To the Staff, Players and Friends of Canada Deaf Hockey:   The Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation (CDIHF) wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  So many things have been happening the last year.  First and foremost; I would like to welcome Brenda Stanley, whom joined our board at CDIHF as a liaison secretary; has made my job so much easier for myself, the president and the rest of the CDIHF Board.  She had worked very hard ensuring that everything has been looked after and taken care of.   

A time to reflect of how much has been accomplished through many years of Deaf Hockey . . .

I want to express how much I appreciate your patience and your bearings with the Board of CDIHF through so many years.  Through the years that I have been involved with Deaf Hockey and the Canadian Deaflympics Hockey Team I am amazed how technology had became more advanced and far more useful for those who relied on different forms of communication.  As I recalled many years ago, writing long letters by hand or typing letters by typewriters and sending them out through courier mail to the players who made the team; the anticipation from  the players were nerve-wrecking of having to wait to receive the letter either days later or weeks later. Long before the existence of Bell Relay Service, I had relied on my mother to make phone calls to players’ parents. I was a single man working with Canada Trust with no interpreters and closed caption were not available at the time. 

It is noted that the majority of the players are Deaf who were raised in Deaf schools across Canada, unlike today where most players came from an inclusive or mainstream environment.  We did not have interpreters available for our team nor did we have much support for Deaf hockey. I had to hustle and beg anyone who would help us, including newspapers to help us get our Canada Jerseys. I even stole black hockey tapes from former teammates while I was still playing hockey.   As of today we should give thanks to many heroes and companies who have made our dreams come true by providing us the hospitality such as Jerseys, equipments, and many opportunities to play hockey.   

There are many heroes in this organization and our thanks goes to Eugene Francoisi, Marty Rabu, Brenda Stanley, Raymond Patterson, Patti Trofimenoff, Larry O’Brien, Norm Brownell, Ralph Nauraro, Jean Longfield, Sharon Awde, Mike Devine and many others.     

Remember the team motto?  

“Band of Brotherhoods. One must remember that we will be living together for a long period of time. “ 

To the “Boys of Winter”, may the happy moments of Christmas brighten everyday of the New Year. Keep up the spirits and remain passionate to the game that you love the most – Hockey.    

See you in Canmore, Alberta.  

Roy Hysen, General Manager