For Jets Hockey Development (JHD) coach Brett Wur, no matter what level of hockey he’s coaching, the most rewarding part is helping players reach their goals.
“Seeing them start progressing and the excitement they feel because they’re starting to figure it out and get better at it, it’s always just a highlight,” said Wur. “That’s my goal, figuring out how we can get players one percent better each day and closer to their dreams and goals.”
Wur started playing hockey when he was just 2, and after high school played in Ontario, Minnesota, for Trinity Western University, and in Germany. He has been coaching in the community since he played junior hockey and was an assistant coach for Trinity Western’s women’s hockey team. This year he will celebrate his fifth anniversary of being part of the JHD team.
From coaching a wide range of ages and skill levels, Wur has developed an approach to meeting his players where they’re at.
“It’s just how you relate it to different ages. You want to make everything fun but still challenging enough that they’re uncomfortable because that’s where you see growth,” said Wur.
One of the groups Wur helps coach are youth from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. JHD has been running skill development clinics with the Rankin Inlet Minor Hockey Association for the past few years, with both youth coming down to Winnipeg for lessons and coaches heading up to Nunavut.
Recently, Wur went to Rankin Inlet with other JHD coaches to run 20 sessions over four days for youth from U7 to U18.
“It was a wonderful experience. We got to see a lot and learn about their culture while doing what we do and helping players develop,” said Wur. “We were able to help out kids that maybe wouldn’t get as much development.”
Running these skill sessions over the past few years has helped Wur and the JHD team develop relationships with the youth from Rankin Inlet and the surrounding community.
“My goal is trying to talk to everybody one on one at least once during the session,” said Wur. “Just being someone that’s there for them, not only as a as a player, but just even as a person.”
Wur has several philosophies for helping young players develop their skills and confidence.
“Players gain confidence when they have the puck on their stick,” said Wur, who tries to plan skill sessions so players get as many reps as possible. “If I can’t control the puck, then I can’t pass very well, then I can’t shoot and I can’t protect very well. So, trying to have the puck on their stick as much as possible in practices and skill sessions goes a long way.”
However, learning to play without the puck is something Wur also likes to drill into his players.
“I like to tell players that there’s one puck in a game and 10 skaters and two goalies on the ice. One player’s going to have the puck on their stick, so the nine other players need to learn how to play without a puck,” said Wur, whose favourite skill to teach is passing.
Players can work on their puck skills at JHD’s spring camps and programs. With a starting date in April, players have time to take a break before camp starts, which Wur notes is important for their development. As someone who grew up playing football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, and golf along with hockey, Wur believes taking a break from hockey, even if it is to play other sports, is beneficial.
“Kids are still growing into their bodies and learning how they move, and I think other sports help that,” said Wur. “Look at a lot of the better players in the NHL. They played multiple sports growing up because they felt like it helped them grow.”
However, when they are ready to return to the ice, JHD offers a variety of spring camps to help players focus on what they want to work on.
“Our spring programs allow players to build that foundation so that when we get to summer, we’re building on top of that and making big strides going into training camp or tryouts,” said Wur. Off-season training can help players develop confidence, improve their skills, and put them ahead of their peers for the upcoming season.
During spring camps, players can also connect with and learn from JHD coaches, who alternate between teaching different programs.
“We get some different voices, opinions and mindsets to hopefully connect with every player,” said Wur. But most importantly, Wur urges players to bring an open and positive mindset to training sessions.
“Make sure you’re having fun,” said Wur. “Make sure you’re wanting to come to the rink every day to get better and be open to trying new things.”
One of Canada’s first accessible sledge hockey programs for youth was introduced this past year at Winnipeg’s hockey for all centre. Para First Shift, a program developed by Manitoba Possible and the team at hockey for all centre, helps remove barriers for youth to participate in sledge hockey.
“We’re really excited because it’s an entry-level to the sport for a lot of younger kids who typically wouldn’t have the opportunity to get involved,” said Jaylene Irwin, program manager of recreation, leisure, and accessible sport at Manitoba Possible, a non-profit organization that provides a wide range of services to Manitobans with disabilities.
The idea was inspired by a phone call David Sattler, general manager of hockey for all centre, had about the First Shift program, which was created by the NHL and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) to make hockey more accessible, affordable, and fun for kids and families new to the sport. The First Shift program has been running since 2014 and has helped introduced the sport to many new families and participants.
