Buoyed by a strong response to their campaign, Frontenac Community Arena volunteers are hopeful about their Kraft Hockeyville bid.

In order for the Frontenac arena to progress to the final stage of the contest, it will need to beat a few other contenders. The top 10 bids, in a field of 3190, will be informed that they are moving on in early March, and those 10 will then have to mobilize support for an all-out one-week sprint to the finish line.

Al Pixley, the president of the Frontenac Minor Hockey League, said that whether the Frontenac Arena's bid gets to the finals or not, the amount of support and interest that was generated over the weekend on both Twitter and Facebook have buoyed the arena executive's spirits considerably.

“Win or lose, it has brought a lot of awareness about the arena and the amount of work that needs to be done. There are a lot of positives,” he said.

Pixley added that in order to be considered for the top 10, the arena's campaign needed 250 social media posts. “We haven't calculated the final number, but we are somewhere in the range of 25,000. Things really did take off over the weekend.”

As word got out about the campaign, hockey families from the past joined with the current arena users “and it all sort of snowballed from Thursday on, all the way to Sunday,” Pixley said.

The number of supporters for the campaign is one of several factors that are considered when determining the 10 finalists, each of whom will receive $25,000 towards arena upgrades.

“I think it is worth 30% and then they look at our application, what we want to do with the money, and other factors,” Pixley said.

This leaves the committee unsure about what their chances are. “But we will make sure that when the names are announced we are ready to promote our nominations right away, because we won't have much time at all,” he said.

Central Frontenac councilor, Brent Cameron, is the chair of the arena's management board for 2016. He is one of four municipal council members, two from South Frontenac and two from Central Frontenac, who make up the board.

“We already have plans in place to upgrade a lot of the equipment in the arena and to improve the lighting and heating, but if the Hockeyville money comes through it will allow us to do a project that has been on our radar for a long time,” he said.

That project involves putting in an entirely new canteen/hall at the rear of the building on the second floor, and an elevator for access.

“The existing canteen can only be reached through the stairs, and the idea of a public part of our arena not being accessible is something we would like to address, for one thing. It would create a space that would enhance community uses of the arena on a year-round basis. There is also the idea of turning the existing canteen into a fitness room for the public,” he said.

Cameron added that these kinds of projects require a lot of public participation and fundraising, and that he has been impressed by the efforts of the hockey league.

“I have to hand it to Al Pixley, the league executive, and all the parents and volunteers. They have taken on this Hockeyville initiative and run with it. As a board, we are supportive of anything that will improve the arena, and the timing is right for something to happen, as it's our 40th anniversary this year,” he said.

Cameron added that working with his fellow Central Frontenac councilor, Sherry Whan, and with councilors Al Revill and Norm Roberts from South Frontenac, has been a good experience.

“We all bring something to the table. Al has a keen eye about building operations; Norm has a history as a hockey coach and in minor hockey; and Sherry and I both grew up at the rink.”

Cameron added that the Frontenac Community Arena, which is still referred to locally as the Picadilly or Pic Arena, has had a storied history for a small rural rink. It has produced three NHL draft picks over its 40 years. One is Trevor Steinberg, who is the coach of the St. Mary's University Huskies in Halifax, one of the top university teams in Canada. Another is Marty Abrams, who was originally drafted by the Washington Capitals and is now a coach with the Wellington Dukes, a Junior A team. The third is a certain goalie from Verona, Mike Smith of the Arizona Coyotes, who was on the Canadian Olympic team in 2014.

“Everyone loves this rink. It is not an urban multiplex and never will be. It always will have the feel of a rural rink but we want to make sure it has the best ice and the best facilities for the community,” he said.

Members of the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association are making a gallant effort this year and are asking for local community support in the hopes that the Frontenac Community Arena will be one of the top 10 finalists for the $100,000 grand prize for this year’s 2016 Kraft Hockeyville competition. The winner of the competition will also be invited to host a pre-season NHL game at their own home arena.

The annual competition invites nominations for local community arenas from across the country and in order to become one of the top 10 finalists, the judges want to see that the nominated communities have the necessary spirit required.

The local community here in the Frontenacs is therefore invited to demonstrate their support and spirit for Frontenac Flyers Hockey by posting to Twitter and Instagram with the custom hashtag #khv_letsgoflyers and by tweeting their Flyers’ pics! No less than 30% of the criteria for a successful nomination depends on the FCA receiving at least 250 postings (and hopefully many more) online in support of the FCA nomination.

