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Congratulations to Pat Jackson - Total Hockey Volunteer of the Month!

By Minnesota Hockey, 04/22/14, 9:00AM CDT

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Congratulations to Pat Jackson of White Bear Lake Area Hockey Association (WBLAHA)! Jackson has been selected for the Total Hockey Volunteer of the Month in honor of over 15 years of service with the WBLAHA Junior Gold program!

Jackson first got involved with Junior Gold hockey when the oldest of her three sons was cut from WBLAHA’s only Junior Gold team.  As a single parent, Jackson wasn’t ready for her sons to lose the positive influence and role models that hockey provides.

“I’ve always had a passion for hockey,” said Jackson. “But for me, it’s always been more about the life lessons hockey provides than the actual game.  It’s really important for them to learn things like handling disappointments and learning how to work with other people, some of whom you may not like, but you have to appreciate what they bring to the table.”

That initial season Jackson gathered some of the other kids that didn’t make the team and worked with Mounds View to organize another Junior Gold team.  After that first year, she realized she had found a passion for Junior Gold hockey and volunteered to help the current coordinator run the program in White Bear Lake. 

“There is life after Bantam hockey,” said Jackson. “Once kids realize that, they come, try Junior Gold and love it. It’s not about what team you make or what line you are on. It’s about relaxing, having fun and picking up a few things that will help you for the rest of your life.”

Since being voted in as the Junior Gold Coordinator for WBLAHA, Jackson has accepted and addressed many challenges.  One of the first adjustments she made was to add a parent/player meeting at the beginning of the season.  The change helped the coaches make an early impression and lay out their expectations, which significantly cut down the amount of questions and issues over the course of the season.

She also added an end-of-the-year banquet. The banquet provided one last opportunity for the players to get together and reflect on what they accomplished, especially the seniors who also received a personalized version of the white bear plaque that WBLAHA famously uses for its tournament trophies. In addition, it gave the coaches and parents a chance to impart a few final words of wisdom through guest speakers.

Jackson has been the District 2 representative to the Metro Hockey League (MHL) for the past five years.  One of the major accomplishments during her time on the MHL board has been moving the MHL’s play down tournament to the Schwan Super Rink, which District 2 has hosted the past two seasons.

Most importantly, Jackson has left a major impression on the kids she helped continue their hockey career, and the people she has worked with.

Thank you Pat Jackson for the time and energy you have put into ensuring players of all ages have a place to play hockey in White Bear Lake! It is volunteers like you that make playing hockey in Minnesota so special.

One volunteer has been featured each month as the Total Hockey Volunteer of the Month this season.  Each volunteer received a $50 Total Hockey gift card and five sets of starter hockey gear were contributed in his/her name to their association, courtesy of Total Hockey.  

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