10 - PRAIRIE POST - SHOWCASING BROOKS AND COUNTY OF NEWELL - Friday, April 20, 2012
Brooks Bandits successful on and off the ice BY STACEY LEE
While it is hard for most organizations to pinpoint the exact reason for their success, in the case of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits and their amazing 2011/12 season it is less difficult. Paul Seaton, Bandits president, says there is no single reason for the Bandits electrifying season, but rather a team of them. “We have a lot of skilled players, but ultimately it is the fact that they play as a team that attributes to the success of the team. Our coach (Ryan Papaioannou) is very determined, when he recruits, to find good people who can play hockey.” He says the team has broken a lot of new ground this year, because the team has been increasingly focused. The Bandits, for the first time, have fought their way into the Enerflex Cup. “We won the regular season league final, and also we’ve exceeded the records for our points on the season. Last season definitely took us to a new level, but this season has far exceeded that.” The energy that has filled Centennial Arena, rattled its rafters, since the regular season playoffs got underway has only been surpassed by the energy fans feel emanating from the dressing room and the ice. The team retired the jersey of Nick Crosby, after
the young player was killed in a car accident last July. Seaton admits the player’s death sparked an emotional enthusiasm that pushed the team through to the AJHL’s Enerflex finals against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. “It was a dark period in our history… this
particular player had started an up hill climb within the AJHL, and he is still very much a part of that climb. In the eyes of the organization, our coaching staff, and in the eyes of our players he has
been very much a driving force.” The AJHL Enerflex playoffs certainly had their benefits for locals as well. The service industry, when they do their taxes next year, will likely have enjoyed a slight increase in revenue during this period.
“It is our hope that they see (the playoffs) as a pay
back. What we bring to Brooks is an increase in activity. There are people staying in hotels, filling their cars, and eating at restaurants… game night does generate a fair increase for the community itself.” Tracey Acorn, Brooks and District Chamber of Commerce manager, agrees with Seaton. “Anytime you are inviting people from outside
your community, especially people from other smaller communities, that is a welcome influx. The average game has 1,000 attendees, which is pretty good for a community of 14- 15,000.” With games, throughout the
regular finals and the Enerflex finals, attracting almost 2,000 fans the arena was bustling. The bottom line remains, good hockey equates to good business. The Bandits were well positioned to go all the way to the RBC Cup. As a result, the team is now better positioned to attract new talent for the 2012/13 Bandits roster.
“Players coming up the ranks will always prefer,
obviously, to be attached to a more successful organization. Therefore it does definitely help in recruiting. Success spells out for players that what we are doing is probably along the right track… success adds credibility to any sports organization,” says Seaton.
He adds teams who find themselves at the bottom
of the league will likely find themselves struggling to attract talented players. The Brooks Bandits have already begun the process of filling the eight spots to be left open following the wrap of the season.
“We have a lot of skilled players,but ultimately it is the fact that they play as a team that attributes to the success of the team. Our Coach (Ryan Papaioannou) is very
determined,when he recruits,to find good people who can play hockey.”
— Paul Seaton,Bandits president
“We have already, I think, secured some up-and- coming youngsters.We had an extremely great camp this year and we had to cut players that would normally have made the team.” He says, in most cases, those cuts are occurring because coaching staff believes they need another season of play before they are ready for the AJHL, to get a little bigger, or get a little stronger. Whether officials or standings agree, Bandits fans think the team is tops but Seaton says there is always room for improvement. “It is much harder to stay at the top than it is to
get to the top. The tallest trees catch the most wind, and once you get near the top… to maintain or stand still means you’re going backwards. The organization will strive to improve itself, both on and off the ice.” Russ Tanner, City of Brooks recreation and
facility services manager, says that although April 1st usually means the melting of the ice surface the City will gladly maintain the ice as long as the team needs it. “We will keep the ice in late every single year if they keep having runs like this… we are some of the biggest Bandits fans around here.”
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