CANADIAN DEAF ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION NAMES NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation announces the newly elected board of directors for the term of 2012-2016.

The staff, players and current board of CDIHF are happy to welcome the new board of directors from Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. The organization is working hard to extend its reach and include a diverse group of individuals from different provinces with different background experiences.

The new members joining Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation Board of Directors are Beau Cockburn, President (Ontario), Mark Dunn, Vice President (British Columbia); Warren Miller, Treasurer (Ontario); Anthony Rumolo, Director at Large (Ontario) and Audrey Beauchamp, Director at Large (Quebec).

Continuing board of directors include: Danny Daniels, Past President (Ontario), Eugene Franciois, Interim Secretary (Ontario) and Hannah Reisman, Director at Large (Ontario).

Please join us in congratulating the new board of directors and wish them the best as they work together to uphold the organization’s objectives.

 CDIHF AGM

3rd Notice

CDIHF Election/AGM

The election positions are President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and three Director at Large.

If anyone is interested in any one of these positions, please send your resume along with cover letter.

Qualification:
Must have skill and experience within hockey organization.

Please attach resume with cover letter to my attention:
Danny Daniels at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

DEADLINE  MARCH 1st, 2012

15th Deaflympic Canadian Jersey Davos Switzerland

We have 16 of them the numbers and sizes are: 

XXL 8 , XXL 4 , XXL 14 ,  XXL 94 , XXL 1 , XXL 5 , XXL 27 , XXL 21 , XXL 11 , XXL 22 , XXL 99 , XXL 89 , XXL 16 , XXL 15 , XXL 6 , XXL 31

16th Deaflympic Canadian Jersey Sundsvall Sweden

I have 13 Black Jerseys, the numbers and sizes are: 

XL 11 , XXL 4 , XL 93 , XL 8 , XXL 19 , XXL 15 , XL 17 , XL 49 , XXL 25 , XXL 9 , XXL 7 , XXL 16 , XL 83

      

25 Anniversary Reunion
1986 Canada Deaf Ice Hockey Team

The Canada Deaf Ice Hockey reunion had their 25th anniversary at the Hershey Arena private suite provided by the Mississauga News.    During the Ontario Hockey League Junior A action between the homes team St.Michael Majors and the Niagara Falls IceDogs.

This was the first historic Deaf Canadian sports team participated during the cold war in Republic (Communist) of Czechoslovakia.  The two Deaf ice hockey teams Brno and Jihliva, Czeoshoslavkia invited the Canada, Russia, and United States to participate on November, 1986.    The Canadian teams were the only foreign team to participate.   The United States Deaf ice hockey also participated few years earlier arranged by Stan Mikita former great N.H.L. Chicago Black Hawks players.   

The Canadian won the gold medal defeating three others Czechoslovakia hockey teams.   Among the former players who attend the 25th Anniversary are Danny Daniels, Peter Mitchell, Gary Rosenbloom, Terry Bagnato, Brian Grundy, James Morrison and Dwight Mulhollaner coached by Roy Hysen.

The 1986 Canada team paved the way for the next memory trip to Soviet Union on April, 1989.  The  Canadian Team received the silver medal against the powerful Soviet Union Deaf Ice Hockey team from their 26 Deaf ice hockey teams from various provinces, the Tuymen St. Petersburg, Moscow and others far east.   Eventually, the Soviet Union Ice hockey team made their first ice hockey appearance outside of their country by participated Winter Deaflympic Games in Banff, Alberta in 1991.   

The 1986 received special circumstances and praises from many aspect hockey organizations, diplomatic, disability sports organization for participates in Communist country.  The Czechoslovakian treated the Canadian very well and assisted us during our difficult times.  Some of the Canadian players brought several large jars of peanut butters, roll of toilette papers, medication and others miscellaneous that not available at most stores in Czechoslovakia.

Report by
Roy Hysen

Roy Hysen met National Hockey League Vice-President Jim Grogroy at the office to discuss about his late brother Raymond Gregory whom I deard about a "Deaf gentleman" from Scotty Morrison, formerly  NHL referee in chief.

I have never heard of Raymond Gregory, nor any deaf or hard of hearing friends of mine who knew him.  I knew Jim Gregory as he was the coach of the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey League and he cut me from the team as I was challenging against former NHL goalie Gary "Suitcase" Smith for only one goaltender position.  Jim at that time never mentioned to me about his Deaf brother until Scotty mentioned it to me, 25 years later.

He agreed he will write a mini biography about his late brother for our Deaf hockey website.  He is willing to assist us where ever he can, as he has a busy schedule with the N.H.L throughout the year.  His secretary, Susan Snow was wonderful in assisting me in reminding Jim.  Jim recovered from his chemotherapy treatment and he is doing sxtremely well.

