The latest Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association season was a banner one for the Oceanside Minor Hockey Association.
The OMHA had teams that went all the way to the provincial championships, with the U18 Tier 2 bringing home a provincial championship banner, a first for Oceanside and one the community can be proud of when they see it hanging inside the Howie Meeker Arena.
The Oceanside U15 Tier 2 team won the VIAHA regular season as well as the playoffs to advance to the provincials. The U11 team also won the playoffs. The OMHA rep teams as well as recreational team also won a myriad of banners and tournaments as well as the female programs had great success.
The achievements didn't go unnoticed. They were named the Association of the Year by the Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association. It's a major award that greatly reflects what the OMHA has accomplished not only in bringing home banners and trophies but also in developing the players under the guidance of the many coaches and trainers, parents and also with the support of many businesses in the community.
"It's a great accomplishment when you look at how many volunteer hours that go in for the board members, managers, team and the coaches," said president Dylan Martini. "There's a lot of things behind the scenes that many don't see and understand. The board very-well deserves it and the whole association, as there are a lot of people that go unnoticed, who give a lot of their life and time."
Martini said they're constantly finding ways to improve their program and they're reaping success with the initiatives they've introduced. They include programs such as goaltending development, power skating, and skills sessions.
"We had a lot of success last year and it shows in the leg work we have done over the last five or six seasons, building the program and giving coaches the tools they need to help the kids succeed," said Martini. "In previous years, what we set out to do is get the coaches on board with how to run proper practices and stuff. We did some coaching seminars and I think we're starting to see the positive results."
Martini also gave recognition to the many officials on the ice.
"The referees in Oceanside are some of the best on the Island," said Martini. "Thanks to long time referee in chief John Sloan who started a process of mentoring and a high quality of standards for our refs . Him and his wife Laurie gave many years to OMHA and also deserve a thank you. John has relinquished his duties to our new RIC, Thore, who took the torch and kept running."
Martini said they will not be resting on their laurels as they plan to continue to find ways to build their hockey program that will benefit the players' development in the sport.
The OMHA recently held its annual general meeting awards. This year's award recipients were:
• Brody Snyder - Bill Snyder Memorial Award for Merit
• Carter Mowat - Best Overall Official of the Year
• Theo Seber - Competitive Leadership Award
• Seth Medves and Lincoln Elder - Competitive Merit Award
• Ryder Grenier - Recreational Leadership Award
• Khloe Laflamme - Recreational Merit Award
• Sadie Fink - Icebreakers Leadership Award
• Kassie Thorpe - Icebreakers Merit Award
• Thore Tsutsumi - Volunteer of the Year Award
• All the graduating U18 players were given recognition by the OMHA, who thanked and wished them all the best in their future endeavours.
