President Message

August 22, 2018 

On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, I would like to warmly welcome all of our new and returning Thunderbird families to the 2018-2019 season. Staff, board members, and volunteers have been busy preparing for the upcoming season and are looking forward to seeing our 950+ TBird players stepping onto the ice over the next few weeks.

A consistent approach to player skill development for all of our players will be implemented under the leadership of Derek Popke (Below Atom and Rep) and Mike Todd (Recreational). Goalie development will be offered for both rep (Rob Fuchs - Pro Formance Goalie) and Recreational (Rick Knickle – Steel Goaltending).

We’re excited to be implementing a new and improved recreational balancing process which was agreed upon after consulting and receiving input from staff, coaches, and division managers. Detailed information about the process can be found on our website here.

A new rep tryout process was launched last season and will continue to be utilized as we head into rep tryouts at the end of August. All those participating should be sure to check the Participant Information page on a regular basis for updates before and during the tryout process.

Below Atom, formerly Hockey 1 through 4, will have an increased focus on skill development and coach mentoring to ensure that our youngest TBirds get off to a great start on their hockey journey. In January 2019, we will be offering the Canucks Learn to Play program which will expose young players to the the game who we hope will become full time TBirds the following season.

Tournaments create lasting memories and experiences for our players and families and are often the highlights of a season. Once again, we will be hosting a number of tournaments this season and are excited about adding an Atom Recreational tournament over the Remembrance Day Weekend. More details will be forthcoming.

Our website has a wealth of information about the season, our programs, sponsorship opportunities, and events that are happening in our TBird community. I encourage you to visit our Thunderbird website regularly.

Thank you to all who positively engage in supporting and volunteering within our Association as it truly enhances the experiences for our players.  It really does take a community to raise a child, a hockey player, and more importantly, incredible young people. “Skate, Shoot, and Soar.”

All the best,

Chantal Cotton President