The deadline to meet this criteria is Sunday, February 7 which is fast approaching and the number of tweets and posts received, along with other criteria, will decide which of the nominees will be chosen as one of the finalists in the competition.

Al Pixley, president of the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association (FMHA), submitted the nomination for the Frontenac Community Arena on January 26, 2016 and he said that while the FCA has been nominated in past Kraft Hockeyville competitions, the FMHA are making an extra special effort this year. “We have applied for this before but this time around we are making an early start and are really going for it”, Pixley said when I interviewed him earlier this week. He said that he feels confident this time around and believes that the nomination has the support of the local community, the arena board and local township councils. “This year being the 40-year anniversary of the Frontenac Community Arena makes it a great year for giving it our all”, Pixley said “and a grand prize win would allow for a number of renovations to the arena to take place.” These would include a new indoor viewing area, new second floor washrooms, a new canteen and possibly an elevator to make the second floor accessible. Pixley also foresees the old viewing area at the arena being transformed into an indoor fitness facility in the future.

“The arena in the next five years is need of a lot of renovations and these renovations, in particular a new viewing area, would not only bring in more revenue but would also allow us to host a number of other year-round community functions and events including weddings, receptions, corporate gatherings and more”.

Everyone can make a difference! Don’t have a Twitter or Instagram account? It’s easy to create one; then you can post with the hashtag #khv_letsgoflyers before the fast approaching Sunday, February 7 deadline.

Close to 300 hockey players aged three to eighteen years of age are currently playing hockey with the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association on their home turf located at the Frontenac Community Arena in Piccadilly. New this year and for the first time in six years the association has birthed a new novice rep team made up of 13 players aged seven and eight years of age, who will be playing their very first game on Friday, October 9 in Piccadilly, where they will face off against the Stirling Blues.

The association’s president, Al Pixley, attended the fundraiser bottle drive in support the new rep team, which took place on October 3 at the Foodland in Verona. He said he hopes to see fans at the team’s first game.

For those who missed the bottle drive or who would like another opportunity to support Frontenac minor hockey, the association is holding a Hallowe'en dance at the S & A Club in Harrowsmith on Friday, October 30.The fun starts at 8:00PM and live music will be provided the band The Stairs. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased in advance by contacting Al Pixley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Frontenac minor hockey community invites you to be part of our 3rd annual Frontenac Minor Hockey Association (FMHA) “Rinks to Links” golf tournament. There are many ways to be involved, including sponsoring a hole, contributing a prize for the silent auction or individual prizes for golfers. Our fund-raising event will be held Saturday, September 12.

With your support, FMHA fund raising is keeping hockey affordable for over 400 children in our community. Over the past two years, despite the rising costs of operations, the Initiation Program (IP) Tyke registration fees were reduced slightly, and our league fees have remained the same in all other age categories. Rep team jerseys have been replaced and (3) five week sessions of power skating were available to players at an affordable price. All of this could not be possible without tremendous community support.

This year we are offering two types of sponsorship: the $200 Silver Sponsor will be presented on individual signage that will be displayed on the course tee blocks or greens, as well as on a large thank you signage board for display during the tournament and at Frontenac Arena during the 2015/2016 season. The $500 Gold Sponsor package includes the above sponsor signage PLUS a Big Box Web Ad placed on our website's homepage for the 2015/16 season!

Your day will be complete - tournament registration begins at 12:30pm with a 1:30pm shotgun start, lots of fun, followed by a delicious pork loin dinner, prizes and silent auction all for $100 per person. 

Celebrate your family’s special memories and milestones, or honour a particular important individual in your life with an engraved commemorative brick in the Frontenac Community Arena’s Commemorative Wall. Whether you choose to add your own name, your business or to honour the memory of a loved one, our commemorative brick program will continue to grow, one brick at a time. For a contribution of $150 or more you can have incorporated a customized engraved 3”x11” brick with your 3-line message, with a maximum of twelve characters per line. Engraving of the bricks for the commemorative wall will occur in the spring during the arena’s annual shut down period. All bricks will be placed randomly amongst the existing bricks on the wall. We cannot guarantee special positioning due to the nature of this project. Official tax receipts will be given for donations of $150 or more.

We hope that you will donate towards a brick and help add to the over 230 bricks and 400 names on the commemorative wall. For information, contact Frontenac Community Arena at 613-374-2177; email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

It is not often that one sees great grandmothers attending hockey games at the Frontenac Community Arena, but great grandmother Barb Stewart of Verona had three very good reasons (and then some) to be there on the afternoon of March 22.

