14 Wing Greenwood’s men’s hockey team has gone back to basics this winter, with “their biggest improvement in basic drills and skills we would have learned as a 16-year-old playing minor hockey.”
Coach Major Michael Hiltz has the volunteer expertise of local, well-known hockey trainer Dean Peach backing him up through twice-weekly practices. The goal: “getting rid of bad habits and shortcuts.”
The serious effort to be the best team possible comes as 14 Wing hosts Atlantic regionals January 20 to 24. Greenwood won the 2023 regionals but had a “real wake-up call” at that year’s nationals, and then didn’t advance through 2024 regionals.
“On paper, I don’t think I’ve seen a stronger team – but paper and performance are two different things!” Hiltz says, detailing the skills of three team members who played hockey at Royal Military College, several others who previously played Junior in various provinces, and a returning core of veteran players. With about eight newcomers and a fortunate deployment calendar that has most of the wing’s best athletes available, “there is a lot of hunger.
“It’s always difficult getting people out to every practice, but the guys out are definitely committed and hungry. An average team could ice two really strong lines; our fourth line could go up against a first line.”
The men hosted a friendly December 13 against a Valley “all-star” team of Rafuse Mechanical players and pick-ups to test themselves, and won 3-2. They had another match-up set for January 10. Hiltz was aiming to highlight discipline through that game and final practices, as regional and national officials will be “looking for it.
“I’ll be the ‘father-figure,’ the mean one challenging anyone without solid discipline: ‘Why did you do that?’ “Look what it does to the team.’ Penalty time hurts, and, this year, with games in three 15-minute periods, there is not a lot of time to waste.
14 Wing will be joined at regionals by teams from 12 Wing Shearwater, CFB Halifax and 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown. Hiltz says Greenwood opens against Halifax, “which will be the tell,” and then has two games to get through on day two of the round robin.
“You never know what another team will bring.”
14 Wing Greenwood’s men’s team is hungry to get through Atlantic regionals from home ice, as they host at the Greenwood Gardens January 20 to 24. They’ve been drilling in the basics, under the eye of coach major Michael Hiltz and volunteer coach Dean Peach, and hope a strong roster and discipline will pay off.
Schedule
January 20
9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Greenwood practice
11 a.m. to noon Halifax practice
1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Shearwater practice
2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Gagetown practice
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Meet and greet, Annapolis Mess
January 21
8 a.m. opening ceremony
9 a.m. Game 1 – Greenwood vs Gagetown
2 p.m. Game 2 – Halifax vs Shearwater
7 p.m. Game 3 – Gagetown vs Halifax
January 22
8 a.m. Game 4 – Greenwood vs Shearwater
2 p.m. Game 5 – Greenwood vs Halifax
7 p.m. Game 6 – Gagetown vs Shearwater
January 23
8 a.m. Play-off 1 – 3rd vs 4th
2 p.m. Play-off 2 – Winner PO1 vs 2nd
January 24
9 a.m. Final – Winner PO2 vs 1st
Roster
Wing headquarters – Major Michael Hiltz
413 Squadron – Captain Joe Ferlatte, Captain David Savery, Master Corporal Tyler Happeney (assistant captain), Master Corporal Adrian Wissman, Corporal Steven Best, Corporal Sam Brassard
405 Squadron – Captain Nick Gibson (assistant captain), Warrant Officer Evan Burchell, Warrant Officer Pier-Olivier Poulin, Corporal Simon Landry (assistant captain), Corporal Riley Allen
404 Squadron – Captain Nik Majcher (goalie), Corporal Dylan Ventresca
14 Air Maintenance Squadron – Warrant Officer Joel Brooks (goalie)
14 Mission Support Squadron – Corporal Tyler Currie, Corporal Rhett Sheppard, Sailor First Class Ryan Hoskins
Aldershot – Captain Marc Roach, Sergeant Sam James, Corporal Tyler Williams (captain)
