Szymula’s hockey legacy living on through Tim’s Kids program By Chris Errington


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t started with a letter, written by a man knowing his life was ending and wishing only to help those who’d helped him. In the 12 years since, the program that bears his name has more than helped countless children enjoy the game Tim Szymula didn’t play, but loved all the same. Tim’s Kids, based out of the Space Coast Iceplex


in Rockledge, provides 10-week programs each year that more than just introduce children to the game of hockey. They take care of all the costs involved and keep a special man’s legacy strong within the com- munity he loved. “Before he died, [Tim] had an idea of what


he wanted to do and left money in a will to get it started,” said Tim’s wife, Susan, who now works as president of the organization. “I’m not sure if this is what he envisioned, but it’s definitely close to what he wanted. “He wanted to [start the program,] because of how much the hockey community helped us when he was sick and how important the sport was to our family.” In May 2007, Tim Szymula, who admitted to truly


developing a passion for hockey only when his son, Nick, began playing at the Iceplex, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. While he was already widely known throughout the local communi- ties for his tireless volunteering efforts with Brevard County youth hockey, it was a letter he’d written


a month earlier to Iceplex owner Rick Ninko that cemented his legacy. Szymula’s letter informed Ninko that he was leav- ing a portion of his life insurance in order to fund a program whose function would be to introduce kids to “a positive experience playing hockey.” Ninko said from that initial grant, the Tim’s Kids program was born and through the tireless efforts of the organi- zation, including Susan, Nick and Tim’s daughter,


As the organization’s website www.timskids.org


attests, the Tim’s Kids program is designed to “pro- vide kids between the ages of five and eight years old the opportunity to try the sport of ice hockey at little to no cost to their parents. The program starts as a


simple ‘pond hockey’ experience, with a bunch of Continued on Page 18


Sophie, it’s continued to succeed. “Tim was the guy who was the realist with youth


players, because it was all about having fun and get- ting great exercise,” Ninko said. “He was the guy who took care of the kids that played recreation hockey. He made sure they got their trophies and had their pizza parties.”


Tim Szymula’s legacy for helping kids learn hockey continues through the Tim’s Kids program.


Toros under solid leadership with ex-NHLer Healey at the helm By Bob Miller


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hen Paul Healey landed with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL in 2009 at the end of a long and winding 15-year professional hockey that included 77 NHL games, he likely had little idea that all the miles of hockey travel had finally brought him to a permanent hockey home. In a career that had seen him make stops in


Hershey, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Hamilton (Ont.), Toronto, St. John’s (Newfoundland), Hartford, New York, San Antonio, Edmonton, Lowell (Mass.), Den- ver, Linkoping (Sweden), Assat (Finland), Jesenice (Slovenia) and Vienna (Austria), the well-traveled Healey’s tenure with the Everblades led him down a path that put his world of hockey experience to use in a management role. After his tenure with the Everblades morphed from


a player into an assistant coaching gig, Healey spent a short stint as director of coaching for the Florida Jr. Panthers organization. He took the position as hockey director at Kendall Ice Arena, the southeastern-most rink in the United States, this past September. As a six-year resident of nearby Weston, the tran-


sition for Healey was a natural fit. After only a pair of months, Healey’s vision for the Toros program and its Kendall Ice Arena home is starting to take shape. “I plan on growing the Toros organization so that we can offer travel hockey from Mites on up to a junior team,” Healey said. “There is definitely a lot of interest in hockey in the Miami area.” Chief among the duties for the 36-year-old Ed- monton native is the responsibility for the Miami Toros travel program. Originally known as the Miami Manatees, the Toros have operated under their cur-


rent name since 2007. This season, the Toros consist of Mini-Mite, Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee A and Pee Wee AA teams, in-house leagues, a middle school league and a pre-hockey program that operates year-round. This year, the University of Miami is also playing


out of Kendall Ice Arena in its first year of action competing at the ACHA Division III level. Knowing that his ultimate success will depend on


his ability to further involve the community in hockey activities, Healey plans to build on a base that he has inherited. “As far as getting kids to come play for us, getting our name out in the community is important,” Healey continued. “Visiting schools is one method. We have kids that come from Broward County and we also have one kid that travels from Tampa to be part of the Toros. Having good coaching and a fun and an exciting atmosphere is a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish with the Toros organization.” The early-season success of the NHL’s Florida Pan- thers is a boost to


Members of the Miami Toros’ Pee Wee AA team, from left, head coach Paul Healey, Wyatt Engelman, Chris Robinson, Maxx Mitchel, Edgar Rodriguez, Jonathan O’Neill, Randy Hernandez, Liam Murray, Seth Cohen, Kyle Previn, Ben Tartakovsky, Kevin Cordier, Tyler Gon- zalez and Trevor Peck (not pictured: Timmy Kent, Sam Dorfman and assistant coach Jim O’Neill), put forth a strong performance at last month’s Bauer Invitational tournament in Chicago. Photo/Melinda Engelman


RUBBERHOCKEY.com 7


hockey in the Miami area that local programs can use to bolster interest in the sport. “Having the Panthers get off to a good start this season is a good thing for hockey in South Florida,” said Healey. “The Panthers organization has been helpful to us this season.” Healey is well aware that his role growing the


program is possible through the supporting work of a strong organization. Pee Wee AA and Mite assistant coach Jim O’Neil has been “a big part of the success of the organization,” according to Healey. Tim Graf, who is the coach of the Pee Wee A and Squirt teams, kept things together in an interim role while the search for a new hockey director was conducted over a three-week period earlier this year. “Everyone who is a part of the program, from the coaches to the parents, make this a great organiza- tion and a place kids want to call their home rink,” beamed Healey.


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