I am enclosing a written note from the former N.H.L. referee in chief, Dave Lewis, who had Raymond Gregory work in his office as a video analyst. 

Report by Roy Hysen

click here for pdf file 

Raymond Gregory's brother Jim Gregory shaking hand with Roy Hysen

T.E.A.M.  -  TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHIEVES MORE

As the Executive Team Director for the 2011 Canada Deaflympic Hockey Team, I have been absorbed with preparing for the 17th Winter Deaflympic Games in Slovakia.

When I was elected as Executive Director by the CDSA and the CDIHF last August at the Toronto Sheraton Airport Hotel, I recognized there is a tremendous amount of work to do following the cancellation and subsequent go-ahead of the 17th Winter Deaflympic Games by the I.C.S.D. It gave me a mere 4 months to prepare the search for a Head Coach, therapist, equipment manager and a tryout camp. Normally in my experience, it takes two years to assemble and prepare for the team.

The first order of the day was to search for a Head Coach: I was fortunate to find Donald McKee, who has brought with him a wealth of experience as a coach and has a remarkable winning percentage from Junior to Professional hockey. He agreed to accept the position as a Head Coach of our Canada Deaflympic Hockey team. Special thanks go to the Ontario Hockey Federation affiliated with Hockey Canada who recommended Donald to me.

Donald wasted no time and started working immediately by selecting his own assistant coach, Colin, as well as Robert “Bucky”Miller as a Head Trainer. Bucky has experience working with two NHL teams: the Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club in the past. Patrick Bergeron agreed to return as an assistant coach. Patrick knew several of the players which is very helpful for the new coaching staff.

The title of my article: “Together Everyone Achieves More” which represents the word TEAM, of everyone having the same goal. Everyone works hard to make it work, including our secretary Brenda Stanley who makes sure that everyone on the team from therapist to players received the full information. Brenda is a great example of “teamwork”. She has made sure everything is taken care of, from issuing a flight ticket to locating a missing jockstrap.

Ladies and Gentlemen: this is your dream to represent your country. Having the red maple leaf logo on the front of your uniform is a great honour and privilege to epresent your city, province and the country of Canada. We must take care of
each other from day one, February 8th on our journey to Europe. We must make sure to respect each other regardless where we came from or whether can use sign language, other prefer to speak in either English or French. Please respect each ther’s wishes. Respect one another and you develop a great bond of brotherhood.

We must act together and everyone will achieve more for our team. Remember that this may be a one time opportunity for all of you as there is no tomorrow. At ny given game, especially during the Deaflympic Games, we have to work and
play under ONE unit from team trainer to the players. We must sacrifice our times from day one in Vienna throughout to the end of the final game.

Gentlemen this is a TEAM and either we heal as a team or we will die as individuals. We must lead the team by example not by fear or self pity.

Donald McKee wrote: “Journey to the Gold” in his message to our Canada Deaflympic hockey team and this is our destination to win the gold. All of us hare the responsibility to make the “Journey to the Gold” work. I am expecting ach of you to act as an ambassador as a member of Canada Deaflympic Hockey team. You must show responsibility on behalf of our team. The code of conduct ssued by the Canada Deaf Sports Association for all athletes emphasize that we ust show “respect & honour” at all times from the day we depart from Toronto. I have put in lots of hours and work to appoint a Head Coach and other staff to be esponsible for the team.

Special thanks go to the staff at ASSC-CDSA, CDIHF and the team secretary Brenda for their tremendous hard work and time that they have devoted themselves o in the past five months. Those are our “unsung heroes” who make it work for
us to represent Canada proudly.

As an Executive Team Director of our team; I wish you all the best success in your endeavours during the 17th Winter Deaflympic Games.

“GO CANADA GO”

Roy Hysen
Executive Team Director
2011 Canada Deaflympic Hockey Team

E.Q.U.I.P.E  -  L’ÉQUIPE, LÀ OÙ L’UNION FAIT LA FORCE

En ma qualité de directeur général de l’Équipe canadienne de hockey des Sourdlympiques 2011, j’ai mis toute mon énergie à préparer l’équipe pour ces 17es Sourdlympiques d’hiver en Slovaquie.

Lorsque j’ai été élu à ce poste par l’ASSC et la FCHGS en août dernier au Toronto Sheraton Airport Hotel, je savais déjà qu’il y aurait énormément de travail à faire suite à l’annulation puis à la relance des 17es Sourdlympiques d’hiver par la C.I.S.S. Il ne me restait que quatre mois pour trouver un entraîneur-chef, un thérapeute, un directeur d’équipement et un camp d’essai. Je savais aussi d’expérience qu’il faut normalement deux ans pour mettre sur pied et préparer une telle équipe.

