by Robin Steckley

Joe Lombardo, Michael Lombardo and John Wonch are proud of their boys. By boys I don’t mean sons. They are the coaches of the Stouffville Boys Minor A Bantam Team and have been for three years.

They started coaching this team at the Minor Peewee level and have moved up each year with their players. All three coaches played rep hockey growing up and decided to give back to the sport they love and the Stouffville community by investing in this group of young players. They have all become certified coaches, who believe the boys are learning skills they will take with them beyond the ice rink.

As head coach, Joe told me the coaches know the boys see them as older brothers, so they adhere to the rules they’ve set for the boys. Joe, Michael and John accept no swearing or harsh language. “Language that is demeaning to another player or derogatory towards a referee or coach is not acceptable,” said Joe.

The team is expected to respect the referees for their knowledge and understanding of the game, the coaches for their dedication, and each other. A team is only as good as its collective ability. Everyone contributes and everyone is encouraged to do his best.

As coaches, Joe, Michael and John have learned to see the strengths and abilities in each of the players. This year they have four new players who have moved up from house league, and the coaches were quick to comment on their contribution to the team and their successful jump to playing hockey at a more competitive level.

When I spoke to the latest recruits, Paul Henderson, Spencer Tait, Sam Miller and Mark Gavritov, they told me they love their new team. They had to try out with 50 other players who were all hoping to make the team. There are three tryouts in which the coaches work with the boys before choosing who they feel will be the best fit; a tough decision when you have such a limited amount of time to assess the boys.

It’s even tougher when you have to cut a player who has been on the team in the past, the coaches said. All three are under 28 years of age and it wasn’t long ago that they were trying out for these same teams and experiencing the disappointments and excitement of tryouts.

They were quick to say you shouldn’t be discouraged if you’ve tried out and not made a team. Try again next year. One of these boys tried out for seven years before he achieved his goal.

Now that they are on the team these boys know not to make excuses. Like all the players they are expected to be at practices and to be on time and ready to play hockey. All good life skills.

When I asked the boys about their coaches they were quick to groan about practices. They don’t like sit-ups or the gruelling workouts, but they do like scoring and they do that a lot. They have won their division two years in a row and hope to make it three this year.

When I asked them what they loved about hockey they said, “Skating, scoring, friends, and winning!” They also like scoring on their goalie, Jake, or at least trying to. According to Jake his teammates can’t beat him often.

When I asked their coaches what they liked about coaching, their reaction was, “The boys and making a contribution to the game.”

 I asked Joe if he still plays. His response? “As long as I can walk I’ll play hockey!”

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