Valley hockey has a new look
Kentville minor, East Kings form Acadia Minor Hockey Association
By GORDIE SUTHERLAND / Sports Reporter, Chronicle Herald
There's a new hockey association in the Valley.
In a unique arrangement with the area university, Kentville minor hockey and the East Kings association have amalgamated to form the Acadia Minor Hockey Association.
The AMHA will serve about 600 players and cover the communities of Coldbrook, Centreville, Kentville, New Minas, Port Williams, Canning and Wolfville.
The new association plans to run competitive teams at all levels and female teams in the peewee, bantam and midget divisions.
"Right from the AAA crowd down to the house team, we'll have greater depth, greater strength," said Dave Duncan, the president of AMHA.
"I think the kids will enjoy the hockey a heck of a lot more."
Teams will wear jerseys sporting the red Acadia A with crossed hockey sticks.
They'll also use the ice surface at Acadia Arena more often and get instruction from Axemen coaches and players.
Duncan said he wants to rebuild the novice division at the Acadia Arena.
First-time players aged five and six will have their ice sessions after supper, immediately following the Axemen practices.
An Acadia coach and a volunteer player or two will stay behind to help out.
"This should be a place where young kids starting out in hockey can come," said Acadia coach Darren Burns. "The university should be a focal point. We have a coaching staff and some guys who have played a lot of hockey and it's just kind of an opportunity for our guys to give back.
"It has been done. There's no question our guys have helped out in the community. But I think it formalizes it.
"It's a big thing."
© 2004 Acadia Minor Hockey Association
