Congratulations to Jackie Barthel of the Anoka Area Hockey Association on being named March’s Total Hockey Volunteer of the Month! Barthel has volunteered her time as a team manager for several teams in the association, for quite a few years, helping do all of the team planning and making it easy for families to communicate and coordinate throughout the season.

One parent claimed the players have a better attitude and respect for one another because of her influence and noted that she is the true definition of a hockey mom and cannot imagine life without hockey.

Jackie’s three sons, ages 12, nine and six, play at the Peewee, Squirt and Mite levels while her husband coaches for each team. She serves as team manager of the peewee and squirt teams – though she initially hoped to manage all three.

We caught up with her to see what motivates her to keep being such a positive influence within her community.

MH: Your family seems to truly live and breathe hockey. Do you take the term “Hockey Mom” to heart?

JB: Yes. I love it. I love the kids. I’ve been managing now since they were mites. For us, it’s family time. We do everything all together so when each of the boys have a tournament, we all go together. It’s great. The families are awesome and lifelong friends, not only for the kids, but for us. So yeah, we live and breathe it, for sure.

MH: Yeah, I was going to ask if it’s a good way to spend time with your family, all being involved in hockey.

JB: It is! It’s getting harder now as this year we had two traveling kids where as in the past been a mite and a squirt. This year was our first year with two traveling kids and there was definitely more overlap that we were spread out a little bit more. But for the most part, the kids are friends with each of the other teams and of course we are involved so it really is a second family to us.

MH: What keeps you motivated to keep giving back? Is it the families and having the kids involved or is it something more?

JB:  I would say both of those. We are firm believers that you want to give back to programs that you believe in and that the kids participate in. We’re the same way with church and all that stuff too. It’s not only for my kids because I love the other families. For me it’s great to watch the kids grow and excel. I’m pretty intense when it comes to that kind of stuff; I take it pretty seriously.

For the association, it’s hard to find volunteers a lot times, especially when it comes to managing and coaching. Not a lot people want to step up and do that because they think it’s a big responsibility. So, for me, I don’t think I would go a season without doing it, just for everybody involved.

MH: How did you first get involved?

JB: I gradually got into it. I was not the manager the first year my oldest played, but I believe it was the second year that I managed his mite team. Now, every year it’s just like “You’re going to manage, right?” And I just say “Yep, for sure!”

MH: What would you say is your favorite part about it all?

JB: The families. And not that you wouldn’t have that experience without being the manager. Part of the job is to plan events, so pre-game dinners and movie nights. That stuff is fun and that’s what I really enjoy doing. But then, I’m also pretty detailed when it comes to being a manager, I love to hear after the fact the parents say, “Oh my gosh, this year we don’t have you as a manager and I’m completely lost.” I know I’m helping and for me, that’s what it’s about. Having other families have a great experience while their kids are playing hockey is what keeps me going. It’s a lot to bite off, especially if you’re a new hockey family. If I can make that easier by keeping them in the loop so they know where to be and when, and what to do and how things work – just giving it to them up front so they’re not getting to a tournament and are completely lost. If I can make that easier on them, that’s great; that’s exactly why I do it.