“It was mentioned that in Atlantic Canada they had tried sledge hockey a few years ago, but it hadn’t picked up anywhere else,” said Sattler, who reached out to Irwin and the team at Manitoba Possible to explore expanding Winnipeg’s First Shift programming to include sledge hockey. Manitoba Possible was already connected to hockey for all centre, as they have operated sledge hockey programs at the arena since 2010.
“It’s really been the home of sledge hockey in the province,” said Irwin.
Para First Shift is different from other sledge hockey programs offered in Manitoba because the program’s costs, including equipment, are completely covered by True North Sports + Entertainment through generous support from Scotiabank and Jumpstart.
“Some families have said that as a single parent they never could have imagined getting their child involved in sport, and this has opened so many doors,” said Irwin.
Para First Shift had 13 youth between the ages of 5 and 20 in their fall program. One of those kids was 5-year-old Jayden Skowrenek, the youngest child to participate in one of Manitoba Possible’s sledge hockey programs.
“He likes watching dad play hockey and watching the Jets play hockey on TV, so we were excited when they offered the First Shift program to try sledge hockey,” said Jordan Skowronek, Jayden’s dad.
“Its important for kids to start at an early age to develop physical literacy and continue in sport throughout life,” said Irwin, who has coached sledge hockey for eight years. There are several coaches, parents and volunteers on the ice during Para First Shift sessions to make sure every participant is supported. There are also adjustments that can be made to help kids feel comfortable, like adding a back rest or push bar on a sled or eliminating sensory difficulties in the arena.
“Just having everyone fitted in their equipment was incredible to break down barriers for participating in sports,” said Irwin. “When we were doing the welcome event, a kid was putting on his jersey and gloves when he looked up at his mom and dad and said, ‘It’s been my dream to play hockey, thank you for the opportunity’ and that was special to hear.”
One of the greatest things Para First Shift has created is a sense of community among participants, their families, and coaches.
“A lot of families say it feels like a second family to them because we see each other weekly and you get quite close,” said Irwin. “It’s a special community, and we’ve received a lot of positive feedback and gratitude for the opportunity for their kids to be involved in the program.”
Sattler too has received emails from parents sharing how life-changing this opportunity has been. “Specifically for one kid who really likes sports, but for one reason or another hasn’t been able to participate, this has opened doors for him to be able to be included in ways he wasn’t able to before which has had a significant impact on his self-confidence.”
Irwin says participants’ confidence has grown during the six-week program, and their progress from sitting on the ice at the first session to now moving quickly and assuredly is exciting to see.
And hopefully this will only be the beginning of their growth. Once participants 13 and over complete Para First Shift, they can advance into higher levels of sledge. Several participants, including Jayden, have already used their skills outside of the sessions, participating in a holiday tournament against teams from Winkler, and Kenora, Ont.
“Manitoba has a thriving sledge hockey community. We have a couple players that play on the national team, and train here at hockey for all centre,” said Sattler, who purposely schedules the advanced sledge hockey programs after Para First Shift sessions. “I think its important for these kids to see older, more advanced athletes and understand that this isn’t just a six-week program, there’s an opportunity to play, grow and enjoy the sport.”
The future of sledge hockey in Manitoba is looking bright. Since the Para First Shift program started in September, more participants and their families have reached out to Manitoba Possible wanting to join.
“As long as there are kids who want to get involved in the sport, we’re here to support it and make sure they have the opportunity to play,” said Sattler. “These kids persevere through so much that getting the opportunity to take part in this, learn a new skill and connect with teammates is significantly beneficial for their development, allowing them to connect with the sport and become a fan.”
To learn more about sledge hockey in Manitoba, visit manitobapossible.ca/sledgehockey.
hockey for all centre’s biggest tournament welcomes more than 60,000 over two weeks
What has 1,350 periods, lasts two weeks, and requires more than 120,000 litres of water?
You’ll find the answer at hockey for all centre this coming holiday season as the venue continues to host its biggest tournament, the Winnipeg Jets Challenge Cup.
What started as a way to keep quiet ice busy over the holiday season quickly evolved into a must-enter tournament, growing from 20 house league teams, to 40, then 80, to now, a decade later, being recognized as a preeminent tournament with a capacity of up to 210 teams. The tournament sells out in less than two weeks and typically has a wait list of more than 40 teams.
