It may take a village to raise a child; it definitely takes a whole team – both on and off the ice – to play hockey.
Just ask the “Hockey Moms” – Michelle De Zwaan, Patricia Caetano, Sourivanh Thongvankham and Diana Vacca.
All four have kids who play with the Bradford Bulldogs Minor Atom AE rep team. And all four volunteer to help out, in one way or another.
De Zwaan is the Team Manager. She’s new to the team this year, but not to the role of manager.
“I’ve managed my sons’ baseball teams for… I’ve lost count of the years,” she said.
Managing a rep hockey team is a different kind of challenge, though. There’s more co-ordination, more communication, more scheduling, fundraising, sending out reminders to the parents to ensure that they keep up with the scheduled games.
It takes commitment – something that De Zwaan has in abundance.
Patricia Caetano, known to the team as DJ Trish, plays the music during the breaks between the action on the ice. It keeps the kids pumped, and makes them feel like they are part of a professional experience – just like the games in the big leagues.
“I’ve always enjoyed music, playing music, having fun with it,” Caetano said, so when De Zwaan asked for a volunteer to DJ, “I said, why not?”
She enjoys choosing the music on iTunes, and trimming the tunes to fit “so the kids can be pumped for the game.” She volunteers not only with her son’s Minor Atom AE team, but with other teams when asked – including the Bradford Midget A Bulldogs.
Vacca has been volunteering, posting the Minor Atom AE scores on Team Snap, and keeping parents unable to attend the games up to date on the action, “ever since my kids started in hockey.” She’s also been tasked with bringing the team banner to the arena, which means she’s often the first to arrive.
Like De Zwaan, she’s engaged in other sports, with her children. Vacca is also convenor for Intermediate Hardball with the Bradford Storm, and manager of another son’s hockey team.
“My husband coaches too,” Vacca said. “It’s kind of a family thing” – a way for the whole family to spend time together, evenings and on weekends, and be there for the kids.
Thongvankham is the team’s photographer and videographer, recording every home game, away game, tourney and practice.
It started almost as a hobby – videoing her daughter’s soccer team using her cell phone, then sharing the videos with parents and the coach.
The coach found the videos so helpful, in identifying areas needing improvement, that Thongvankham ended up being “voluntold” to keep filming. Since August, she has provided the same coverage for the Minor Atom AE team, as well as updating the team’s Instagram account.
“I enjoy it. It’s rewarding,” said Thongvankham. “It helps the team. And it’s memories for the kids. Being able to capture memories for both kids and parents is so rewarding.”
Volunteering for a team like the Minor Atom AE Bulldogs has its own rewards, say all four moms.
“It sets a good example for the kids. They see the hard work behind it,” noted Vacca. “For every hour on the ice, there’s four hours of preparation.” And when they see their parents working hard, the kids work harder, and have a greater appreciation, she said.
Vacca also noted that their volunteer work is a kind of ‘disruptor,’ challenging the common concept of hockey as “dads on the bench… The Moms have a role, too.”
Caetano agreed. “It’s showing the young girls in town that you can do so much. You can play hockey, you can play the music, you can coach… It’s fun.”
“It’s rewarding, and it’s showing our kids the commitment,” said Thongvankham. “It’s accountability. I can’t miss a game!”
De Zwaan pointed out that just about every position in BWG Minor Hockey is volunteer. “It’s all volunteer run,” she said. “It really is a team effort.”
The Minor Atom AE squad has four full-time coaches, two on-ice helpers, and the “four moms – but there are other people who pitch in, too,” said De Zwaan. “It’s amazing. It really is.”
And for any other moms out there, who might be thinking of getting involved in their children’s teams, she had this advice: “Just do it. It’s a team effort!”
Caetano speaks for all four when she says, “Volunteering is an amazing experience – and being part of our hockey family and community is a great experience. It takes a village, so to speak, to help run and support our team.”
