This is the first in a series spotlighting the people involved with the hockey for all centre’s First Shift Program, inviting youngsters from Manitoba’s Asian, South Asian and Filipino communities to learn all about Canada’s favourite sport. In this edition of Game On, we meet Allan Chan.
Allan Chan knows there are kids in his community who want to play hockey.
In fact, Chan’s involvement in a program that he helped organize – First Shift – makes it very clear that youngsters in the Asian, South Asian and Filipino communities will grab onto hockey and embrace it if they’re given the chance.
“Right now, in the First Shift program, we have 60 kids that are first time skaters plus another 30 kids that are in and out as coaches,” Chan explained. “We only started in the fall of 2023 and we haven’t done much advertising. It’s just been word of mouth in the communities and still, the spots in the program fill up right away. There is a very strong interest in the community.
“And it’s great to see these kids that have never skated and don’t even know which hand they shoot with, learn and grow in the program. It’s satisfying working with them, so they want to get involved in the game and play it. They’re learning that they belong and they should be part of the hockey community.”
Chan, along with Ganni Maan from Winnipeg’s South Asian Community and Ron Cantiveros from the Filipino community have joined with Bauer, the hockey for all centre and the Winnipeg Jets to introduce Canada’s national pastime to new Canadians who have never played the game before.
Of course, there is a very important reason that the Jets and hockey for all centre have recruited the likes of Chan to the program. David Sattler, the general manager of the hockey for all centre, has seen the numbers and he knows the demographics are changing. And they are changing faster than we ever expected.
“If you look at Manitoba’s demographics over the last decade and what it will look like over the next 20-30 years, Asian, South Asian and Filipino communities already make up a sizable group of the population, particularly in Winnipeg,” Sattler explained. “By the time we get to 2040, a significant percentage of the population will be represented by these communities, as well as by our Indigenous communities. We have a plan to help grow the game in emerging communities in both Winnipeg and around the province.
“For our city, our province and for much of the prairies, hockey is what drives the engine in the winter, whether it’s the Jets or the NHL, the CHL, right through to Jr. A and AAA minor hockey programs. If we don’t have kids sign up for minor hockey, we don’t have kids who go on and play at those higher levels and we don’t have kids who grow up to be fans of the Winnipeg Jets and the game in general.”
That’s why the game we love is taking a change in direction. Not in terms of the rules or the way the game is being played, but in the way its presented. People who never grew up with hockey are arriving in Canada every day and Sattler wants to recruit as many as he can to our country’s favourite sport.
It’s why Allan Chan is involved. After all, Chan is not only a member of the Winnipeg Jets advisory board, but he himself is a player.
“Back in about 2010, some friends of mine and I were interested in an annual tournament called the Asian Hockey Championships based in Toronto’” Chan explained. “So we went, myself and three friends, and we joined a team out there and we played. It was great timing and when we came back home we said wouldn’t it be great if we could put a team together?
“So, we did and put together an All-Asian team and went back to Toronto and played in the men’s division. It also has a kids’ division and a women’s division. In 2011, we actually took three teams to Toronto because the Jets had returned and there was a lot of interest in the team across the province. We also had all these players of Asian descent who wanted to play and wanted to be a part of it.
“As the years went by, a lot of my teammates had kids and they’d come to the tournament and play in it, as well. So now we take down two adult teams, a partial kids’ team that joins up with kids from Calgary and Toronto.”
It wasn’t long before Chan was organizing an All-Asian tournament in Winnipeg.
“Last February we held our own Lunar New Year Tournament,” Chan said. “We had a four-team tournament and at that time we decided to have a gear drive and we were put in touch with the True North Youth Foundation. We partnered up on a gear drive and the True North Youth Foundation put us in touch with David at the hockey for all centre.
“We started working with David and Dean Court on Grow the Game back in May of 2023. We also wanted to do something where we got involved in the First Shift Program. So, last April and May, we recruited kids of Asian, South Asian and Filipino descent who had already started playing or at least had started skating, to be coaches in the program.”