“From a personal standpoint, I’m very proud to have been able to work with such an amazing team to create this event and help it grow to what has become hockey for all centre’s marquee tournament,” said Dean Court, Business and Amateur Hockey Development & Programming Manager for hockey for all centre, who conceptualized the event and nurtured its growth over the seasons. “It takes a whole team to support an endeavour of this size and make it happen behind the scenes, and when we see the community this tournament creates, it is so worthwhile for us.”
While there may be minor tournaments that exceed this size, Court and his colleagues are not aware of a bigger tournament that is able to be housed exclusively in one facility. With four ice pads going at once, the venue will be a flurry of activity.
This year’s tournament will welcome 180 teams, 2,600 players and as many as 60,000 visitors altogether. With more than 40 teams coming in from rural Manitoba, northern Ontario and Saskatchewan and as far away as Rankin Inlet, the event also provides a good boost for area hotels and businesses.
Court notes team capacity fluctuates from year to year based on how the holidays fall and the practice schedule of the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose, as the tournament home is also the official practice facility of Winnipeg’s two professional hockey teams.
As an added perk, players and spectators can watch team practices during their down time.
“It is a unique connection that our Jets and Moose have with this event,” said Court adding that all registered players get a free Manitoba Moose game ticket and over $100,000 in unique Jets and Moose prizing is given away to teams. Players and spectators can expect to see team mascots Mick E. Moose and Benny throughout, participate in fun activations, and maybe even see the
mselves featured in some Jets content.
This is the truly the fun part for Court and his team – the off-ice moments that become forever memories.
“The on-ice wins are exciting, and we’ve seen it all at this tournament over the years – the underdog victories, the comebacks, the upsets, but some of the greatest moments happen off the ice, when you run into neighbours, old coaches, former teammates. This is a true community event where you learn how expansive the hockey network is and combined with the time of year there’s something really special in the air during this event.”
For people who are just learning to skate to professional hockey players who have spent thousands of hours on the ice, breaking down a skill to its simplest form can help anyone master it.
This is the approach Jets Hockey Development (JHD) coach Devin Himpe takes, whether he’s coaching 5-year-olds or the pros.
“It doesn’t matter which group I’m working with, when starting a new program or skill I usually try to take things slowly and start at a controlled standpoint, build things, and then put it in a game situation. I think that’s the best way to give a player confidence,” said Himpe.
Along with coaching full-time for JHD for the past five years, Himpe has been an assistant coach for 10 years with the University of Manitoba Bisons Men’s Hockey Team, has coached Team Manitoba, and was a member of the Team Canada coaching staff at the 2019 International University Sports Federation Games in Russia.
Himpe works with players of all ages and skill ranges, from children to adults in their 60s or 70s who are learning to skate, and high school, university and professional hockey players.
“The most rewarding part of coaching is when you clearly make an impact on someone, whether they had fun or got better,” said Himpe. “I’ve always tried to push players to the best of their abilities while having fun.”
Growing up in Dauphin, Man., Himpe spent most of his free time on the ice.
“I grew up in a small town and there was nothing else to do. It was either hockey…or hockey,” laughed Himpe. However, he believes the best players are balanced, not only in their skillset but also in their time off the ice.
“Try to show up with an open mind and be ready to work,” is Himpe’s advice for players. “Don’t just focus on the things you are good at. We need to build everything so you can be a more complete player.”
Himpe also uses this mindset in his coaching approach, as he understands the importance of listening and learning from others.
“If coaches don’t grow and listen to others, then their players won’t grow,” said Himpe who, along with using this collaborative approach, has also invested a lot of his time into his own personal training. He has completed the Hockey Canada skills training and has his High Performance 1 coaching certificate.
Himpe believes its also important for players to take a break from hockey and to play other sports.
“Playing other sports can help improve your hockey skills. For example, playing golf or baseball can help with hand-eye coordination,” said Himpe. “Those skills will translate over to your game.”
While having a well-rounded skillset is important, skating is truly the foundation of any good hockey player.
“If you can’t skate, you can’t pass, you can’t shoot. You can’t do everything to the best of your ability,” said Himpe.
This is why power skating is a staple JHD program throughout the year, and especially during the spring season, which Himpe notes is a great time to get a head start on the areas a player wants to improve upon for next year.
JHD’s spring programs are available for U9 to U18 players as well as adult skaters. Players can also create their own small groups with their friends, teammates, or other players at their level, and choose from a range of coaches to tailor their programming.
“From a development standpoint, players can take a break from team play and focus on themselves, and then take a break after spring development with their mindset on what they just worked on,” said Himpe, adding that spring training is also beneficial for players, and their parents, in that it continues to bring structure and developmental opportunities after the hockey season is over.
