STIX 'n PUX

STRONGEST BMHA REGISTRATION IN YEARS – AND FACES NEW ICE CHALLENGES

This season marks a historic milestone for Burnaby Minor Hockey. We’re proud to share that 755 players have registered – the highest number since pre-Covid and a big jump from 656 last season. Along with this record growth, we’ve iced 44 teams this year, up from 39 last season.

But as every hockey parent knows, more players also brings new challenges when it comes to ice time. Even though our ice allocation has increased this year, it hasn’t kept pace with our registrations:

• Player registrations: up 15% (755 vs. 656)
• Teams: up 13% (44 vs. 39)
• Ice hours per week: up 8.5% (105.8 vs. 97.3)
• Ice times per week: up 5.8% (91 vs. 86)

On top of this, the City of Burnaby has added new afternoon City-run programs at Bill Copeland and Kensington. While these programs are a benefit to the community overall, they’ve also reduced the amount of early evening ice available for minor hockey. As a result:

• Very few weekday ice slots between 5:00–7:00pm remain available.
• Most weekday practices now start at 7:30pm or later.
• Roughly 60% of BMHA’s total ice allocation is at Rosemary Brown Arena.
• At Bill Copeland & Kensington, sessions must end by 11:00pm, further limiting flexibility.

The Bulldogs’ record growth shows the strength of our hockey community. But it also underscores a growing challenge: ensuring we have enough accessible, family-friendly ice to keep pace with demand. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work with the City and manage schedules creatively to give every Bulldog the best experience possible.

STAY ALERT: PHISHING EMAILS TARGETING BMHA

We want to make all BMHA families aware of recent phishing attempts aimed at our community. Scammers have been sending emails that look like they come from BMHA leaders (President, Treasurer, Division Managers, etc.) but they are not legitimate. Because names and roles are public on our website, fraudsters use them to trick families.

These fake emails often:

• Ask for money, gift cards, or personal information
• Use an email address that looks similar but isn’t official
• Create a sense of urgency (“Please handle this right away”)·

How to protect yourself:

• BMHA will never ask you for money, gift cards, or sensitive info by email
• Don’t just trust the email display name – click or hover over it to see the full address (all BMHA emails end with @burnabyminor.com)
• Don’t click links or open attachments if a message seems suspicious

If you’re unsure:

• Call/text the person using contact info you already have (not what’s in the email)
• If you don’t have their number, start a new email to their correct address (don’t reply to the suspicious one)

And if you spot a phishing attempt, please notify admin@burnabyminor.com so we can track these scams and warn others. Thank you for helping protect BMHA from online scams!

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM UPDATE

We're excited to kick off another season with our volunteer program, now in its second year using SportsHelpers! This platform helps us streamline volunteer coordination and ensures everyone can contribute to making our season a success.

Key Information

• A new portal is created each season, so all volunteers will need to log in and update their password. Stay tuned for an email from SportsHelpers with instructions once the portal is ready.
• Each family is required to complete a minimum of 10 hours of volunteer service. Your support keeps our community thriving—thank you for stepping up!

For more information, visit https://burnabyminor.com/volunteers/ or please send any questions to Jason Uy at director-volunteers@burnabyminor.com.

LIVESTREAM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Planning to help with livestreaming games this season? We need you! Please fill out the Livestream Volunteer Form to sign up. Note: Previous scoreboards have been cleared to make room for new users, so be sure to sign up early to secure your spot.

Your efforts in volunteering and livestreaming make a huge difference for our players, families, and fans. Let’s make this season the best yet!

BMHA JUNIOR MENTOR PROGRAM

BMHA is proud to continue its Junior Mentor Program, giving past and present BMHA players the chance to give back to the game, develop leadership skills, and support the next generation of Bulldogs.

Junior Mentors assist BMHA teams and development (Dev) sessions on the ice, on the bench, and at team activities, all under the guidance of certified coaches and development leads.

Why Join?

• Volunteer Credit: Hours recognized by Burnaby schools.
• Skill Development: Leadership, communication, and teaching experience.
• Stay Connected: Remain part of the BMHA community.
• Future Pathways: Build your resume for coaching, officiating, and leadership roles.

Program Details

• Open to U15–U21 past and present BMHA players.
• Applications accepted until December 31.
• Commitment: 10–30 hours per season.

Applications are available through the BMHA website, or contact Ty Babych, Director of Hockey Operations for more information.

GOALIE GEAR PURCHASE PROGRAM - CALLING ALL GOALIE FAMILIES!

With the largest number of goalies ever registered in BMHA this season, the demand for safe, well-fitted gear is at an all-time high. To support our netminders (and your wallets), BMHA runs a Goalie Gear Purchase Program that sources quality equipment from within our community.

Have gear to donate or sell? Here’s how it works:

1. Send details & photos of your goalie gear to our Goalie Equipment Manager.
2. We assess the gear for condition, quality, and fit for BMHA goalie needs.
3. We offer a fair price, complete a simple agreement, and share it with our Treasurer who issues a cheque directly to you.
4. Purchases are case-by-case, made whenever gear will benefit our goalie community.

