Roy Muncaster has worked with young hockey players in Sudbury for over two decades, but admitted he was surprised when informed that he was a finalist for the Bill Roman Administrative award. “It was an honour to be recognized,” he said. “(Winning) would be a tremendous thrill. To be honoured by your peers is always quite an accomplishment.”
Muncaster started his relationship with the sport as a player, and as his son decided to go the same route, he was asked to help out. “I was asked, and from then on, I just kept getting involved,” said the elder Muncaster. “I probably enjoy it more now than when I was younger.”
Muncaster, who will be manager of the Minor Peewee AAA team in the Sudbury Minor Hockey Association next winter, has also been a staple of Sudbury’s playground hockey initiative, where he helps coach the youngest players along. “I try to make it as fun as it can be for the kids,” he said. “I take pride in that. I also run the Mickey Mouse program, which is very rewarding.”
The Mickey Mouse program is for kids as young as four or five years of age, where they’re taught the basics of skating as a precursor to years of minor hockey involvement. Registration for playground hockey will start in August, with games starting in September with 35 teams competing.
Muncaster enjoys both his jobs, whether it be his duties in AAA or the playground hockey scene, citing that the two aren’t that different. “Besides the obvious difference in talent, the desire is the same,” he said. “The real difference between the two is the commitment.”
Muncaster said that in playground hockey, practices may happen twice a week, while in AAA, four times a week is the minimum. The longtime rink rat also said that parents aren’t just rowdy at more competitive events such as AAA. “You’d be surprised how some react,” he said of people he’s encountered at playground hockey. “For some kids, this is their NHL, and it’s the same deal with the parents.”
As far as handling the situations that arise, Muncaster feels it’s a better solution to do it face to face-after the game, when those involved have calmed down. “You just have to sit down one on one with them to let them know why it’s not good for them, their child, or the game.”
Over the last 20 years, Muncaster has made some worthwhile memories, making a connection between a young Ontario girl who now enjoys success playing for her country to a current NHL player on the verge of the Stanley Cup. “I was Tessa Bonhomme’s first coach,” said Muncaster. “She could barely skate, but even back then she was a pretty driven girl.”
“Working at the AAA midget championships and seeing Dany Heatley compete in Calgary when he was young, and now knowing that both of them are having success, it’s great to see.” This year will be a building year for the AAA team, said Muncaster. But that won’t change his focus on what he wants to achieve with the group.
“For AAA hockey, players are taught to compete, and compete well,” he said. “But then, playground hockey is very similar in that respect, teaching them on the ice and getting them ready for a higher level of play.” Muncaster said positives abound for those youngsters who get involved, and the good isn’t limited to on-ice success.
“It’s can be great for kids, being part of a team instead of doing nothing,” he said. “Also, people you meet while you’re young can become lifelong friends. It’s also better than meeting up with a gang and becoming a part of their team. So long as they’re playing and having fun, I don’t see any negatives in becoming a part of this sport.”
After 20 years, the player turned manager isn’t thinking of slowing down, but shot down the idea of turning pro, saying with a laugh, “No, I’m an amateur, and I intend to keep it that way. I love working with the kids, and hopefully I can keep doing this for a number of years yet.”
