Hello Parents

I know summer has just began but I wanted to touch base with everyone concerning the upcoming 2022-2023 hockey season. This year, Westmount, LaSalle, Lachine and Verdun (WLLV) will be forming a double letter organization at the AA & BB level. Each organization will be hosting each team on a rotational basis for both practices and games.  

We will be forming one team at the following levels.

·         M11 AA (2012-2013) ATOM

·         M11 BB (2012-2013) ATOM

·         M13 AA (2010-2011) PEEWEE

·         M13 BB (2010-2011) PEEWEE

·         M15 AA (2008-2009) BANTAM

·         M18 AA (2005-2007) MIDGET

If you are interested in playing at the AA or BB level, kindly follow the steps by clicking here.

A reminder that registration for single letters (A, B, C) begins on August 2^nd 8 a.m. If your player is trying out for Double Letters, you are required to also sign up for single letters. Should a player make a double letter team, your amount paid for single letters will be transferred directly to the WLLV organization for a portion of your fee.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at the coordinates below.

Thank you

‘Puts Westmount in the room’ where decisions are made Maislin new VP of Hockey Lac St. Louis, aims to promote girls’ hockey

By Laureen Sweeney

The recruitment of girls for hockey and marketing of their sport have long been goals for Andrew Maislin, operations manager for the city’s Sports and Recreation department. And his appointment June 21 as the new vice-president of the Lac St. Louis hockey federation “puts Westmount in the room where it all happens,” he told the Independent. Hockey Lac St. Louis includes 24 hockey associations like Westmount’s and is a member of Hockey Quebec. The Eastern Hockey League, for which Maislin continues as administrator, is one of the three subdivisions of Lac St. Louis. This additional role “is great for our goal of increasing girls’ hockey in Westmount,” he added. “Now we can steer the ship for our girls.” Girls’ hockey has always been under appreciated around the world, he contended. The marketing of hockey and recruitment of girls, including reaching out to the schools, has been “sorely lacking.” Maislin launched the first all-girls’ hockey team in November 2021 for the Westmount Minor Hockey Association. He also organized and brought to Westmount the nine final games of the season for Lac St. Louis’ girls’ hockey March 27. According to an information bulletin from the Lac St. Louis federation announcing Maislin’s appointment, “Andrew has been entrusted with overseeing the girls’ hockey program, a segment of the hockey sphere that is particularly close to his heart. His diverse experience in sports and recreation management with the city of Westmount for over 15 years is an undeniable asset to the corporation.”
For Maislin, adding the new responsibility “is a part of my life,” he said.

Max Steinberg, city’s hockey player for March
Top scorer for team, chosen for leadership role

By Laureen Sweeney

Being named Westmount’s hockey player-of-the-month forMarch is a salute to Max Steinberg of the U18/M18 Wings’ team. He moves on to the adult hockey program next year, explained Andrew Maislin, operations manager for the city’sSports and Recreation department.In announcing the recognition, Maislin recalled how Max had grown up in the department from the age of 6. “I have seen him develop from an ankle skater to one of the strong est players on his team.” This year, he has taken on a leadership role for the team and has brought them to various victories during the playoffs, Maislin added. “He is also the leading scorer, currently with a recent five-goal game.” Coaches had commented monthly on “how much he has matured not only as a hockey player but as a young adult andleader.” This was one of the objectives of the player-of-themonth recognition programwhen it was launched in October 2019 by the Westmount Minor Hockey Association.The city’s recognition program aims to highlight player contributions and acknowledge the opportunities and skills that minor hockey, and sports as a whole, can offer young people in developing sportsmanship, teamwork and discipline, which can be transferred into other areas such as academics and community service, Maislin said. “Max will be moving on to the adult hockey program next year and we wish him well on his next hockey adventure.”

