On the Election Ballot, in order of acceptance, to fill five positions:

1.  Rob Connelly, incumbent

Sincerely,

2.  Clarke Anderson

To Whom it may concern.

Please accept my nomination of Clarke Anderson for a position on the Board of Directors for PGMHA. Clarke is an exceptional person with deep roots in the Prince George community. He grew up playing hockey in PGMHA and now has the pleasure of coaching his own children. Clarke is a very organized individual that will bring a great work ethic to our Board along with fresh new ideas. With young children in minor hockey Clarke is exactly the type of volunteer that we are looking for to continue the hard work of our board both past and present.

Sincerely,

 

3.  Autumn Ford

My name is Autumn Ford, and I would like to nominate myself for a director position with PGMHA.

A little bit about my background, I was born and raised in Prince George. My profession has been in accounting and analytics in the healthcare, logging, and now construction industries. My partner and I have been busy raising four children together, one who is now a young adult. For the past five years, I have volunteered my time to our children’s elementary PAC. Some of my duties include fundraising, hot lunches, and the Treasurer position. Sadly, this will be my last year as Treasurer with our youngest daughter leaving elementary.

My experience with PGMHA started when our youngest son decided to join hockey after we introduced him to skating with the Can-Skate program. Though our girls took a slightly detoured approach, going through figure skating, then (for one) ringette, but they both eventually joined hockey too. We’ve now spent four seasons with our daughters in for three. In the 2022-2023 season I worked toward getting my Coach 2 designation so that i could help out on the ice and fill in when the coaching staff needed. For the second half of that season, I primarily volunteered my time in the timekeeping/scorekeeping box. Last season, I decided to lend a hand with assistant coach the U15 female team. As many parents before me likely know from experience, this also lead to further certification to fill the vacant role of safety person on our bench. There were many times throughout the season that I even doubled as a manager of the team to help us keep the players working toward the normal hockey season goals. Through the season, there were many opportunities to engage with other coaches, volunteers, board members, and players which lead me to making this decision to nominate myself. Having the opportunity to work more closely with board members goals of keeping female players engaged in the sport is one of my passions and primary goals however, I quite content filling in wherever needed. I hope you consider my nomination.

Thank you,
Autumn Ford

4.  Cheryl Cousins, incumbent

Please accept this email as my indication of interest to return to the PGMHA Board of Directors for another one-year term. I believe I adequately filled the role of Secretary for the 2023-2024 season and have more to contribute to PGMHA in support of its goal of promoting fun and development in youth hockey.

I have two sons that played for PGMHA at both recreational and rep levels. I have volunteered in many capacities with PGMHA and Cariboo Cougars over the years, both as a parent and non-parent. My experiences as hockey mom and a working professional of many years (can't give away my age!) help guide me in the decisions required of a Board Member whose role is to ensure kids have a safe and fun environment to play and develop in. I believe I am level-headed, hardworking and bring the commitment required to be an effective Member of the Board.

With thanks for your consideration of my self-nomination,

Cheryl Cousins

5.  Mike Lodge

To Whom it may concern.

I am pleased to submit my nomination for a position on the Prince George Minor Hockey Association Board of Directors. With years of dedicated involvement within the organization, both as a coach and a parent, I am eager to contribute my experience, skills, and passion for hockey to the leadership of our association.

Throughout my coaching journey at PGMHA, I have had the privilege of working with players across various age groups, from initiation to U11 Tier 1. This hands-on experience has provided me with invaluable insights into player development, team dynamics, and the importance of fostering a positive and inclusive environment for young athletes.

My commitment to continuous learning and professional development is evident through my pursuit of coaching certifications, including Coach 1, Coach2, Concussion awareness training, Development 1, and High-performance certification in the near future. These certifications have equipped me with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively mentor and guide young hockey players on and off the ice.

As a parent of three boys who have been actively involved with PGMHA since 2015, I have a personal stake in the success and growth of our association. My family’s longstanding connection to PGMHA fuels my dedication to ensuring that our hockey program continues to thrive and provide enriching experiences for all participants.

I am confident that my experience, dedication, and vision for the future of PGMHA make me a strong candidate for the Board of Directors. If given the opportunity, I am committed to collaborating with fellow board members, coaches, parents, and players to uphold the values of sportsmanship, integrity, and respect that are at the core of our organization.

Thank you for considering my nomination. I look forward to the opportunity to serve PGMHA in a leadership capacity and contribute to the continued success of our hockey community.

Sincerely,

Mike Lodge

6.  Aaron Flett, incumbent

Good day,

I am running for the PGMHA Board of Directors. I have been on the Board for the past 13 seasons, and have fulfilled the roles of Division Supervisor, Secretary, Treasurer, and have been the Vice President for the past two years. Looking after Discipline issues as Vice President has been busy and important work for our Association.

I have 4 boys that all have played in PGMHA on the Rep and Recreational side, and I am also involved with Coaching teams since 2008 in PGMHA. I had one son play goalie for multiple years, allowing me to learn the intricacies of that position.

I am interested to run for the Board to continue to see the Association thrive post-Covid. I am interested to watch our diversity, our Indigenous inclusion, and our Female hockey side grow. Our evaluation process has come a long way, and seeing our players graduate into higher level hockey is a driver for my involvement.

Thank you for considering me as an applicant for a PGMHA Board position again.

Aaron Flett
Vice President PGMHA

7.  Nick Kirkby

My name is Nick Kirkby and I would like to submit my name for consideration for a position on the PGMHA Board of Directors.

My kids developed a passion for the game somewhat later than most when my oldest son decided to learn hockey as a first year U11 in the 21/22 season. I volunteered to be an assistant coach that season and out of necessity, and a shortage of coaches, ended up head coaching. The following season both my boys decided to play, which meant I was on the coaching staff of two teams, Head Coach again in U11 and Assistant Coach for U9. This last season I took on two teams again, Head Coaching in U11-T1 and U13-T2, as well as the role of Division Coordinator in U11.

Coaching 5 teams in 3 years and coordinating a division for a season has developed my passion for the game beyond my experience as a player. Serving in these roles has given me a well-rounded experience of the challenges of a minor hockey volunteer. In my time in leadership roles with PGMHA I have been encouraged by the passion for the sport not only in players, but also the coaches, managers and volunteers.

As a candidate for the board of directors I intend to bring a voice for, and the perspective of, our Recreational divisions. With a long future in PGMHA ahead for my family, the future and continued success of the Association is important and something that I would like to contribute to. If voted into a position on the board, I am eager to collaborate with, and learn from, the team while working to keep hockey growing, inclusive and fun for all involved.

Thank you for your consideration.
Nick Kirkby