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Twins players (from left) Jorry Klapak, Tyson Hilderman and Zach Bailey represented their team at a recent Remembrance Day ceremony. (SUPPLIED PHOTO)

For many of us, the opportunity to attend Remembrance Day services across our great city was a special opportunity. Despite the snowy conditions on Nov. 11, most of the day’s events carried on as usual only with smaller numbers and no organist or a pipe band.

A group of young hockey players from the Pembina Trails Twins bantam AA team took part in this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony and helped make a difference in the community.

The team is under the guidance of Const. Scott Wiley, a police officer who serves as head coach of 17 young athletes from the Fort Garry North and South Winnipeg minor hockey associations.

I had the opportunity to meet and talk with assistant coach Ryan Molloy at a Remembrance Day service. The organization has taken a different look at the game, the players and their futures in our communities. The goal of their program is to develop the whole athlete and volunteers strive to have the athletes engaged in learning both on and off the ice. Time is spent setting and analyzing goals and developing the strength and conditioning needed to excel in a high performance sport.

For the Twins’ coaching staff, playing hockey is only part of the player development puzzle. They want their athletes to be cognizant learners, develop a lifelong love of fitness and physical activity, have fun playing the sport, develop a sense of social responsibility and learn the value of building community.

Molloy said he was extremely proud of the respect shown by captain Tyson Hilderman and assistant captains Zach Bailey and Jory Klapak at the Remembrance Day service. The Twins’ captains presented a wreath at the service on behalf of all the players on the team.

"Ultimately our goal is to empower our athletes with whatever tools and support systems they need to be successful as players and as people," Molloy says.

Brenda MacLennan is a community correspondent for Fort Garry. You can contact her at kernb@mymts.net.