“We had a meeting early on,” he explained. “Everything had opened up, there were no restrictions anymore, so we had a meeting with all the coaches and managers and the board. We all got together and said ‘let’s get the online registration going.’”
The response was strong. Thiessen said they have around 80 young people on the ice this year, which he said would be normal for pre-pandemic years. A difference now is there are a number of girls playing this season. Thiessen feels it has a lot to do with either brothers or friends playing hockey, and getting the other girls interested. Some have never played hockey before, so the ages for teams became a little elastic this season to accommodate them. It is something that grows on its own.
“It is kind of an infectious thing. One girl will play and a parent will say ‘my girls want to come.’ It is not all about age groups, it is skill level and we just want them to come and have fun.”
This season, they have five teams, although there were not enough for the traditional 11 and under team. Instead, there are two 13 and under squads. There are also seven and under, nine and under and 18 and under.
There are a couple of nights of practice in the rink, taking in the different age groups. Thiessen said they do good work on passing and skating, as well as particulars. He said a couple of his boys are goaltenders and they have a coach come in to do goalie drills. It is more of a fun and recreational league, but they do learn about the game of hockey, and work to be competitive.
“We try to play a good calibre of hockey,” he stated. “You don’t want to have a runaway score. You want to win or lose by one or two goals. Otherwise the kids shut down.”
The teams usually play on weekends, either in Ninga, as the younger kids did last weekend, or on the road. The tournaments can be a great time and successful for teams. On the weekend of January 27-29, Thiessen’s squad played in a tournament in Forrest called the Candy Cup, as the trophy is literally made of candy. The Ninga crew won, and it was great fun for the kids.
“When we won the tournament, we were playing and thinking, ‘we can win this’. It was fun to encourage them, to get them going.”
Of course, winning is not the only purpose of Ninga hockey.
“Winning is not the first thing,” Thiessen explained. “Having fun and teamwork are most important. Also, to include everyone, having everyone 100% involved.”
The program includes young people from around the area, drawing from Minto, Deloraine, Killarney and Boissevain. Thiessen said it takes quite a commitment for families from as far away as Deloraine to make the trip regularly, but that is what makes the program work.
The rink sees a lot of action, including a senior team and they keep making tweaks to improve the experience there. Most recently, they were able to come up with bumpers to cut the ice in half and allow half-rink games for the younger ages. Making improvements is very important.
“If this rink was not around,” Thiessen explained, “there would be a lot of kids not playing hockey.”
 As well, with the help of sponsors, they were able to acquire all new jerseys for Ninga hockey, 100 of them, which make the kids look extra smooth when they are on the ice.
As it is a natural ice rink, Ninga hockey is dependent on weather for playing. Thiessen hopes they can get another two months in. At any rate, they are all happy to be able to bring hockey back to their kids this year.
“I got to like my quiet weeks, but I like getting back to the rink. To see the kids smile again is what it is all about.”

by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff