As Canadian hockey parents, it always strikes us as odd, the quite in the arena before our kids take to the ice. There is as well a time of beauty in that magical moment, as our youngster seem to leave the earth and we hear the first cuts of their skates scratching the ice into a world beyond our own. Often the first step of learning for us parents, that they are out of reach from our arms, that they will soon be independent from us, that they have become part of the fabric of our people. Playing the best game on the planet, a game that perhaps we ourselves played not so long ago. The arena becomes alive then with the sound of pucks hitting the boards, laughter, conversations and coaches giving instructions. These are moments that we will never forget, as Canadians, we couple their first time on the ice, often with their first steps in our living rooms and the first time solo on a bike. Hockey is not only our national obsession, it is glue that unites us all.

Making hockey happen though is no easy feat. In Gloucester Centre, we are blessed with the absolute best volunteers in the City of Ottawa (know it!).

Thousands of hours are spent each year making our children's dreams a reality, managing our organization and ensuring that our kids have the best season possible. There are others though, that live in the shadows of our hockey lives at Potvin Arena, our home rink. In this respect, we have as well been blessed with a fantastic team of City employees who look after the little and big details which provide us with such great memories as dividends. Driving the Zamboni is what we see, but like a duck underwater, the calm perception above quickly gives way to all the work that happens in the background before we arrive and after we depart our rink. Ice maintenance is a skill and a science that takes years to properly get just right (monitoring temperature, scraping the ice (so that the ice is even on the boards and into the centre of the rink)), constant vigilance in fixing chips and holes, the list goes on and on). Ask people that know this sort of stuff, and they will tell you that at Potvin we have excellent ice. That doesn't happen by chance. These are men that take great pride in their work. These are also men that have families, some, kids of their own in our association, some have played themselves. They know that this is a shared pride in our rink.

Which is why it should not come as a surprise to anyone, that when our President, Reg MacDonald was approached by Corrado Falcucci (Potvin Supervisor), about painting the Cougar logo in the ice this year, that they did not hesitate for a second to get the ball rolling. "For the kids? No problem at all". Guy Gratton (VP Ops) worked to have the graphics made, and in short order, the team of Corrado, Terry Bloom (Facility Operator), Colin Alexander, Shane and Travis Lebrecque (Rink Attendants) were painting it onto the ice. "The detail alone must have taken them hours" said Reg when he first saw the logo "It looks absolutely amazing.the kids will love it!".

With our 09-10 season fast approaching, the first cuts of the skates scratching the ice will be heard once again. And with certain wonder, little faces will look into the ice at our Cougar as another year will begin. The ice will be perfect, a new banner will be raised, the old ones will have been tended to and there will be new changes once again to our "rink of dreams".

On behalf of all of the players, parents and volunteers of the GCMHA, we would like to thank Corrado, Terry, Alexander, Shane and Travis for this gift and for looking after us so well throughout the hockey season. You're efforts do not go unrecognized and we are very thankful that your team works so hard to make our teams better. Thank you.

The Gloucester Centre Minor Hockey Association
Is proud to present the

Gloucester Hockey Association
Summer Hockey School

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August 10-14, 2009
August 17-21, 2009

$125.00 for one week or $225.00 for both weeks

2000/01: 6:00-6:50PM
1996/97: 8:00-8:50PM
1998/99: 7:00-7:50PM
1993/94/95: 9:00-9:50PM

Registration Form

Peewee B Cougars win the Finals!

Heading into championship weekend, the prospects of a banner looked reasonable with four Cougars teams participating in finals. When the dust had settled on Saturday, however, the Cougars were 0-for-3. Thus, the hopes and dreams of an entire association were resting on the shoulders of a rag-tag group of Peewee B players who advanced to Sunday's B2 finals after a thrilling / heated / controversial 2-1 overtime victory over arch-enemy Blackburn.

Would there be a let down Sunday morning after such an emotional game the day before? Read on, my friend....read on.

After a tentative beginning, the Cougars got that all-important first goal when Wolfgang's shot along the ice found the mark low and away. Just over three minutes later, however, the Vipers evened the score. With a mere 00:18 seconds to go in the frame, Cory put the Cougars ahead sending the the Cougars into the second frame up 2-1.

There was no scoring in the second but as the period wound down, the tension increased and the game became chippy. Cumberland's undisciplined play lead to a two man advantage late in the period which would set the stage for the all-important final frame.

The Cougars pounced quickly and punished the Vipers on the man advantage, scoring two goals (Cory's second of the game and the other by Simon L.) in less than a minute to open up a commanding 4-1 lead. Cumberland looked like it had edged a bit closer but it's alleged goal was called back due to a high stick, which sent the opposition coaching staff into a frenzy. Much nail-biting ensued in the final three minutes but the penalty kill system ( huh?) and some HON goaltending by Dakota kept the opposition from getting any closer.

At the buzzer, gloves and sticks flew & goalies were mobbed; the celebration was on in front of a cheering throng. After the handshake and medals, the de rigeur lap with the big yellow banner was performed. A quick on-ice photo op and then it was off to the dressing room for speeches and slushies.

Thanks to a combination of solid play when it mattered, and perhaps some Divine intervention this motley group of kids saved the day for the GCMHA by bringing home the association's lone championship of the 2008-09 campaign.

Congratulations to all!

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