Barb, along with a number of other family relations, were sitting rink side to watch Barb's three grand daughters, 10-year-old cousins, Sophie Norman, Jenna Norman and Taylor McParland, showing their skills out on the ice. The girls, who play, respectively, defense, left wing and goalie for the Atom Girls Frontenac Fury team, were facing off in an exhibition game against the Kingston Ice Wolves (blues) and it just so happens that they are not the only three representatives of the Stewart family on the team. The girls are coached by Barb's eldest grandson Jason Norman, father of Sophie and son of Barb's daughter Linda.

In all, the game attracted four generations of the Stewart family to the arena, which over the decades has been a family hub for this large, multi-generational hockey-playing family.

Hockey indeed runs deep in their blood. Barb in fact is likely one of the only great grandmothers in the area who can boast three great granddaughters on a single team. And it seems no coincidence that the three girls play the exact same positions of their own family hockey mentors. Mallory Garrison, mother of goalie Taylor said the family's love of hockey comes honestly. “Taylor's grandfather Tom played as a goalie in his days on the ice and Taylor, who just started playing this year was asked in her second practice if she wanted to have a try at it. She really has a knack for it, which she likely gets from her Grampy.”

Barb told a funny story of how Taylor called her up on the pone after one of her games and said, “I took over Grampy's spot.” Grampy, Barb’s son Tom Stewart, played goalie for years at the arena and Barb recalled one season in which he won 17 straight games.

Sarah Norman, wife of coach Jason and mother of Sophie, said her daughter has been playing for five years and also comes by her talents honestly since her dad played defense on numerous Frontenac teams since he was seven years old.

Jenna, who has been playing for three years, not surprisingly plays left wing, the same position her dad Greg played for years. It is no wonder that the cousins definitely held their own out on the ice. Though the Fury lost the game 1-0, Taylor made impressive saves - too many to count - throughout the game and received multiple high fives from her team mates. Both Jenna and Sophie also played solidly.

The girls’ parents and relatives are thrilled to have the cousins playing together regularly at least two or three times a week. Naturally, the games are a great excuse for the whole family to get together on a regular basis.

The Fury will play this weekend in a Kanata tournament, which will wrap up their season for the year. The team had eight brand new players and three novice players this year, and had a great regular season. They finished as finalists in their Newmarket tournament, got to the semis in the Ice Wolf Tournament and finished in fourth place in their own league tournament.

The three girls if they choose, could end up playing Frontenac hockey together for years to come and no doubt it will not be the last time that their great grandmother Barb turns up to watch them and feel, naturally, very proud.

Elected officials from the Township of South Frontenac and Frontenac County Council along with members of the County's 150th Anniversary committee helped celebrate the 5th annual Family Day at the Frontenac Arena in Piccadilly. The celebrations included giving out 150 free barbequed sausages courtesy of Gilmour's on 38 in Harrowsmith.

Though the temperature was chillier than normal, many families came out to celebrate with their young ones in tow and enjoyed outdoor games, snow shoeing, a free skate, a fireside marshmallow roast, horse-drawn wagon rides and more, with organizers expecting 800-900 visitors throughout the day.

The event was catered by Jeanette and Carl Pixley of Pine Ridge Catering in Yarker. It also included a draw celebrating community volunteers in South Frontenac, who were recognized by fellow residents for the important work they do in the community. A total of 20 winners took home a number of locally donated prizes.

Dan Bell and Pam Morey organized the Family Day event along with the help of a number of community volunteers. Both Bell and Morey are long-time volunteers in South Frontenac, both with the Portland District and South Frontenac recreation committees and the S &A Club, and together they are coordinating the 150th Anniversary celebrations for the county.

The two decided that Family Day would be a great way to spark off the celebrations. This is just the start of the fun and the official three-day anniversary party is scheduled to take place at Centennial Park in Harrowsmith on August 28, 29 and 30. This free summer event will include opening and closing ceremonies, an anniversary parade, fireworks, the Frontenac County Plowing Match, a Strong man competition, a dazzling line up of live musical guests, a vendors' market, a BBQ lunch and a beer tent.

Other attractions will include a wide variety of fun family activities, a wide range of heritage and community displays, and a special Heritage Ball that will be held at the Golden Links hall in Harrowsmith. Organizers hope that people will mark the date now on their calendars and bring along family and friends for what is sure to be a fun-filled weekend.

