Editor:
Re: Ice Hawks leaving Ladner?, April 15
I am very saddened to learn the Corporation of Delta is seriously considering making it impossible to accommodate the ice time needs of a Junior "B" team that has been in our midst since before I moved here from Vancouver in 1995.
Our community has witnessed countless young men of character mature from nervous, gangling and hopeful teenagers to confident, contributing and determined young men. They have adopted Ladner as their hockey home and gone on to play for teams like Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Harvard and for Canada at the Junior "A" Challenge (just this year).
They have played for many B.C. Hockey League, Western Hockey League and NCAA teams. Two of them have starred in the NHL and raised the Stanley Cup. I remember so well, in my brief time as the PR executive member for SDMHA, introducing Brent Seabrook to drop the puck at a ceremonial faceoff after his World Junior experience.
But these memories are eclipsed for me by some more personal ones. Firstly, as the head of a hockey program that has continuously played high school hockey in B.C. for 46 years, I have proudly watched several of our students pull on Ice Hawks' jerseys during my 23 years.
Secondly, the Ice Hawks helped motivate my own son throughout his minor hockey career here. He was so proud to pull on an Ice Hawks' jersey for an exhibition game in his final year with the SDMHA Midget AAA team, and he was grateful for the opportunity to be an affiliate player throughout that season.
He went on the play three years of junior hockey, two years of university hockey in the BCIHL, pro in the Swedish Second Division and, so far, one season in the Alberta University Athletics Conference. While his passion for the game drives him, I believe the presence of a Junior "B" team in our community was a huge motivation for him.
I completely understand that amateur, local user groups should get priority for our publicly funded facilities, and I know some people believe a Junior "B" team doesn't really serve the community because all the players do not come from South Delta. However, I can attest firsthand, as an educator and a father, there are so many intangibles at play in the development of young men.
Having role models and opportunities inspires them. Should the Ice Hawks leave South Delta, there will only be one manageable Junior "B" option for kids from Vancouver, Richmond, Delta and South Surrey.
I would urge the Corporation of Delta to work assiduously with the Ice Hawks to find a solution to keep this team here for many years. I know I can measure the effects of this team on my many students and on my son, but it doesn't show up on scheduling spreadsheets or Corporation of Delta staff meeting agendas.
Be rest assured, the team provides a real, achievable next step goal to many aspiring young hockey players.
Luke Fredeman