This kind of community leadership was exactly what the First Shift program needed.
“Thanks to Scotiabank’s hockey for all and Grow the Game programs and Bauer’s First Shift (through an NHL/NHLPA partnership) along with Apna Hockey’s ability to reach the South Asian Community, Jets Hockey Development has been proactive when it comes to encouraging non-traditional communities to embrace the game,” said Sattler. “We’re hoping this will build bridges and create diversity in a sport that right now, doesn’t have as much diversity as other sports we watch, play and enjoy.”
Chan and his partners, Maan and Cantiveros, have already started to build those bridges.
“We got the kids together of varying skill levels and built a data base of kids who could someday become a coach,” Chan said. “It would really help Grow the Game if we had kids who looked like the kids we were teaching. Sometimes that just helps a lot when you’re working with kids who are brand new to the sport.
“So, in October of 2023 we partnered with Bauer and the Jets and we rolled out the First Shift program. We were catering to players of Asian, South Asian and Filipino descent and we actually moved the program to Seven Oaks where the program would be in a place that offered better accessibility for the parents of these kids.
“Bauer supplied 30 families with free head-to-toe hockey gear. Then for six weeks we conducted hockey lessons at Seven Oaks Arena. All completely volunteer run. Members of my hockey team, the Winnipeg Emperors, the Asian team, helped out and then Ganni Maan had a South Asian team that also came out, along with Ron Cantiveros and the Filipino community. We brought on as many volunteers as we could find to help out including the kids that we identified in the spring that could help us coach.
“That was our first intake and then in January of 2024 we did our second intake where we had another 30 families involved. Our future plans are pretty simple now. We will be involved with First Shift again in the fall with more kids. And we have to make sure we have additional transition programs for the kids after First Shift in order to help them play organized hockey. Having coaches that are just like you can really make a difference.”
A small room filled with hockey memorabilia serves as the headquarters for Andy Kollar, the maestro behind goaltender development at hockey for all centre’s Ice Lab.
Kollar points to a picture on the wall of him clad in North Dakota goalie gear.
“That one is me,” he says.
The photo takes him back to his four years as starting goalie in NCAA Division 1 hockey with the University of North Dakota, where his team won a National Championship in 2000 and was runner-up in 2001. After a couple of years playing in the UHL, ECHL and WHA2, Kollar returned to his hometown for a job that kept him close to the sport. Since 2014 year, he’s been leading the charge of developing the next generation of goaltenders at hockey for all centre.
“Growing up, I was either playing or coaching hockey, so when I was offered the position at hockey for all centre it was a no brainer of me.”
Just outside Kollar’s office, a specialized ice surface equipped with five goalie creases provides a versatile learning environment for trainees.
“I like to start all my goalie training with creating a beneficial stance because I believe the stance serves as the foundation for all aspects of goaltending, including movement and recovery,” explains Kollar.
“Everybody’s body functions differently; it’s my job to cater my training to each person to make sure they have the most effective stance.”
Goalies of all ages and skill levels can benefit from the personalized attention and detail of the Ice Lab’s private training sessions – which can be booked individually or in packages of five or ten. In addition, more intensive multi-day camps, like the ones offered each July, also incorporate tailored dryland training at hockey for all centre’s gym, Focus Fitness.
“I train people of all walks of life, from those who want to improve for their beer league game to eight-year-olds starting off and teenagers of all levels.”
Kollar delivers personalized feedback, fostering an environment of continuous improvement and extends his ear and his advice to players who want to discuss their challenges and triumphs.
“I have a goalie who told me they wanted to play college hockey, but later on I found out he was failing math. So, I told him he had to focus more on school until he got his grades up.”
His parents were very encouraging and got him a tutor and Kollar helped stress the importance of school coming first and wanting all his players to not only achieve success in hockey, but in life.
“He worked hard and got his grades up and graduated high school and now he is playing hockey for a D1 school with close to a 4.0. Those are the moments that I am really proud of when I coach.”
While humbly acknowledging he may not be an expert in mental health, Kollar knows the pressures that come with being a netminder and remains committed to creating a safe space for his players.
