The Canada Deaf Ice Hockey Team held a training/selective camp on September 25^th to 27^th at Teen Ranch in Caledon, Ontario.    There were 27 players including two on special invitations for a “look and see” at the camp.  Head Coach Jim Vitale and the assistant coaches conducted very intense camp which included the fitness test in outdoor and indoor sessions.

Three players were injured and were unable to attend the camp as well as five players from the British Columbia did not attend due to some issues and some of them due to personal reason.    Those players who were unable to attend the camp will be given a very serious look by the Head Coach and the coaching staff.

General Manager Roy Hysen is pleased to announce of the appointment of assistant General Manager Derwin Becker from Vancouver, British Columbia.  Hysen will also be the mentor to train Derwin Becker the roles and the responsibility of the General Manager and other duties.  Derwin was involved as a player from 1989 to 1999 winning 2 gold, 2 silvers and the bronze medal. 

In addition, Gino Piccone from Ontario will be added to the team as an assistant coach under Head Coach Jim Vitale.   Gino will be working along with two assistant coaches Patrick Bergeron from Quebec and Gerard MacDonald from Manitoba.   Each of them will be given many roles assigned by the Head Coach from video analyst to scouting etc.

Thank you

Roy Hysen

General Manager

Roy Hysen, the General Manager of the Canada Deaflympic Hockey team has recently appointed Jim Vitale of Bolton, Ontario as the head coach of the Canada Deaflympic Hockey Team for the 1^st World Deaf Ice Hockey Championship in Winnipeg, Manitoba next April, 2009.  Jim Vitale has recently coached the Ontario Deaf ice hockey team in Whitby, Ontario during the 7^th Roy Hysen Cup.  

In addition, the assistant coaches have been added onto the squad,  Gerald McDonald of Winnipeg, Manitoba and Patrick Bergeron of Roxton-Pond, Quebec and they will work along with the Head Coach of the Canada Deaflympic Hockey Team.   The possibility of extra assistant coach will be announced in the future.  

Please welcome the three fine gentlemen in our Canada Deaflympic Hockey Team…. 

“Go Canada Go”

Roy Hysen Cup in Whitby - 7th Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Championship starts Thursday ....
Please view website -  http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/article/97980 

Stars shine brightly - Ontario decisively wins Roy Hysen Cup
Please view webiste - http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/article/98408  

National championship wins a fitting conclusion for deaf hockey stalwart

HOW SWEET IT IS:  Mark Couture bites into the national deaf hockey gold medal -- the third of his career -- he recently secured in Whitby.

Knowing his days of competitive hockey were numbered, Mark Couture began seriously contemplating retirement midway through the recent Canadian Deaf Hockey Championship in Whitby.

With his Ontario Stars having just laid waste to B.C. (15-0) and Quebec (12-0), the 39-year-old Miltonian figured a third national gold would provide a suitable swan song.

And that's exactly what transpired for the Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation (CDIHF) mainstay, who'd help Ontario clinch the title with a 3-1 decision over the Western Provinces -- a hard-fought rematch after downing them 6-1 to close out round-robin play.

"After those first two big wins I really started thinking about stepping down and this (championship win) allows me to retire with a really good feeling -- something I hadn't had since last year's loss to the Americans (in Deaflympics gold-medal game) in Utah," said Couture, through wife/interpreter Lisa.

His departure came just a week after that of lacrosse legend and good friend Jim Veltman, whom he'd discussed things with earlier this spring.

"We'd chatted about it and decided we don't want to be like Michael Jordan and make a comeback. If they (Team Canada) needed a seventh defenceman or something there's a slim chance I might help out, but basically I'm done."

The longest-serving player with both the national and provincial deaf team, Couture not only helped the Stars limit the opposition to a measly two goals -- holding his own on a blueline unit with far younger defencemen -- but aided in the offensive onslaught with back-to-back goals against Quebec.

He recalled, "That was a highlight for me, kissing those pucks and throwing them over the boards to my two daughters."

Part of an Ontario squad that included up-and-coming Miltonian Paul Bourgeois -- a young forward -- Couture described this year's national champs as the best team he's played for in his entire time in hockey.

That's quite the endorsement, given that he competed at six Deaflympics over the past two decades -- after a junior career that saw him play with the neighbouring Burlington Cougars and enjoy a brief stint with the OHL's Hamilton Steelhawks -- and medaled each time out.

Hardly surprising, his 2003 gold-medal win in Sweden -- where he assisted on the game winner in a 5-2 victory over the U.S. -- represents his fondest memory.

Couture admits he didn't have a whole lot of those during his early years in hockey. While having his father as head coach certainly made things easier, he often felt detached from his hearing counterparts -- which led to loneliness and frustration.

"There weren't many interpreters around and I didn't have much communication (with other players) off the ice."

He credited deaf teacher Barry Elliott -- who's since passed away -- with helping keep him motivated, and CDIHF builder Roy Hysen for building him into the national program.

"Roy offered so much encouragement and was such a great role model. Without him I wouldn't have been part of this. I've also got to thank fellow Miltonian Norm Brownell, who's been part of the Canadian team for years (in an all-purpose role) and been so supportive of us."

Of course Couture has done his fair share to help build deaf hockey over the years-- most notably as an instructor at the CDIHF's summer camp -- and has been given the opportunity to expand on that.

"Nothing's definite yet, but I've been offered the general manager position with Team Ontario," he explained. "It could be nice to be the one carrying the briefcase."

This article was from the MiltonCanadianChampion.com website...

ROY HYSEN NAMED GENERAL MANAGER OF CANADA DEAF NATIONAL TEAM FOR 2009 WORLD DEAF ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP IN WINNIPEG AND CANADA DEAFLYMPIC TEAM FOR 2011 17TH DEAFLYMPIC WINTER GAMES IN SLOVAKIA.

Danny Daniels, President of the Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation announced today that Roy Hysen will be the General Manager for the Canada Deaf Ice Hockey for the  2009 World and 2011 Deaflympics. Mr. Hysen has agreed to stepped down as the Director at Large of CDIHF in order to focus on General Manager duties.
 
Hysen, who has been with the Deaf Hockey in Canada since 1975 is no stranger to international competition. His 33 years with 8 International Games winning 4 Gold Medals.
He has NCCP level three as well as a former Head Coach with the Provincial, National team plus in assistant coach with various minor hockey system from Atom to Senior level. Including the once train in Moscow by Viktor Tikhonov former head coach for the CSKA and Moscow Dynamo for several weeks and numerous NHL Coaches including late Roger Neilson.
 
We re extremely excited that Roy will back again and he will work extremely hard to have the best coach available soon . His wealth of international experience should prove to be a tremendous asset to our team as we go forward towards what we hope will be a gold medal on home ice in Winnipeg. The announcement of the Coach will be the GM responsible and we will have 35 players invited that was selected during the 7th Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Championship in Whitby. The Invitees will participate the training camp in September 2008 at Teen Ranch , Caledon.
 
Getting to be a part of the Canada Deaf Hockey is a great honour , expecially anytime you get to work with this group of Staffs on home ice and in front of Canadian Fans.
 
Danny Daniels
June 10, 2008