A detailed program of all of the events will be posted on the County's website come April. Alison Vandervelde, communications officer with the County, said that she is very excited about the plans for the County celebrations. “This summer's 150th anniversary showcase will be a fantastic event and we are hoping that residents bring along their friends and family here to the Frontenacs in August to help us celebrate.”

Being born a right arm amputee hasn’t stopped Leah Neumann, 10, of Tichborne, from living a full and active life. In fact, she can do everything everyone else can do, sometimes with the help of a special device. Having a passion for hockey, Leah was recently fitted with a device funded by The War Amps that allows her to hold onto a hockey stick. Leah is a member of The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program and, as such, is eligible to receive financial assistance with artificial limbs and recreational devices.

Leah’s parents say the hockey device allows their daughter to maintain a healthy lifestyle and that she’s excited to hit the ice. “The device gives her a much better shot. She continues to impress us as she doesn’t let anything stop her from achieving her goals,” says Mom, Angie.

Leah also says she is happy with her new device. “I have a lot more control over the puck and it is easier for me to help my team and score goals.”

The War Amps encourages Champs to develop a positive attitude towards their amputation, and live to their full potential. “Leah’s determination and zest for life is an inspiration to all,” said Danita Chisholm, Executive Director, CHAMP Program. “With the public’s support of the Key Tag and Address Label Service, we are happy to help young amputees like Leah obtain the tools they need to enjoy some of their favourite activities.” For more information, call 1 800 250-3030 or visit waramps.ca.

The Frontenac Flyers Peesee Rep team held a very successful food drive at the Verona Foodland and Trousdale's stores in Sydenham on November 22nd. The team's coach,Brian Brown, came up with the idea of the Flyer's mounting a drive to give back to the community, and the public was happy to oblige. 327.25 pounds of food and $959.11 was donated to the South Frontenac Community Services Food Bank as the result of a real team effort.

Photos: The first picture

4581_1 is 

The second one is Owen Deyo, Jacob Snider, Jarod Brown 

One of the misconceptions about kids' hockey that the volunteer board of the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association (FMHA) is trying to overcome is that getting kids into hockey is an expensive proposition.

It costs $100 to sign up children in the Learn to Skate program; $300 for the Tyke league; and even for teenaged youth the $500 annual cost is not that high considering that the season runs for six months and includes practices and games each week.

Cheryl Hallam, a hockey parent and communications co-ordinator for Frontenac Minor Hockey, moved to South Frontenac with her husband and two children three years ago. “We were paying $875 for our six-year-old son in Calgary,” she said. “It is more affordable here.”

The Flyers hold a used equipment sale in September, which helps defray the cost of new equipment for young players just starting out in the game.

“It is very important for the future of our league to bring young children to the game. We emphasize learning the game and having fun for boys and girls,” she said. “It's kind of a neat little gem of a house league that we have over here. The kids get to play in rinks around the region and at the Frontenac Arena, and there is a lot of camaraderie among the parents.”

Al Pixley is the current FMHA President, having taken on the role last year. He has been involved in hockey in Piccadilly at the Frontenac Arena, as a player and a coach, pretty much all of his life.

He says the current executive has the goal of “trying to create as many fun experiences for the kids as possible.”

He said that the Learn to Skate program provides a good opportunity for children who are not ready or not sure about playing in a league to get out and learn to skate with their parents. It runs for 10 weeks starting in October. "The more we can get kids skating the better it is for us, and for them.”

Children of any age, even those with no hockey experience, can play Frontenac hockey. The players attend clinics in September and then are evaluated. The teams are then made up, with an emphasis on making teams that will be competitive with each other.

The Flyers play with other rural teams that rim Kingston, including Gananoque, Deseronto, Tamworth and Amhersview, and the Flyers are fortunate to have had multiple teams in each division in recent years, a tradition that the team's executive is keen to keep going.

They are working hard to register children from North, South, and Central Frontenac. Online registration is available at Frontenachockey.ca along with details about the team and multiple ways to contact team officials, who are happy to answer any questions about how the league works.

They can also help parents navigate through a new initiative from Hockey Canada this year, Respect in Sport, a mandatory online session that at least one parent must take before their children can register this year.

“Respect in Sport fits with the goal of making sure hockey is fun and healthy for the players, coaches and parents. It is an imposition on families to take the course, but it is not long or difficult to take. It is just Hockey Canada's way of reinforcing the values that make hockey a Canadian tradition that endures,” said Cheryl Hallam.

For further information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..