“I believe it’s important to keep an open dialogue with my players if they want to discuss a game they feel went badly or if they are failing a class,” I want them to know someone cares because when I played hockey it wasn’t something people talked about.”
“When you are in your crease, mentally you’re so isolated from the team it feels like you are alone when you let in a goal or mess up, but I want to make sure players don’t feel like they are alone.”
Registration is open now for spring and summer sessions – view a complete list of Ice Lab goalie lessons, please visit hockeyforallcentre.com.
As the current season progresses and the excitement of on-ice action intensifies, the team at Jets Hockey Development (JHD) is already gearing up for spring and summer programs, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to guide players toward their next level of success both on and off the ice.
“Through our spring and summer programs, we aim to equip players with the essential skills and strategies needed to elevate their game,” said Dave Cameron, JHD’s Head On Ice Instructor & Program Manager. “Our focus on individual development ensures that each player receives tailored guidance, creating a pathway for them to excel and reach new heights in their hockey journey.”
JHD is committed to providing year-round support to players, teams, and coaches to ensure continuous improvement, not only through the regular season, but throughout the spring and summer as well. This year, JHD will introduce in-person video coaching sessions, offering players valuable feedback to enhance their understanding and proficiency in tactics, technique and movement.
“We continually aim to improve our offerings here at hockey for all centre, and every year, we evolve our JHD programming to best fit next year’s upcoming talent,” said Cameron.
JHD’s spring and summer programming caters to all ages and focuses, from forward, defence and goalie specific sessions to faceoffs and checking, and power skating and puck skills. In spring, the focus is on skill development, while the summer sessions prepare players for upcoming season tryouts emphasizing the fundamentals of offence and defence, puck control, edge work, positional play and real-game scenarios. JHD sessions are designed to foster player confidence during practice which can then be seamlessly applied during a game.
“I’m a big believer that any player can grow their skills and confidence with us,” he said. “And we can be as creative as possible to put programs together for a variety of age groups, from young beginners to older players who want to learn the game,” he said.
In anticipation of spring registration opening in late December, Cameron encourages players to embrace a forward-thinking approach. “Even as you immerse yourself in the present season, it’s never too early to set your sights on the next level. Envision your goals and focus on your development.”
I love hockey. I love everything about it. I love the skill, the toughness, the teamwork, and the heart. I love how, as Canadians, hockey is in our blood, and people around the world think of Canada synonymously with the game. I take great pride in and am very appreciative of working in such a great game. I love it.
One thing I do not love though, is the growing belief and culture that you have to pay to be great. Is there a monetary commitment to hockey that is on average higher than most other sports? Yes. Does this mean you have to remortgage your house to be the best? No. If you are a player who has aspirations of playing hockey at the next level, whatever that next level might be — AA, AAA, high school, junior, college, or pro — there will be a cost. You will pay for it in blood, sweat, commitment, and effort. If you do that, they will find you. I promise you.
The game of hockey has never been as globally accessible as it is now. There are cameras in almost every rink. I work with scouts and player development personnel who will tell you that if you are good, they will find you no matter where you are. If you do not have the financial means to go to the most expensive academy or train at the fanciest facility, do not worry. I promise you, those opportunities do not define success. There are lots of affordable resources out there to help you improve. Block out all the noise. Do not worry about where this person goes or what program or team other people are on. Focus strictly on what is under your control. The main thing being your own effort. Your effort is always 100 percent under your control at all times. It directly affects everything you do: training, eating, sleeping, preparation, practices, games — everything. Always give your best. Your best may look different from day to day, but whatever you have that day, give it. Your effort is the ultimate equalizer in the equation to being successful. If your financial situation does not afford you certain opportunities, eliminate the deficit by working as hard as you can every single chance you get.
