Before I start this post, my thoughts and good wishes go out to the people of my adopted homeland (Florida) who are going through a tough time right now. First Hurricane Helene, now Milton. Evacuate if necessary, and help thy neighbour.
I would also like to pass along my condolences to the family of Chris “CR” Ryan who passed away this week. I’ll never forget the time CR walked into the office I was working in at the time with a Shock Top hoodie on – I said I liked it, so he took it off (rendering himself shirtless), put it on the desk, said “this is for you, AP”, turned around (put on a hockey jersey from his bag) and walked out. CR touched so many people through his music, his sense of humour, and his kindness. I hope to see you on the other side, friend (if there is one).
The ACC takes place every Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. Back in my day, the ACC would be in different venues every year and there were 3 age divisions; U16 Male, U17 Male, and U18 Female. Cell phones didn’t exist. High Button Sports was not streaming the event (you’d be lucky if a mom had a camcorder). I still remember my U16 year – we stayed at the Days Inn (Sydney, NS). The hotel room had a Super Nintendo controller and Punch Out! Boxing on the TV that you could play. Yes, Super Nintendo (that’s like… 57 video game systems ago).
Anyhow… why I love the ACC. Here we go.
You Get to See Who Can Play @ the ‘Next Level’
The ACC is a ‘best on best’ event. The bar is set a little higher than it is in everyone’s local environment. Things happen faster out there. Forecheckers are relentless. The time and space you might have had at the Provincial level is vastly reduced in Moncton. As a spectator, I get to see if a player(s) can make adjustments, think faster, change quicker. and produce under pressure.
You Cross Paths With Friends
I had the opportunity to coach in the HPP program in 2021 and 2022. Before we travelled (one of those years we couldn’t travel due to COVID), I would look at the coaching staffs of the other provinces and be like – oh so and so! Played with him…. or hey! She once worked with us @ VHG. Or I’d get a text from a former team mate saying that he would be around the Superior Propane Centre to ‘catch up’ over the weekend. In a busy world where everyone is on their own schedule, having the chance to catch up with old friends ‘down by the glass’ is a breath of fresh air.
You’re Playing For Your Province
The ACC teams are true provincial teams. These teams are backed by the provincial hockey branch. Being in the private hockey world, you like to think that a tournament in May closely resembles the ACC… but it is not the ACC. All teams are good, but are missing a player here or a player there. At the ACC, the HNL logo is firmly enblazened on your chest and you are part of something bigger. In sport, you don’t get that many opportunities to represent your province/country. Most never get the opportunity!
As a coach, I often use this tournament as a barometer of how NL is doing in hockey development as a whole. This is definitely not a good way of looking at it because hockey development is so much bigger than this tournament, but do you think that Hockey Canada uses the World Juniors, U18 Hlinka and Olympics as a barometer for male hockey development in Canada? It’s a rhetorical question y’all.
The QMJHL Ties
This is unofficially the first major event on a QMJHL (Maritime team) staffers schedule and (technically) the first time you’ll start to hear talks of that transition from “that guy was a strong U15AA/AAA player” to “he could be a high draft pick in the Q”. This is a heavily scouted event at the Dieppe UNIPlex – which in my eyes is a superb venue. The Dieppe UNIPlex main rink is one of my favourite rinks in New Brunswick – it’s got the high “soft” glass all around (great for wingers), comfortable seats, not too hot not too cold temperatures, a nice lower bowl concept and plenty of space on the benches. Chefs kiss.
Fun fact – I had to announce the Player of the Game last year from the ice. HNB (and friend) Brogan Bailey told me the mic wasn’t working properly when I got down to the penalty box. Fortunately I didn’t have a voice crack. C’est la vie!
In Conclusion
Sometimes in life, you have to look back and reflect on things.
It has been an honour to represent NL at the Atlantic Challenge Cup – come to think of it, I might be the only person in Provincial history to represent the province at this event as a player, coach, and scout (maybe some day referee…? Who knows). Yeah some of you are saying stop patting yourself on the back, Barry Horowitz. But it’s my blog, and if you read all the way to the end, you must not find me all that bad. Eh b’y!
Good luck to all NL players, coaches, trainers, officials, and DOP’s. I can’t wait to tune in.
Until Next Time
AP