The Kelowna Heat Spring Hockey Club (KHSHC) is a not-for-profit society registered in the Province of BC. Managed by a group of dedicated volunteers, the focus of the organization is on the continued development of talented, disciplined and dedicated Kelowna and area players capable of competing at the AAA level in their respective age group.
Many players at this level do not get the opportunity to play to their potential during the winter season. We look to provide the opportunity for these players to have direct exposure playing with and against the top players in the area, the province and further. All of our teams follow the principles of learning, competition and having fun, all in a structured environment. Much of our success will be based on how we contribute to the development of character and other positive life skills in our players while we work towards advancing their hockey capabilities.
Each Kelowna Heat team is independently run by the staff of the team. Staff are directly accountable to the KHSHC executive, while team administrative duties are usually handled by a parent manager who works closely with the staff. With accountability being a main focus of KHSHC, each team must compile and distribute a budget to their parent group for review.
Heat and Heat Red Teams
Some of the KHSHC age divisions feature 2 teams, Kelowna Heat and Kelowna Heat Red. This will allow more local and area players the opportunity to further develop through spring hockey.
The expectations of the Heat teams are that they will be competitive across the province and beyond while seeking competition at the highest level. These teams may be comprised of players from various communties resulting in a more regional AAA spring hockey team.
The Heat Red teams are expected to be competitive in their respective division while playing within the province and possibly further.
For more information on Kelowna Heat teams please contact the KHSHC or each team directly through the contact form on their web page.
General Philosophies of the KHSHC
The Executive (elected at the AGM) recognize the importance of other sports and the positive influence and effect those activities can have on young athletes. The Okanagan (and BC interior) provides incredible opportunities for athletic development. It is the intent of the Heat spring hockey program to ensure our players are able to participate in other sports by ensuring our spring season targets to be finished by May. Individual Heat teams may choose to extend their season for specific events but should discuss these plans in advance. Due to the short nature of our season, the success of our teams do require commitment not only from the coaches and managers but also from the other volunteers giving their time and most importantly the commitment of the individual players and their families.
The Executive of the Society also strongly believe that spring hockey should operate as a compliment to, not in competition with, local winter minor hockey associations. The KHSHC strive to ensure our teams and players give first priority to their winter hockey obligations in the event of conflicting schedules during the winter season but also expect those schedules to be posted in advance and as accurately as reasonably possible. The KHSHC is in no way affiliated with any minor hockey association and spring hockey itself is not sanctioned by BC Hockey or Hockey Canada. We are not a business, hockey school or camp but a registered (British Columbia) non-profit Society focused on providing young hockey players an opportunity to experience spring hockey in an organized and effective manner as cost effective as possible. It’s not about the bottom line, it’s about the players’ experience and development.
A typical season may consist of the following:
- Start winter hockey through your local minor hockey association in September, focusing on skill development through weekly practices and games (this full season usually ends in Feb/Mar).
- Formation of coaching/managing staff for individual Heat spring teams is usually finalized once winter hockey begins. Much discussion occurs at the Executive level to determine the availability of experienced coaching as well as ice time. This will determine the ability to form both Heat and Heat Red teams, allowing more players the opportunity to continue their development through spring hockey. Coaching may be from qualified parents or from independent coaches.
- A team should be formed by January, with adjustments possible until the actual season begins. Players interested in participating should contact the Heat team coach and/or manager directly or through the contact form on the KHSHC website - www.KelownaHeat.com (teams are formed by birth year – i.e. 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 etc). Parents looking to form a team or coach should also speak to the Executive directly or use the same contact forms.
- Much of the season should already be planned/established by January/Feb (practice times, exhibition games, schedule, tournaments and a team budget for review by all team members). As each team will be operating under the non-profit KHSHC (and reporting to the Executive), transparency regarding team financials is mandatory.
- The Society will assist all Heat teams with securing practice ice and providing input and guidance on team operation, tournament registrations and budget preparation where required.
- Regular Heat practices normally begin in mid/late March, focusing on 2 practice ice times per week until mid-May. This results in approximately 12 – 16 practices, 2 -3 exhibition games and 3 – 4 tournaments/events over a 6 – 8 week period. As each team plans their own season, these are general guidelines.
We believe this is a formula that leads towards a rewarding and complete spring hockey season without resulting in ‘hockey burn-out’. Our plan is to continue reviewing our approach and making adjustments where required.
Why KHSHC
Our Society was originally formed by parents looking to bring the positive experience gained from spring hockey to more players and families in an organized format. A goal of the KHSHC is to achieve representation on the Executive from as many age groups as possible from the Heat teams. There are 7 positions on our Executive – President, 1st to 4th VP’s, a Treasurer and Secretary as well as a filed Constitution and Bylaws (with the BC Registrar of Companies). We do not aim to run any Heat team at the Executive level. Teams are run as independently as possible but are expected to operate within certain guidelines befitting our Society.
The Heat name has now become a recognized name in spring hockey and is sought out regularly by other top organizations. Our teams not only face the best from Vancouver and BC but have been contacted directly by the top teams from Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton) about attending invite only events for the best teams from Western Canada and have traveled across provincial borders and into the US (Colorado) for spring events. Some great experiences for our Heat players!
Our own Heat Blast Tournament held annually in Kelowna continues to grow each year (from 6 teams when we started to 46 teams in 2011) and attracts the best teams in the province and beyond. This tournament helps each Heat team whether they participate or not (participation is primarily based on the availability of ice). The Kelowna Heat Blast has now become a destination tournament for spring hockey and allows our players an opportunity to experience top level hockey in our own backyard.
The dedication and commitment of our KHSHC membership is helping us to grow and improve how we present our program. While we are not perfect (who is?) the Executive will continue to implement what we have learned into providing the best spring hockey experience possible for our players. We truly appreciate the support from our families, volunteers and the community.