Player of the month for February
Abigail Waters named as an ‘inspirational’ hockey player
By Laureen Sweeney

The Westmount Minor Hockey Association has named Abigail Waters from its Wings U/M9-4 girls’ team as its player of the month for February. At 8 years old, “Abigail is an inspirational player,” said Andrew Maislin, operations manager for the city’s Sports and Recreation department. In announcing the selection, he said it was not often that an association comes across someone “who inspires others to want to play hockey at this young age.” And Maislin witnessed it first hand, he told the Independent last week. “This past weekend, my 7-year-old daughter who wants nothing to do with hockey went to a Wings-versus-Côte St Luc Canucks game to cheer on a few of her friends on the Canucks team. After the game when she came home, I asked her what she thought about the game and the first words out of her mouth were, ‘I want to be like number 16 on your team.’ “I asked ‘Why number 16?’ and her response was so simple and profound. She responded by telling me that every time she saw number 16 on the ice, she was smiling and she looked like she was having so much fun. ‘I want to be just like her.’” Maislin said that Abigail had assisted numerous teams this season when they have been short players. “She has often
played multiple games in a day without hesitation. Abigail has demonstrated true Wings spirit, not just on her team but the teams that she has supported.” Amazing shot She has no fear on the ice, he added. “She has an amazing shot and is always quick to get up when she falls. She has a great hockey sense and is always in the right spot.” While Abigail may be quiet in the room and on the bench, her presence is well noticed on the ice through her consistent performances, he explained. “I look forward to having Abigail in our program for years to come.” The player-of-the-month recognition program was initiated in November 2019 “to acknowledge how, through hockey and sports as a whole, children are able to develop sportsmanship, teamwork and discipline, which they can then transfer into other areas of their lives.”

‘Excited, motivated and prepared’
Matthew Frenkiel honoured as player of the month
By Laureen Sweeney

Matthew Frenkiel was named last week as the city’s hockey player of the month for
January, announced Andrew Maislin, operations manager for Westmount’s Sports and Recreation department. “He plays with the U/M9-3 Wings team and is in his first season playing inter-city hockey for Westmount,” Maislin said. No stranger to the game, however, Matthew graduated from the MAHG instructional hockey program. According to the team’s head coach Paul Tsang, “Matthew is a dream to coach because he is excited, motivated and comes prepared to learn every time. He’s a positive influence both on and off the ice, which is so important as young players develop their skills and learn to play as a team. Matthew’s just simply a great teammate.” The player-of-the-month recognition program was launched in November 2019 to acknowledge how, through hockey and sports as a whole, children are able to develop sportsmanship, teamwork and discipline, which they can then transfer into other areas of their lives.

Cited for leadership, attitude, team support
Cecilia Chadwick named player-of-the-month for December
By Laureen Sweeney

Westmount’s hockey player-of-themonth for December is Cecilia Chadwick, as announced last week by Andrew Maislin, operations manager for the Sports and Recreation department. He launched the
program in 2019 for the Westmount Minor Hockey Association. Cecilia, who plays with the U/M11 A
“Wings” team, is one of two girls on the team and is playing inter-city this year for
Westmount for the first time after participating in the fall youth league and development clinics in the past. “Since Cecilia started playing team sports with Westmount in 2017, I have never seen her not smiling from ear to ear,” Maislin said. “She has developed into a strong leader within our association who is always up for a challenge.” Maislin said when he asked the coaches why they recommended Cecilia for December’s player he received this response: “Honestly, we could give Cecilia player-ofthe-month every month just for her positive attitude and the support she gives her teammates.” Head coach Dominic Plante explained that “She’s always smiling, she wants to learn and she works really hard all the time. She is a quick and eager learner. She also contributes on the ice. She’s one of the best defencemen on the team.” The program was launched not only to highlight the contributions of players, but also to acknowledge the opportunities and skills that hockey, and sports as a whole, can offer young people, Maislin explains.

