Welcome Robert Howard as VP House League, News (Thornhill Community Hockey League)

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Jul 24, 2022 | admin | 668 views
Welcome Robert Howard as VP House League
Thank you for your past (or current) participation in the Thornhill Community Hockey League. 

As I write to you now, I can’t help but think back to 40 years ago. (That was my first experience with TCHL)

* CBC had just moved the National to 10 pm
* Lotto 6/49 had its first draw
* The PM was the Father of the current one.  
* On Golden Pond won an Academy Award
* Trivial Pursuit had just been released
* Gas in Toronto was 0.45 cents/litre
* A new Lincoln Town Car could be purchased for less than $15K.

And I walked into the Thornhill Community Centre to register my 7-year-old son for his first hockey experience. He was registered in the TCHL and played Select that year. 
 
Without question, much has changed. We may have embarked upon the century of disruption with the passage of y2k (the catastrophe which wasn’t), but last fall, I walked into the same TCC with my grandson to play in his first TCHL house league game and shortly after that to play with the Rebels Select Tyke (U7) team. 
 
For too long to mention, hockey has been an integral part of my life. Through youth and adolescent hockey, which eventually led to tryouts (unsuccessful) with the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers, through coaching my daughter for many years and my son with the Rebels and eventually Islanders (and more than a few Carnation Cups, Silver Sticks and Tournament banners) I have seen first hand the extraordinarily positive impact that this sport (when done right) can have on the trajectory of life for an individual. 
 
This is the primary motivation for my continued involvement and runs just slightly ahead of the enjoyment I receive when I see the expression of satisfaction and joy and pride on the faces of children as they develop and master the skills of skating, handling a puck, working within a team and all of the benefits which can accrue from participating in a healthy hockey environment. 
 
If you are currently registered for the upcoming season, thank you for joining us. If you have not yet done so but are planning to, please know that your registration helps us plan for the upcoming season. If you were involved more than a few years ago or pre-COVID, please consider joining us again. 28C will soon be replaced by -3C. The Zamboni will be piling snow in the parking lot, and a semblance of the normal rhythm will hopefully return. 
 
Hockey is a great game. Done right, with a proper emphasis on the parallel objectives of Fun and Development, and in a safe and supportive environment, the game can make a wonderful contribution to the development and growth of our youth. 
 
I hope you’ll join us, and please know that my door is always open to chat with you.
 
Robert Howard
VP House League
 
PS, if you’d like to assist as a coach, asst., manager or team staff, that would be a wonderful assist. Volunteers are the lifeblood of community-based, nonprofit sports. The role is a critical one, and while often underappreciated, I promise you it is not by me. 
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