in their spare time, many of these players also dedicate themselves to coaching youth teams in communities across central Alberta and beyond.

“It’s rewarding for all of us in RDC Athletics to see how our students-athletes embrace the opportunity to become positive role models and coaches for youth teams,” says Diane St-Denis, Athletic Director. “They share their expertise, and they also teach the young athletes about intangible things like respect and values and love of sport, so it’s a powerful experience for our student-athletes and the players they coach.”

St-Denis notes that student-athletes from across RDC’s teams are involved in coaching, mentoring and volunteering in the community, from curling players coaching with Special Olympics to players from a variety of other teams coaching with league and club sports.

Kaitlin D’Arcy, who is in her fourth year playing midfield for Queens Soccer, has been volunteering her time as a coach and a trainer since she was 17 years old. “This is my first year in the assistant coach role for the U11 Red Deer Renegades Boys Soccer team,” she says. “I work mostly with the goalies and the forwards, showing them skills and helping them to develop fundamentals.” While D’Arcy helps players to develop technical skills for success, she also focuses on helping them in other ways. “I want to encourage them to have fun and to have a positive experience,” she says. “It’s so rewarding to see players get that special smile when they know they’ve done something well that they’ve been practicing for a long time – those little things can make a big difference for them.”

For Kings Volleyball setter, Ryan Beatson, it’s special to give back to the community by coaching in a club he was part of as a player. “I’m an assistant coach with the U18 Central Alberta Kings Volleyball Club,” he explains, adding he remembers having RDC Kings as coaches during his time with the club. Beatson’s assistant coaching duties keep him busy, as the club team has three practices per week plus weekend premier tournaments, which are on top of his time as a Kings Volleyball player and full-time RDC student. “It’s a busy schedule, but this is very important, so I try to balance everything,” he says. “It’s great to be able to work with this age group, and I really love the opportunity to be able to coach and give back.”

Dedra Janvier, a fifth-year guard with Queens Basketball, shares a similar sentiment from her time coaching in the U16 Central Alberta Basketball Club. “It’s truly special to teach youth their specific sport skills and life skills while they grow and mature into amazing individuals,” she says. “Until you start coaching, you don’t realize how amazing it feels to see individuals grow and prosper right before your eyes.”

For more information on RDC Athletics, please visit www.rdcathletics.ca.

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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

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

Published on December 1, 2023

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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!