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• Team Schedules
• Team Standings
• Team Rosters

History

Before the 1974-75 hockey season, boys in Mount Pearl played with the Avalon Minor Hockey Association in St. John's. With this in mind, Bruce Styles gathered together parents interested in forming a Mount Pearl Minor Hockey Association. At a meeting in the Town Hall in June 1974, they elected the first executive (Bruce Styles - President, Ralph Neil - Vice President, Fred Burns - Treasurer, Gordon Lidstone – Secretary).

At the first official meeting the Association decided to rent ice time. They booked the only ice available - Prince of Wales Arena from 4.30-6.30 am, Sunday mornings. They played here for the next two and one half years.

Next, the Association formed Hockey Dads and Hockey Moms associations as fundraising arms of the main body. Initially, fundraising consisted of bottle drives, ticket sweeps, and mobile canteens that operated at local functions. Later they operated a canteen at the new Health Sciences Centre construction site. The Hockey Moms executive included Lorraine Stanley - President, Menie Styles - Vice President, Nina Neil - Treasurer, and Alice Howell - Secretary. The Hockey Dads executive included Jim Keough - President, Dan Coombs - Vice President, Harold Moores - Treasurer, and Tom Squires - Secretary.

The Association next examined the possibility of having a rink built in the municipality of Mount Pearl. At such time a full-fledged house league and all-star system could be implemented. A newly appointed Arena Committee (Bruce Styles, Neil Winsor, Ron Hall, Mike Healey, Gerry Taylor, Ralph Neil, Eric Reid, Fred Burns, Albert Stanley and Bill Wiseman) discussed three possibilities: an open air rink; an enclosed building with natural freezing; and a full enclosed building with artificial ice. With word that a local brewery had several old freezing plants available the Arena Committee chose the third option. Funding for the new arena came mainly from Government, with contributions from the Royal Canadian Legion (Mount Pearl Branch), Mount Pearl Lions Club, Mount Pearl Kinsmen Club and the Mount Pearl Minor Hockey Association. Smallwood Arena, completed debt free, was officially opened in January 1977, Mayor Kell Ashford and the Honourable Neil Winsor, MHA, presiding.

Well-known Newfoundland born hockey player George Faulkner was hired as the arena’s first manager. Faulkner, a standout with Canada’s national team, played professionally as well as in the Newfoundland Senior Hockey League.

Soon after opening, the arena was turned over to the Town of Mount Pearl. The Mount Pearl Minor Hockey Association agreed to operate and manage it for five years. This agreement continued for fifteen years at which time an Arena Management Committee was formed. The Minor Hockey Association is represented on that committee. (The Mount Pearl Minor Hockey Association was instrumental in lobbyi Provincial Supervisor of Officials. Two females in this group have officiated at the national level.

Smallwood Arena included space on the second and third floors where the Hockey Dads operated a bingo. In later years, bingo was moved to various locations in Mount Pearl. The Association eventually ceased this type of fundraising. The Dads organize and run the annual New Years Eve Ball and the annual equipment exchange. In recent years they operated the lounge at the Glacier. The Hockey Moms operated canteens at the Centrac Building and the Reid Centre. They still run the canteens at Smallwood Arena and the Glacier. The Moms have sold Nevada tickets at all bingos and cater to annual awards banquet and private gatherings. The financial contributions by both the Moms and Dads to the parent association help make the operation a success.

After bingo started in 1978, a point system was initiated. Volunteer bingo and canteen workers, coaches, referees, scorekeepers and executive members received points redeemable for the next year’s registration. Local civic organizations and the provincial hockey association have recognized many of these volunteers for their outstanding contributions.

One of the most successful hockey fundraisers, the Booster Draw, was introduced in 1985. This was an idea of Albert Clarke who has since organized and managed the draw. The Booster Draw was initially set up for All-Star teams only, however, since 1992 House League teams also participate in this project.

The Association has endorsed the National Coaching Program. Many of our coaches have attended these clinics, attaining various coaching levels. In addition to coaching our own teams, this training has allowed the Association to operate a first class summer hockey school and full power skating and novice skating programs. Some coaching graduates later instructed in that very same program. The Newfoundland and Labrador Amateur Hockey Association appointed one graduate Head Coach of the provincial ladies team.

After the hockey program started in the new arena, Gerry Taylor was appointed Technical Director. Gerry prepared three handbooks that coaches used while running their practices: one for the novice division, another for atom, and the third for peewee, bantam and midget divisions.

The Association has entered tournaments in Germany, the United States, and in all Canadian provinces. For years our PeeWee Major teams entered the Quebec International Winter Carnival Tournament, playing teams from the world over and often returning with medals.

Since 1977 we have successfully hosted national, national regional, provincial, and many of our own All-Star and House League tournaments. Our Association has been used as a role model. At hockey conventions across the nation it has been singled out for its success. Associations throughout Canada have requested copies of our constitutions. Former executive members have held leading executive positions with junior and senior hockey associations and on the Provincial Hockey Association.

Our Association has produced many talented players. They have played with mainland teams at the university level and Junior A and B levels. Two have gone on to play in the NHL.