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44 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2012 Kendrick inspires players, paves way for more female coaches By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLEBEAVERSTAFF t's a Friday night at a tournament in Detroit in November. The Oakville Hornets' atom and midget teams are staying in the same hotel. As eight and nine-year old players race through the hallway, Mike Turczyniak notices something odd. There's not a midget player to be found. When he inquires about the whereabouts of the organization's oldest team, he's stunned by the answer he hears. He's so sure that someone is pulling his leg that he walks down to the hall and knocks on the door. When a player answers the door, the surprising answer to his question is confirmed. The team is gathered in the room and the players are.....doing math homework? he Hornets AA midget team was a little different from the very first practice. Victoria Medeiros knew it would be before she ever set foot on the ice. "I'd never had a girl coach room. Turczyniak said a male coach before and I was so excited about usually only has a few minutes that," said the Holy Trinity stu- right before or immediately after a dent. "When I went out to the first game to prepare a team or deliver a practice and there was nothing but message. girls on the ice, I thought, `This is Jackie Kendrick had grown up a awesome.'" Hornet, signing up the year the The Oakville Hornets have made organization first hit the ice and it an organizationplaying through al goal to have all the way until "I'd never had a girl more female midget, when she coaches on their coach before and I was left for Mississauga rep and house so excited about that. because Oakville league teams. That When I went out to the didn't have a AA includes initiatives first practice and there midget team at such as a program the time. She was nothing but girls on that allows high went on to play at school girls to get the ice, I thought, 'This the University of involved coaching is awesome." Findlay before house league transferring to Oakville Hornet midget AA teams. Quinnipiac "Men and boys player Victoria Medeiros University -- relate better to where she was an each other so it alternate captain really shouldn't be a surprise that -- when Findlay cancelled its proit's the same with females," says gram. Turczyniak, the Hornets' president. Last year she was looking to give "There are going to be things something back to the organization they're more comfortable talking where she got her start. The 27-yearabout with a female coach." old came out to a couple of practices There are also benefits, such as to help out when she was asked if she the coach not having to leave the wanted to get more involved. I T COACH KENDRICK: Jackie Kendrick had a successful first season coaching the Oakville Hornets. The organization hopes more former Hornets, and female coaches in general, will follow in her footsteps. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @HALTON_PHOTOG Expecting to take on an assistant coaching role, she was instead handed the head coaching duties of the Hornets' midget AA team. Turczyniak is explaining the reasons for turning over the organization's highest age group to a coach with no experience -- the desire for more female coaches, for coaches who weren't parents, getting former players involved in the organization -- when Kendrick interjects. "They rolled the dice," she says with a laugh. If Kendrick was a gamble, it paid off. "It's probably the best season I've ever had," says Hornets player Andrea Benac. urczyniak said Kendrick instantly became someone for her players to look up to because she had accomplished things they hope to. Players want to know what she did to achieve her goals, what it takes to earn a scholarship and Kendrick can offer them advice based on her experiences. "The players want role models, not just in hockey but in life," T Turczyniak said. "And it doesn't goals and councils her players on hurt that she can go out and skate making smart decisions "There are going to be times like the wind." Kendrick quickly made it clear to they are tempted by friends they've the players there was more to reach- had since they were little kids, who ing their goals than skating faster are going to want to go party," and shooting harder, which is how Kendrick says. "You have to have the team found itself studying on enough sense and confidence to Friday night. Kendrick, who previ- say, `No, this is what I'm going to do.' If you surround ously worked as a yourself with the tutor, stresses that "Men and boys relate right people, it's easacademics are just ier to push in the as important as better to each other so it right direction." hockey. She and really shouldn't be a surBut what do you assistant coach prise that it's the same do when those people Lauren Smith will with females. There are aren't around to help review essays, help things they're more comyou make the right with homework decision? For the and help them fortable talking about players on the AA prepare for SATs. with a female coach." midget team, the Kendrick also got answer is easy -- you the players to Oakville Hornets president look at your wrist. focus on condi- Mike Turczyniak That's where each tioning and nutriplayer wears a silition. "I'll give them the tools, it's up cone bracelet with the letters to them to implement them," she WWJD. Pizza for dinner? Putting off that essay for another day? What says. Kendrick, whose brother Brodie Would Jackie Do? "It started off as a joke but the is also a member of the coaching staff, says there are sacrifices that more I thought about it, I thought, See Rookie, page 46 have to be made in order to achieve