Ma première tâche consistait à trouver un entraîneur-chef. J’ai eu de la chance de pouvoir mettre la main sur Donald McKee, un entraîneur de très grande expérience qui a conduit plusieurs équipes à la victoire, du hockey junior jusqu’au hockey professionnel. Je souhaite remercier la fédération de hockey de l’Ontario qui est affiliée à Hockey Canada pour cette recommandation.

Donald s’est tout de suite mis au travail pour se trouver un adjoint en la personne de Colin et un soigneur-chef en la personne de Robert « Bucky » Miller. Bucky a acquis beaucoup d’expérience auprès d’équipes professionnelles comme les Sabres de Buffalo et les Maple Leafs de Toronto. Patrick Bergeron s’est aussi joint à l’équipe en qualité d’entraîneur adjoint. Patrick était déjà connu de plusieurs joueurs, ce qui est certainement un gros atout.

Le titre de mon article en anglais est un jeu de mots construit sur le sigle TEAM (équipe) pour donner « Together Everyone Achieves More », qu’on peut traduire par le proverbe bien connu « L’union fait la force »! Nous avons tous le même objectif et tout le monde travaille de son mieux pour l’atteindre, y compris notre secrétaire Brenda Stanley, qui s’assure que TOUS les membres de l’équipe reçoivent toute l’information. Brenda est une belle incarnation de ce nous
entendons par esprit d’équipe. Elle s’occupe de tout, de la distribution des billets d’avion jusqu’à la quête de bobettes manquantes.

Mesdames et messieurs, vous avec rêvé de représenter votre pays. C’est un grand honneur d’arborer sur le devant de votre uniforme la feuille d’érable et un privilège de représenter votre ville, province et pays qu’est le Canada. Nous devons veiller les uns sur les autres à compter du 8 février et durant toute la durée de notre séjour en Europe. Nous nous devons de nous respecter mutuellement, sans égard à nos origines ou notre langue d’expression qu’il s’agisse de la LSQ, l’ASL, l’anglais ou le français. L’union fait la force, alors unissons-nous!

N’oubliez pas : ensemble nous vaincrons. Nous allons tous vivre une expérience unique dont nous garderons longtemps le souvenir. Qu’importe le match, il faut travailler et jouer comme si nous ne faisions qu’un. Nous devons tout donner, du
Jour Un à Vienne jusqu’à la toute fin du dernier match.

Messieurs, nous formons UNE équipe, soit nous guérissons en tant qu’équipe ou nous mourons en individus. Nous devons mener par l’exemple et non par la peur ou en s’apitoyant sur nous-mêmes.

Donald McKee a écrit « La Ruée vers l’Or » dans son message à l’équipe canadienne de hockey des Sourdlympiques et c’est précisément notre mission : nous ruer vers l’or!

Je m’attends à ce que chacun d’entre vous agisse comme un ambassadeur du Canada. Vous devez être responsable. Le code de conduite produit par l’Association des sports des Sourds du Canada à l’intention des athlètes souligne bien l’importance de témoigner du respect et d’être honorable en tout temps, depuis le moment de notre départ de Toronto.

J’ai mis beaucoup de temps et d’effort à trouver un entraîneur-chef et les autres membres de l’équipe de soutien pour assumer la responsabilité de l’équipe.

Je souhaite remercier en particulier le personnel à l’ASSC-CDSA, à la FCHGS et à la secrétaire d’équipe, Brenda, pour tout le temps et les efforts qu’ils ont consacrés eux aussi à ce projet au cours des cinq derniers mois. Ils sont les héros qui agissent dans l’ombre et font en sorte que nous puissions représenter fièrement le Canada.

À titre de directeur général de notre équipe, je vous souhaite de réussir tout ce que vous entreprendrez à ces 17es Sourdlympiques d’hiver.

“GO CANADA GO”

Roy Hysen
Directeur general de l’Équipe
Équipe canadienne de hockey des Sourdlympiques 2011

Article originally published on The St. Catharines Standard - Wednesday, February 02, 2011. 

By BILL POTRECZ, St. Catharines Standard

Former St. Catharines Falcons David and Chris Garbacz will suit up for Canada at the 2011 Deaflympics in Vysoke, Tatry, Slovakia Feb. 18-26.

"It's exciting. It's just like playing junior B all over again," said David, who was born without hearing in one ear. "I'm looking forward to it. It's my first time going to Europe. It's an honour to go and represent my country.

"It feels real good."

Chris was born without hearing in both ears, yet went on to play for the Falcons for three seasons, where his speed helped him become an effective penalty killer.

"I'm looking forward to it," Chris said through his older brother and dad Rick, who acts as the Falcons assistant general manager. "I love it. I'm very proud and we're going for the gold. It's no different for us than the Canadian juniors."

The Garbacz brothers teamed up two years ago in Winnipeg where Canada lost in the final to Finland. Chris was also a member of Team Canada at the 2007 Deaflympics in Utah where Canada again was awarded a silver.

...For full article, please visit: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2958665