What house league is all about
A considerate hockey coach promoting fun and fair play
Over the years you run into many familiar faces around hockey rinks. One man I’ve observed often is Greg Porter. I recall seeing him coaching young players at the Colchester Legion Stadium, the Rath Eastlink Community Centre, the sportsplex in Brookfield and Deuville’s Rink in Salmon River.
A 10-year minor hockey coach, Porter coached rep hockey for several years and he is now in his third year coaching Truro and Area Minor Hockey Association house league hockey.
“House league hockey is all about fun and fair play where the players are to receive equal ice time and get to play in all situations,” Porter, of Truro, said. “These young players can work on their skills and take them to the next level of hockey. First and foremost it is a place where all players are accepted by the team no matter their skill level, fun should be the main objective.”
Porter’s team this season is the
Truro Peewee C Red. They’ve enjoyed a real good season to date, recording 28 wins, eight losses and three ties in 37 games.
“Our season has been very exciting,” Porter said. “Where some of our players started and where they are today in regards to their abilities, it is amazing.”
The players are 11 to 13 years of age, the red squad goes with 15 skaters and two goaltenders. Playing in an eight-team league, teams are from Truro, Brookfield, Debert, Tatamagouche and Cumberland.
“I think the greatest enjoyment is to see these players succeed. This does not always mean winning but learning how to work with one another and to accomplish goals together. It is great to see the smiles on these
kid’s faces as they play the game together. It is really nice seeing them having so much fun and the way they interact with each other and the coaches.”
Tom Frizzell is the team’s captain.
“Tom has scored 52 goals and has 19 assists,” said Porter. “It is not the goals that make him such a good player, it is the way he plays the game. Tom plays a clean, hardskating game and he is a role model to the other players.”
The ‘players' coach’ was beaming in that Bobby Cameron had just recently scored his first goal of the season. Hhe also applauded Mataya Toney.
“Mataya is the only girl on the team, she is learning to play her position better each year. Mataya was on our team last year and asked if she could play with us again this season.”
When I requested a scouting report on Camden Porter, the coach smiled and responded.
“Camden, who is my son, is playing his third year at the peewee house league level. He plays both forward and defence, he’s a hard worker and a good forechecker.”
Porter credited his assistant coaches, Jamie Marshall, who works with the defence, and Alex Stevenson, the forward coach.
“Jamie and Alex are invaluable to me as head coach. Jeff Cameron, our manager, keeps everything going in the right direction and we have a fine trainer in Randall Morine. It takes a lot of people to keep the team going smoothly, the work load is shared around.”
Born in Yarmouth, Porter moved to Truro in 1971 at age 10. I met him first when he was a young goaltender; he continued in hockey until after he graduated from CEC in 1978.
The man known to many people as Rev. Greg Porter, a Baptist Minister, certainly seems at home around a hockey rink.
“I have been a minister for 17 years,” he told me. “I was fortunate to serve in the Truro Heights Baptist Church for about 12 years, before amove to Hartland, N.B.”
Returning to Truro with his wife Candice and sons Ben and Camden, Rev. Porter served three years as camp director at Camp Pagweak, he was interim pastor in Springhill and is presently supply pastor at the Belmont Baptist Church.
“I think that in being a Christian, we are called to go out into the world, which includes hockey rinks,” Porter explained. “We are to be an encouragement to other people, it is about getting involved in peoples' lives and helping out with the abilities we’ve been given.”
Aside from his hockey involvement, Porter excelled in badminton, winning several championship tournaments over the years.