Jason Wild walks through the doors of Memorial Arena holding two equipment-filled hockey bags, with summer in the rearview mirror and winter that much closer.
It91裸聊视频檚 the start of a fresh season at the Penticton Minor Hockey Association and a new beginning for more than 475 local youth.
Wild, the association91裸聊视频檚 current coaching coordinator, opened those historic doors every September the same way he did 25 years ago.
He was a defenceman for the BCHL91裸聊视频檚 Penticton Panthers, playing alongside future NHLer Duncan Keith.
Before that, he laced his skates inside the Memorial Arena dressing rooms and threw on one of his hometown PHMA sweaters.
91裸聊视频淲e tell today91裸聊视频檚 kids about our glory days at the rink,91裸聊视频� Wild said with a laugh, referring to his longtime friend and current association president Kiel Gatenby, another former Panther and PMHA alumni.
Gatenby and Wild represent two of the more than 250 volunteers in Penticton today who help keep the city91裸聊视频檚 minor hockey association functional. Half of those people, they said, grew up in the South Okanagan and once played for the association themselves.
It91裸聊视频檚 not uncommon to see a grandfather coaching his grandson, as a result.
91裸聊视频淚t takes a whole group of people to make this happen,91裸聊视频� Gatenby added. 91裸聊视频淔rom coaches and safety people to coordinators and managers91裸聊视频here91裸聊视频檚 a lot that goes into this and it91裸聊视频檚 quite intensive.91裸聊视频�
A new minor hockey season in Penticton doesn91裸聊视频檛 start without all that work. There are meetings to attend and ice time to schedule, even through the summer months.
Every minute of it is worth it, they said. And it doesn91裸聊视频檛 always happen in the name of loving hockey.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e trying to give these kids a positive environment to not only develop as players but as people, too,91裸聊视频� Wild said. 91裸聊视频淕iving the kids an avenue to be on the team and create bonds, friendships, and memories.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 what it91裸聊视频檚 all about.91裸聊视频�
Gatenby and Wild lived through it as local players themselves. They recalled their own PMHA coaches in the 1990s helping shape who they are as people today.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a long history of hockey and community here,91裸聊视频� Wild said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 those things that benefit you for the rest of your life.91裸聊视频�
Enrollment for the 2023-24 PHMA season is up from the year before. Around 475 players suit up across 26 teams.
Gatenby and Wild said the association is continuing to thrive. After all, a Penticton without minor hockey is almost unthinkable, they agreed.
The female division, though, is where PHMA has seen 91裸聊视频渕assive91裸聊视频� growth over the last five years.
As of January 2024, there are around 10 female teams. In 2015, there were only four.
91裸聊视频淎 lot of people are doing a lot of work on the female side,91裸聊视频� Gatenby said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 becoming more popular and it91裸聊视频檚 growing the game even more in Penticton.91裸聊视频�
