REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2019-2020 BELL MTS ICEPLEX In the midst of an unusual season at Bell MTS Iceplex, it is important to look back at the year that was. The 2019-20 season was unlike any other with the hockey world coming to a complete standstill on March 12, 2020. Though the pandemic abruptly ended the season for many teams, the Iceplex doesn’t measure success by playoff and end of season results. Our focus remains on development, teamwork, self-confidence and on fostering long-lasting friendships, both on and off the ice. We’re happy that Bell MTS Iceplex has played a role in developing the many players who have walked through our doors during the season. We remain grateful to our community for their diligence, which allowed the Iceplex to reopen at the start of June, and for their loyalty in returning to our facility when it was safe to do so. Our priority remains providing a safe venue for hockey and a superior guest experience. This year, that has meant rethinking all aspects of visiting our facility and implementing enhanced cleaning and distancing measures. Along with the dedication of our Jets Hockey Development coaches to providing quality programming, a shared commitment to safety from our guests and our program and operations team led to the busiest summer since the Iceplex opened in 2010. We look forward to the upcoming season and to seeing hockey excel amid a new normal. This season will bring new challenges, but the sport will still provide the same skill and character development opportunities as well as memories that will last a lifetime. Bell MTS Iceplex remains ready to adapt to evolving best practices and provincial guidelines in order to keep our players engaged, on the ice and in the gym. On behalf of Bell MTS Iceplex, we thank you for your continued support. We are truly inspired and excited by the passion our community has for the game of hockey. David Sattler General Manager, Bell MTS Iceplex 1 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2019-20 BELL MTS ICEPLEX A PREMIER FACILITY AND EXPERIENCE If you play hockey in Manitoba, you’ve most likely played hockey at Bell MTS Iceplex at some point. Bell MTS Iceplex is integrated into all levels of hockey. The Jets Hockey Development (JHD) program works with players of all ages, while several high school hockey programs call the Iceplex their home rink. The new Winnipeg Recreational Hockey League (WRHL) uses the Iceplex as its central location, and professional hockey players are no stranger to the arena with it serving as the official training and practice facility of the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose. Bell MTS Iceplex is committed to providing more than just a great hockey experience – we’re committed to providing a superior guest experience. The words “guest experience” encompass everyone who enters the building, and every interaction you have in our facility. Whether you are on the ice for a Jets Hockey Development training session, in The Press Box restaurant for appetizers after a game, or in the stands as a spectator, the Iceplex team strives to ensure that every interaction in our building equates to a premier experience. BY THE NUMBERS 4 NHL SIZED RINKS 11,023 HOURS OF ICE TIME USED 103 HOCKEY TEAMS AND 34 RINGETTE TEAMS IN WRHL 11 HOME TEAMS 19 TOURNAMENTS HOSTED 2 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2019-20 BELL MTS ICEPLEX COVID-19 AND RETURN TO PLAY Bell MTS Iceplex aims to serve the community, and with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada and Manitoba last spring, that meant closing the doors on March 13, 2020 for the safety of our guests and the larger community. From March through May, the Iceplex proved that our services need not be confined to a building. Both Jets With all the things that the Iceplex has in place Hockey Development (JHD) and the Focus Fitness gym turned to social media and online platforms to stay now, they’ve made it seamless to come back. connected to athletes. JHD produced skills videos to You check in on the website and get everything give players home training options, while Focus Fitness produced daily at-home workout videos available to cleared, and then you get to just walk in, sign in everyone in the community. and say hello, and you’re off to whichever rink June 1 marked the official reopening of the Iceplex to or amenity you’ve come to use.” the public, with several new protocols to keep guests - Greg Husson, Iceplex customer safe. With safety as our top priority, the Iceplex enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, implemented physical distancing, required mask use, limited spectators, and limited guests’ time in the building to 15 minutes before and after their ice time. The Iceplex made the process as seamless as possible, providing an online self-screening tool for guests to complete prior to arrival and a sign-in station at the front door. As the Province of Manitoba loosened restrictions, we were able to expand programming to include scrimmages, games and contact, as well as allow more spectators. Thoughtful planning and consultation with the province and health officials is ongoing and the Iceplex remains flexible and ready to adapt programming and protocols to meet the provincial phased reopening strategy and best practices in health, safety, sanitation, distancing, and capacity. 