Himpe will be involved with each program in some way and is looking forward to helping players improve on and off the ice, but having fun remains key.
“If I can help them develop or gain something out of a practice, as long as they’re smiling at the end of it, that’s all I care about.”
For more information on Jets Hockey Development 2025 spring programs, visit hockeyforallcentre.com.
JHD’s high-calibre coaching and skill-specific training give players the edge
There have been many changes to the game over the past few generations, not the least of which is tremendous growth in skill, speed and flair – and this is not by accident.
“In my own playing days, there was playing time and practice time – there was no additional work unless you went out looking hard to find it,” said Dave Cameron, Head On-Ice Instructor & Program Manager with Jets Hockey Development (JHD), based out of hockey for all centre.
Growing availability of skill-specific training, such as what is offered through JHD, and a high calibre of coaching has been key to this evolution, providing players, both minor and pro, with options and opportunity to take every aspect of play to the next level.
“The biggest change is people like myself who are available to work with players, which has expanded these opportunities.”
A 1998 NHL draft of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Cameron has been coaching for more than 25 years and has worked with players of all skill levels, from those taking their first strides to those on the cusp of making the bigs, and pros who have made the jump to the big show. He is also the skating and skills coach for both the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose and works with hockey for all centre tenant teams, including the MJHL’s Winnipeg Blues and Winnipeg Freeze, as well as Winnipeg AAA/AA, and Winnipeg Ice (U18 female).
“All of our JHD coaches demonstrate a high level of hockey sense and understanding of the game, but each have had their own unique career path that has led them here, creating complementary experiences and perspectives that benefit our entire program delivery.”
Communication and relationships are a key part of Cameron’s coaching philosophies, and he sees them as impactful to players’ training outcomes.
“Players who succeed the most are the ones with the best attitude and who are open to change,” said Cameron. “I try to be as open as I can with players and I want them to come talk to me about what they are doing well and struggling with, this helps to build a rapport that strengthens the connection between goals and the plan we build to achieve them.”
The communication aspect is even more critical when it comes to team coaching sessions where JHD coaches work to parlay individual strength and skill to elevated team play through communication.
Team coaching begins with a conversation with the coaches to get a sense of what they’d like to see from a development plan. After an on-ice assessment session, Cameron outlines a curriculum, maps out the plans and builds the drills.
With so many development options available now, determining the best fit can be overwhelming but that’s where the relationship starts for Cameron and the other coaches.
“We get a lot of calls from families, some know exactly what they want and some want guidance, and so we work with you to match the program to the player.”
In addition to Power Skating, Puck Skills, Female Programs, 3 vs. 3, and Junior Prospects programming, new to the spring lineup this year are small group programs (8-10 players) during prime-time hours including after school and evenings.
“Our programs can be the perfect supplement for a spring hockey season – or replace spring hockey altogether – with more individual attention, focused work, and puck touches than in games.”
Even with his vast experience in the game, Cameron is also focused on continued learning. He spent time during COVID exploring hockey experiences off the ice, including doing colour commentary for the Manitoba Moose and writing a book, Coaching Hockey with Small Area Games, and is currently working on a second book focused on developing defensemen.
He is in the process of completing a Hockey Canada Master Skills program – just one of 10 Canadian coaches selected to receive this certification.
“For me, on the JHD side, it just lets me take our coaching to a whole other level,” Cameron said noting the plan for all JHD coaches to achieve Skills Coach Certification with Hockey Canada.
He is adamant that a good skills coach should be able to adapt to impact players of any skill level.
“Because I work with the Moose every day, I get to see where they’re at, and the goal of reaching the NHL is so close at this point. The way they prepare for practice, I can take those messages to the younger kids, scale down and explain to them why these same concepts are important. They get a lot of info that the pros are getting, similar concepts to be taught and worked on.”
The ultimate goal, through any JHD program, is to make the tactical to practical connection, correlating training to the game scenario.
“The best thing for me is seeing a player when they have that aha moment, and they understand what they are working on, how it relates to them and how they can use it in the game,” said Cameron. “When they call or text to let us know, the joy they feel in connecting it with the game – and that can be a pro or a young player, for me, the excitement doesn’t change.”
Explore JHD’s spring programs at hockeyforallcentre.com.
One of the greatest things Para First Shift has created is a sense of community among participants, their families, and coaches.
