CANORA – “Everyone can be a leader. Be a better person in the community.”
This is how Russell Herold of Montmartre, father of the late Adam Herold, described the focus of the Adam Herold Legacy Foundation Hockey & Leadership Development Program held in Canora on Nov. 1-2.
At the age of 16, Adam was the youngest person to pass away in the tragic Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018. Russell said the original idea for the Adam Herold Legacy Foundation came from his coaches, including Mike Blaisdell and Darrin McKechnie, who were on-ice instructors in Canora.
“They said that this kid had way too much potential for people to forget about,” said Russell. “They all respected who he was; a good athlete and a good person.”
Other instructors in Canora for the weekend included: Kim Perepulek, Shea van Luven, Brooklyn Stevely, Dan Yaskowich, Blaine Duffield, Todd Liskowich and Chad Mazurak.
A number of the instructors had worked with Adam before his untimely death, both on and off the ice.
“So many people that worked with Adam agreed with the idea, so it wasn’t hard at all to get them involved with the Foundation.”
Following Adam’s on-ice success, it was important to feature top-notch instructors on the ice for the weekend. The credentials of the instructors in Canora include playing and coaching at almost every level of hockey, right up to professional.
The on-ice instruction included skating, stickhandling, passing, shooting and so on. At the end, players had the fun of competing in scrimmages where they could put into practice what they had learned.
But while the hockey aspect is important, Russell said the life impact of the program might be more important in motivating participants to be better citizens.
“Communities are getting smaller,” he said. “Volunteers are needed more and more.”
The Adam Herold Legacy Foundation visits three small towns during each hockey season.
“We usually take applications from March until early April,” said Russel. “Most years we get 20-25 applications. They are shortlisted to about 10 by a committee, and then our board decides on the final three.”
Since the Foundation was established in 2018, camps have been held in: Balcarres, Gravelbourg, Alameda/Torquay, Preeceville, Maple Creek, Radville, Naicam, Carrot River, Langenburg, Quad Town (Vibank, Odessa, Sedley, Francis), Biggar, St. Walburg, Indian Head, Bruno, Midale/Lampman, Moosomin, Southey, Kincaid and Cudworth.
Sometimes it takes diligence to be chosen. Milestone and Kipling had applied several times previously without success, but made it this year along with Canora.
Russell said he enjoys traveling with the program and meeting small town people at the hockey rink. But he admits there are times when it’s difficult.
“You ‘see’ your own kid on the ice and it brings back a lot of memories.”
For the program in Canora, a total of 94 players were registered, ranging in age from four to 17, according to Canora Minor Hockey Association President Stacy Vangen.
“In addition to Canora, they came from Norquay, Preeceville, Sturgis, Kamsack, and Keeseekoose and Cote First Nations.”
Vangen, who is also a hockey parent, said hosting this program in Canora is likely to produce multiple benefits for Canora and area, both on and off the ice.
“This event benefits our whole community in teaching our players leadership and stewardship in our community. Sport teaches us so many good things. This camp incorporates both the physical aspects of the game but also being leaders and good citizens of our communities.
“This weekend was a massive success,” continued Vangen. “We were so excited to host the camp and are so thankful for what this camp brought to our community. The buzz among players and families was palpable. Seeing many players approach Russell Herold to shake his hand and thank him for coming to Canora was a special moment.”
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