Gators find new hockey home

East St. Paul

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This article was published 10/07/2024 (781 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Peter Tomko has done just about everything there is to do in hockey. He’s been a scout, coach, owner, magazine publisher — even a player agent. His love for the game and his desire to keep the dream alive for another generation has brought him to East St. Paul as owner, coach, and general manager of the East St. Paul Gators.

Members of the Hanover-Tache Junior Hockey League (HTJHL), the Gators have moved to East St. Paul after one season in the R.M. of St. Clements. They join the Springfield Xtreme, Steinbach Huskies, Landmark Blues, Red River Mudbugs, Macdonald Swarm, Lorette Comets, Niverville Clippers, as well as expansion teams in Mitchell and Ste. Anne, in the Junior C loop.

Tomko said he started the Gators because recent developments have deterred many players from pursuing their hockey dreams. Participation fees for Junior A and B teams have soared. The focus is on elite players only. What about the late bloomers whose games or approaches need some tweaking? Where do they fit in?

Tomko’s in it for them.

“If they have that drive and dream to achieve it, it’s possible to get there,” Tomko said.

“There” could be a college program with a free education. Perhaps it’s a minor pro or overseas league. The more opportunities you give people, the more dreams become reality.

Tomko likes the HTJHL because it’s a community-focused league. Most of the players are either from their communities or live close by. Because of those ties, they are community ambassadors. That mentality and talent are the qualities Tomko wants to see in his players. He’s off to a good start, as several players recently appeared in the East St. Paul Day parade on June 22. The players also want to read to schoolchildren this fall.

Tomko owned the first Junior A team in Steinbach in the 1980s. He ran camps for the Special Olympics. He was a player agent, hammering out contracts for Pokey Reddick, Doug Smail and Laurie Boschman across a table from John Ferguson. Don Cherry wrote for his hockey magazine.

“It’s the camaraderie,” Tomko said when asked why he returned. “I love the game that much. I like to see kids develop and achieve their goals. Sadly, only the elite get noticed.”

Tomko’s dream is to see more Dustin Penners make it — players who fell through the cracks but eventually figured it out and fulfilled their potential. (Penner, from Winkler, Man., was an undrafted free agent who eventually caught on with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks of the NHL and went on to play 11 seasons in the league, winning Stanley Cups with the Ducks and the L.A. Kings.)

Tomko has connections to numerous programs and is happy to make introductions. Their end of the bargain is working hard year-round.

The Gators are already skating and working out. He expects a handful of returnees from last season to return, augmented by fresh recruits he pursues daily.

Those veterans had a tough introduction. The Gators went 4-24 in the team’s maiden season, but Tomko was encouraged by what he saw. Players adjusted and improved throughout the campaign. The four wins were the most by any expansion team in HTJHL history.

The HTJHL offers fast-paced, physical hockey. All home games will be on weekends.

“We’ll probably have big crowds. It’s a beautiful facility to play in,” Tomko said of East St. Paul Arena. “The R.M. and arena management have been overwhelming in welcoming us. It’s been a breath of fresh air.”

As he often does, Tomko shifted the focus from himself back to the players on the ice.

“It’s not about me; it’s about the kids,” he concluded. “Get the dream back, enjoy the game and have fun.”