Goalie cited for ‘positive attitude’
Ellis is city’s Player of the Month for November
By Laureen Sweeney

The city’s hockey player of the month for November is 12-yearold Zachary Ellis, the goalie for the U/M13 Westmount Wings A team.
This is his first year playing inter-city with the Wings after two years in the city’s house league, according to Andrew Maislin, operations manager for the city’s Sports and Recreation department.
“He has put in the work to improve his game to another level in the month of November,” Maislin explained. “Zachary has put in a tremendous amount of time to improve his skills. He watches videos with practice movements and [practises] on his own whenever he has a chance on the ice. His positive attitude, ability to adapt and eagerness to learn has earned him the admiration of this fellow players and coaches.”
This last month, he has helped his team to five wins and two losses with a 1.85 goals-against average.
The player of the month program was launched two years ago by the Westmount Minor Hockey League to recognize players whose talents have had a positive influence on their teams and peers (see story November 19, 2019, p. 1). “We believe it is important to acknowledge the opportunities and skills that minor hockey, and sports as a whole, can offer young people,” Maislin said. “Through hockey, children are able to develop sportsmanship, teamwork and discipline, which they can transfer to other areas of their
lives, such as academics and community service.” The program was suspended in March 2020 at the start of the COVID closures and started up again this October with the naming of Samuel McKenzie from the
U/M18 (Midget) Wings team (see Zachary Ellis. Photo courtesy of Westmount Sports and Recreation. story November 16, p. 5)

In continuing the tradition, the Westmount Minor Hockey Association is proud to announce this month’s player of the month for October 2021.

We believe it is important to acknowledge the opportunities and skills that minor hockey, and sports as a whole, can offer young people. Through hockey, children are able to develop sportsmanship, teamwork and discipline, which they can transfer to other areas of their lives, such as academics and community service.

With that in mind, we are proud to announce that our October nominee is Samuel McKenzie, age 17, from the M18 A Wings team. Samuel has demonstrated the exemplary skills that have earned him special recognition this month. Samuel is always attentive when his coach is instructing, first on the ice and always takes initiative. Recently, I had the pleasure as replacing the coaches of the team and I was impressed by Samuel. He came out of the dressing room, asked me if I needed anything with regard to the lineups, who plays what position & other team information related to the game. To me he demonstrated first hand, his leadership. We went on to win the game. Samuel began his hockey career back in 2011 in Novice A and has remained part of the program until this year which happens to be his last season in minor hockey. Samuel’s dedication to his team, his respect and his focus have made us proud to name him our first Player of the Month for the 2021-2022 season in the Westmount Minor Hockey Association.

At Westmount Minor Hockey, we are committed to serving the community by highlighting those whose talents have had a positive influence on their teams and peers. We will continue to support the recognition of young talent in the hopes that it will encourage and reinforce their participation in athletics, education and the greater community.

On behalf of the City of Westmount, we would like to extend our congratulations once again to Samuel and we look forward to seeing what he will accomplish in the future.

The City of Westmount is pleased to introduce its first ever youth all girls’ hockey team. This was one of the objectives established by The Westmount Minor Hockey Association prior to the pandemic.

This year 11 girls will take part at the M9 level (Novice). With the assistance of dedicated coaches, the girls have been practising together and developing their skills since September 11^th in preparation to start league games on December 1st.

The goal is to add an additional team of girls each year in hopes of bringing more of the Westmount community into the sport of hockey.

On the picture:
Top, left to right: MJ Blais, Caroline Parent Harvey, Chris Clark, Stephen Morganstein
Middle, left to right: Abigail Waters, Sophie Mantha, Eva Clark, Sophie Frenkiel, Raegan Piccioni, Romy Garshagen
Bottom, left to right: Emmanuelle Ghattas, Chloe Veronneau, Caroline San Gregorio, Mikki Morganstein, Emma Veronneau

The Atom AA Westmount Wings fell to the Pierrefonds Barracudas by a score of 32 on October 16 during the hockey team’s first inter-city hockey match of the 2021-22 season.

For the nine and 10-year-old players, it was also the first game since the beginning of the COVID pandemic more than a year and-a-half ago. Still, they played well and almost matched the Barracudas, who hadn’t been out of action nearly as long.

“We only had three weeks of practice,” head coach Shayne Jackson said in an interview with the Independent following the game, adding that the Wings “were grinding them hard” while out on the ice with the opponents.

Jackson said the Wings all performed exceptionally well. “They will literally run through a wall for me and I am really proud of every single one of them. They played really hard.”

According to the coach, the Barracudas had played in several tournaments since the beginning of last year, providing them with an edge against the Wings.

It was also the first inter-city hockey game held at the Westmount recreation centre since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. (Article from the Westmount Independent, October 19, 2021)