PORT ELGIN, Ontario — Hockey is frequently cited as being synonymous with Canadiana, and not in some abstract or ancient sense; it is as fresh and vibrant today as ever. Local teams, leagues and clubs have always constituted part of the fabric of small-town life in Canada, and this holds true today.

Colin Morano is an example of somebody who has lived with hockey as an ever-present companion. As Head Coach of the U18 Saugeen Shores Storm LL1(Local League 1), he has coached various levels of hockey for many years, and still gets excited for it. “I do enjoy it,” Morano says. “I’ve been around hockey my whole life. It’s my passion, and I still play myself.” Morano has also had the opportunity to coach his own son and daughter when they played, which he says form some of his favourite memories of coaching – family moments that will never grow stale.

Morano coached before, during, and after his own children participated in the sport, though by now both of his kids are past their minor hockey days. Despite keeping a busy lifestyle, he finds time to dedicate 3 – 4 nights per week to coaching. Aside from the ice time itself, there is a lot of prep work that goes into coaching. “I’m still trying to find new drills and not just wing it. I’m a no-nonsense guy, but I do want it to be fun. The kids enjoy the games way more than practice,” he laughs. “Then again, everybody does! But ice time is expensive, and we make good use of it.”

Luckily for the players who enjoy the competition, there is plenty of that coming up. The U18 LL1 Storm just played in their first tournament of the year, the Hespeler Classic, held on December 3-5 against teams from all around central Ontario. “Tournaments are fun, and good for team building. We’ve got three tournaments this year, and there is always room to improve and get better.”

While the tournament didn’t translate to victories in the win column for Morano’s squad, the coach likes to take a pragmatic approach to both winning and losing. Part of the fun is striving for victory and the worthy struggle contained therein, but Morano doesn’t place too much direct emphasis on wins and losses. “At this level, hockey isn’t just about winning, although that is important. We’ve been getting better each game, and that is its own reward. These players may not make it to the NHL, but hockey forms an integral part of their social circle for years to come.” It is obvious that leagues like this help develop young players, not just in hockey, but in life. There is gratitude in Morano’s voice as he talks about this. “Working on things at practice, seeing the kids improve, that’s the rewarding part. Seeing them improve as people, not just hockey players.”

The lifelong devotion to the game is a common trait amongst hockey coaches, as is the emphasis placed on curating a similar passion in the up-and-coming generations. Everyone playing local league for Saugeen Shores is getting much more out of their participation than simply learning hockey skills. Their friendships and memories will stick with them even after they’re done playing, whether that is in a couple years or a couple decades. Fortunately for them, hockey season is in full swing and just around the bend there is another game, another practice, another chance to play and love the game.

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