DP: Would you say the role you are in now has changed since Bob Nicholson took over in 1998. I look back at Hockey Canada back then and there was a need to set a business model and make it a business. Certainly Bob was great at that, and not that he ignored any other aspect of the job, but has the role changed over the years?

TR: It is, but only because it’s a combination of what I think are two absolute necessitates in growing the game and again growing our citizenship. It required a business model to achieve that goal, and not just strong leadership from Bob but all the staff and volunteers across the country. Building the business model was important and making that connection to corporate Canada was essential in order to grow the game. With that now in place, my job is, at the very least, maintaining that and hopefully growing those partnerships but now I get an opportunity to bring it back to home row and talk about children playing hockey and why hockey is viable and necessary in the development of our youth. It allows me to come back to what it’s all about in the first place and that’s children playing.

DP: When you take a position such as this you tend to have an idea of how you would like to move the organization forward as well. What are your key priorities that form your long term vision for Hockey Canada?

TR: I think it’s incumbent upon all of us to make sure that people feel safe in the game or being active in any sport in Canada for that matter. Number one is to maintain the participation level we have in Canada and improve upon that. The term seems to be recruitment nowadays but the bottom line is just appeal. Appeal to children and families for the right reasons and that is because hockey is safe, it’s fun, the rink is a community destination and maybe most importantly, it teaches character and other life skills. We need to make sure we appeal to new Canadians. I don’t know of another demographic that wants to be part of Canada than those that are new to it and for me, what better mechanism than through hockey. The bottom line is getting kids active.



I think coaching certification and adult leadership in general is important. When you think about it, if we continue to certify coaches and I know that sometimes becomes cumbersome, there is a lot asked of them, there is a lot of detail involved, sometimes four or five days of a seminar or clinic. We have to think of it as a whole community becoming better because the coach took the initiative and responsibility of coaching seriously enough to get certified and bring that experience back to the entire community and not just their hockey team.



DP: I have always argued that coaches are actually teachers and people look at you strange when you say that but I look at it in that you are teaching a sport as opposed to math or science but the same methods apply.

TR: I agree. I think there is a moral obligation as an adult leader as a parent and a coach to do the right thing. There is an ethical path that you have to take and I think the coaching certification program is second to none in the world because we pay close attention to things like Respect in Sport and safety issues that involved in the game. We have paid close attention to abuse that can happen in sport and are leading the world in making sure that we educate parents to that end. I can safely say that I don’t know an amateur body that does a better job than we do when it comes to concussion protocol and safety in general.