At the end of the day, your effort is going to be a greater predictor of your success than anything else. If you are an athlete reading this right now and worried about the culture of “keeping up with the Joneses”, rip this article out and hang it on your wall as a reminder that all of that is just noise. Block it out by focusing on yourself. Do not let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. They are only speaking from their experience. Their experience is not your experience. Create your own. Like the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley states, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
How the Winnipeg Jets are using ball hockey to engage various cultures in the sport
Chances are you will feel more welcome doing something or going somewhere new if you are shown that you are welcome. That’s the approach the Winnipeg Jets take in showing that the sport of hockey is for everyone – including cultures that have traditionally not been associated with the sport.
This has taken shape through special games over the past several seasons, starting with WASAC (Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre) Night in 2019, and now including Filipino Heritage Night and South Asian Heritage Night which started this past season. These games serve to show that all are welcome in hockey by celebrating what makes each of those specific cultures unique, including music, dance and food, and even by incorporating cultural art and symbolism in specially designed Jets logos.
While those elements are important in creating a welcoming space for various cultures, the efforts can’t stop with recognition at a hockey game one night a year – and they haven’t for the Winnipeg Jets and the larger True North organization. The team has engaged with Manitoba’s Indigenous community in a variety of ways, like hosting youth from northern and remote Indigenous communities during their WASAC and Follow Your Dreams weekend each year, visiting and collaborating with Indigenous owned and operated restaurant Feast, collaborating with the First Nations Family Advocate Office for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation programming, and more. This summer, the Jets are looking to build similar relationships within Manitoba’s Filipino and South Asian communities through ball hockey.
“If we want people to engage in hockey, we need to make it accessible to them,” said Ali Dewji, True North’s Coordinator of Multicultural Initiatives, who has been planning the ball hockey events. “For something to be accessible, you need to remove as many barriers as possible, which we’re trying to do with our ball hockey initiative.”
Those wanting to participate in the ball hockey events really just have to bring themselves. The Jets create the playing surface and bring all the equipment, from nets, to sticks and balls, and even t-shirt jerseys for participants.
Perhaps the most important barrier they’re eliminating is the need to be able to skate. With no ice, if a participant can run, they can play ball hockey.
The first ball hockey initiative the Jets put on was at the end of June as part of the Filipino Street Festival – Manitoba’s largest gathering of the Filipino community (though all are welcome of course). The festival, which returned in 2023 for the first time since the pandemic, has always included a parade and plenty of Filipino culture through musical and dance performances, along with lots of great food.
The addition of ball hockey was new for organizers.
“Basketball is the number one sport in the Philippines, and there aren’t really a lot of hockey rinks in the country, except for in one big mall,” said Ley Navarro, Filipino Street Festival Chairman.
But for Filipinos in Canada, the sport is becoming more and more popular thanks to how much Canada loves the game.
“The Filipino community is excited to have the Winnipeg Jets engaging with them,” said Navarro, speaking on both the ball hockey efforts and Filipino Heritage Night. “Hockey is so popular in Canada, and many in our community want to watch hockey. Traditionally, though, few have played. We see this as an opportunity to encourage young people to take up the game.”
And while hockey is an important focus for the Jets, it’s also an avenue to much greater goals.
“At first, it may just look like we’re teaching kids to play hockey, but what we’re really looking to do is promote inclusivity, diversity, and cultural understanding both within the sport and in our society in general,” noted Dewji. “Manitoba is a place that people of many cultures call home, and though we may each be different in our own way, we have plenty in common that is worth celebrating. A sport like hockey and some fun competition are great ways to break down those barriers.”
Bringing ball hockey to the Filipino Street Festival was just the start. The Jets ball hockey set-up will also be featured at the Treaty One 2023 Anishinaabe Days at Naawi-Oodena (formerly Kapyong Barracks) July 29 and 30, and at the Punjabi Community Health Services Manitoba Friends and Family event in late August.
Filipino Heritage Night, South Asian Heritage Night, and WASAC Night all return for the 2023-24 Winnipeg Jets season, among many other great promotional nights. Check out the full schedule of Jets promo games at WinnipegJets.com/PROMOS, and purchase your tickets now with Full, Half, or Quarter Season Ticket Memberships at Winnipeg Jets.com/TICKETS.