Why this matters? Your participation helps BMHA:

• Build a shared inventory of goalie gear for families across the association
• Keep costs manageable while maintaining safety and fit standards
• Give great equipment a second life with another up-and-coming goalie

Whether you’re clearing out a garage or moving up a size, your gear can make a real difference for another BMHA family. For questions or more information, please contact Stephen Stubbs, Goalie Equipment Manager at goalie@burnabyminor.com.

HONOURING THE LEGACY OF JOHN PETRAK

We are deeply saddened to share the passing of long-time BMHA volunteer and Honourary Life Member, John Petrak. For more than two decades, John dedicated countless hours to supporting our goaltender program as our Goalie Equipment Manager and was a true pillar of our Association. His quiet commitment, generosity, and behind-the-scenes work made a lasting difference for hundreds of young athletes and goaltenders.

John only stepped away in 2022 when his wife Norma became ill. She passed earlier this year, and now John has joined her. His impact on BMHA will never be forgotten.

​Read the full tribute to John here.

WELCOME BACK OFFICIALS! MESSAGE FROM BMHA'S RIC

It will be a busy season! Our team is down many officials with their move over to the Wildcats so there will be many extra opportunities to get assignments.

If you have not registered for a recertification clinic yet, get to the BC Hockey website and find a clinic to attend! And, if you missed the news, certifications is a two part process now - half is online and must be completed before you can progress to the in-person clinic.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for an announcement about a new Mentoring program! We will be hiring mentors to help with our entire officiating team and the goal is to be the best officiating crew in the province! We will need many mentors, with many opportunities to mentor and teach, and will come with great pay!

For all the players anxiously waiting for the clinic for new officials, it is almost ready! Details will be posted in the coming days. As in the past, it is expected to be a large response! Space will be limited. There is no rush as it will not be first come... all responses will be assessed. General information about the program and expectations can be found in our website, under "GET INVOLVED".

I look forward to another great season and seeing everyone on the ice! – Dennis Sato, RIC

REP/A HOCKEY UPDATE

August and September were busy and exciting months for our Rep program as we kicked off the season with tryouts across all divisions. We saw strong turnout and competitive energy from players in U11 through U18, and team selections are now finalized. A big thank you to our evaluators, coaches, and volunteers who helped make the process smooth and supportive for everyone involved.

Our 8 Rep teams are now hitting the ice for practices and exhibition games, and we’re looking forward to a great season ahead. Stay tuned for tournament updates and highlights as our athletes begin to compete across the Lower Mainland and beyond! – Louise Tagulao, Director of Rep 'A' Hockey

U9 UPDATE

The 2025–2026 season is officially underway, and the energy at the rink is electric! From the first whistle of evaluations, our young athletes have shown a level of talent and determination that has surpassed all expectations.

A huge thank-you goes out to the incredible volunteers—both on and off the ice—whose dedication makes these evaluations possible. Our coaches, on-ice helpers, and registration crew have kept everything running smoothly, and we couldn’t do it without them.

We’re equally grateful to the parents for their patience and support as players shake off the summer rust and get back into game shape. Your commitment sets the tone for the kids and the entire BMHA community.

This year we’re proud to ice seven teams, including two Major squads, and we’re looking forward to one of our best seasons yet. With plenty of tournaments and league games ahead, the U9 division is ready to make this year memorable—for players, families, and fans alike.

Here’s to a season full of growth, teamwork, and great hockey. Go BMHA! - Ally Janmohamed, U9 DM

KENSINGTON SQUARE DENTAL: PROUD SPONSOR OF BURNABY MINOR HOCKEY

At Kensington Square Dental, we are proud to support the Burnaby Minor Hockey Association. As parents with kids laced up and playing in Burnaby Minor Hockey, we’ve seen firsthand how the game brings families together and builds teamwork, resilience, leadership, and friendships that last well beyond the rink.

Just as hockey builds strong teams on the ice, we believe in building strong, long-term relationships with our patients. We also know our clinic thrives when our community thrives. Being part of Burnaby Minor Hockey lets us stand alongside the families, coaches, and volunteers who make this city such a vibrant place to grow up.

For more than 22 years, Kensington Square Dental has been serving the Burnaby community with General, Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry. Our focus has always been on wellness, comfort, and personalized care. At the heart of everything we do is helping our patients stay healthy and confident in their smiles.

From our team to yours, Dr. Ivan Jin, Dr. Grace Wong, Dr. Julia Lam, and Dr. Rok Jeong and everyone at Kensington Square Dental wish all the players, coaches, and families a safe, fun, and successful season. Go Bulldogs! Visit website.​

Let’s Stay Connected!

Want the latest updates? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the loop and be part of the BMHA community all season long!

Tag us in your photos—we love seeing our hockey families in action!

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