3 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2019-20 BELL MTS ICEPLEX JETS HOCKEY DEVELOPMENT 65 TEAMS TRAINED DURING WINTER SEASON 300+ HOURS SPENT TRAINING WITH INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL GROUPS 33 WHL DRAFT PICKS AND 34 MJHL DRAFT PICKS The offerings of Jets Hockey Development (JHD) are as vast as the experience of their roster of high-level coaches – and those offerings only continue to grow. Guided by Hockey Canada’s Core Skills, JHD is dedicated to providing players of all ages and skill levels development as both hockey players and as people, through hockey camps, skating programs, boardroom sessions, team training sessions, private sessions, spring hockey teams and more. 4 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2019-20 BELL MTS ICEPLEX Satellite Sessions JHD isn’t confined within the walls of the Iceplex. For some programs, the JHD coaches travel to other rinks throughout the city to run practices and train with teams. In 2019-20, that included the St. James Assiniboia Minor Hockey Association Initiation House League. The House league starts its season with an eight-week development program before regular season games, which JHD was brought in to run in fall 2019. The program benefited the whole team, developing both players and coaches. During the 2020-21 season, JHD coaches will work off-site with even more organizations and groups when health restrictions allow, including Churchill High School Hockey Skills Academy and Stony Mountain Minor Hockey. Female Hockey Day On Feb. 29, then-Jets Hockey Development coach Venla Hovi ran a Female Hockey Day for Atom, Novice, Peewee, and Bantam aged girls. All spots quickly filled for the free full-day event which included on-ice sessions, gym training, and the opportunity to hear Hovi, a two-time Team Finland Olympian, speak about her experiences in the sport. The event gave participants a well- rounded day of development and served as a celebration of women’s hockey. 5 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2019-20 BELL MTS ICEPLEX Jets Hockey Development features a lineup of skilled and dedicated coaches, each with their own impressive resume of experiences in the hockey world. DAVE CAMERON HOCKEY CANADA SKILLS CONSULTANT PLAYED IN WHL FOR FIVE SEASONS (LETHBRIDGE, PRINCE ALBERT, SASKATOON) DRAFTED BY THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (NO. 80, ROUND 3, 1998) “ Great instruction through Dave is what brings us back. He makes everyone feel special.” – JHD parent DEAN COURT HOCKEY CANADA HIGH PERFORMANCE TRAINED COACH WITH OVER 25 YEARS OF HOCKEY DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE PLAYED IN MMJHL, CSHL, AND OBERLIGA (GERMANY) HAS COACHED IN MMJHL, WHSHL, AAA, AND WMHA 6 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2019-20 BELL MTS ICEPLEX LARRY BUMSTEAD HOCKEY CANADA CERTIFIED COACH WITH 28 YEARS OF HOCKEY DEVELOPMENT AND COACHING EXPERIENCE PLAYED COLLEGE HOCKEY WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA BISONS HEAD COACH OF THE ST. MARY’S ACADEMY FLAMES PREP HOCKEY TEAM FOUNDED NORTHWESTERN HOCKEY SPORTS CAMP IN 1988 “ We cannot say enough to convey how happy we are with Larry Bumstead. He does such a great job with the kids.” – JHD parent DEVIN HIMPE ASSISTANT COACH WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA BISONS MEN’S HOCKEY TEAM TEAM CANADA COACHING STAFF AT THE 2019 WINTER UNIVERSIADE “ Devin Himpe is the best coach/ instructor my son has ever had and he learns so much from him every summer.” – JHD parent 7 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2019-20 BELL MTS ICEPLEX ANDY KOLLAR PLAYED 4 YEARS OF NCAA DIVISION 1 HOCKEY WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA (NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2000 AND RUNNER UP IN 2001) PLAYED 3 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY IN THE UHL, ECHL, AND WHA2 HAS TAUGHT GOALIE CAMPS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA, TRETIAK GOALIE SCHOOL, AND IN SLOVAKIA “ Andy Kollar is an incredible mentor and coach to my son. He truly cares about the goalies he is training and brings an intangible value to his training sessions.” – JHD Ice Lab parent AJ ZEGLEN PLAYED FOOTBALL FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA BISONS COMPETED IN NATURAL BODYBUILDING AT NATIONAL LEVEL HAS WORKED WITH NHL, AHL, KHL, ECHL, AND CFL ATHLETES AS WELL AS OLYMPIC ATHLETES AND MEDALISTS “ AJ and his team are an amazing asset to your programs and complex” – JHD parent 8 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2019-20 BELL MTS ICEPLEX Take your game to the next level with Jets Hockey Development by registering for team, individual, or small group on-ice sessions, as well as boardroom sessions at BellMTSIceplex.ca/JHDPrograms.