On December 4, 2011 the Drumheller FunTeam hockey group hosted their 18th Annual Christmas Benefit Games for the Salvation Army Christmas Hamper Program. Every year for the last 18 seasons FunTeam players and families earn extra money from odd jobs or after school jobs and purchase non perishable food items that they would like to donate to the Christmas Food Hamper Campaign. Family & friends are also invited to bring food donations. This year Santa also came to visit and accept the donation on behalf of the Salvation Army.

FunTeam Rookies & FunTeam Juniors	Varsity RecTeam, Intermediate & Senior RecTeams

Our family is no stranger to the words volunteer and sports. I began helping my Dad coach little league baseball over 40 years ago. I really liked baseball but unfortunately was not a very good player and as a result had learned how to sit on the bench for a number of years, as it was all about winning in those days. At first, that is how I approached coaching - "win at all costs". Then it hit me and the memories came back at how I felt about having to sit on the bench because I wasn't good enough. A few years later Dad let me take over the reins of coaching. By then I was in high school and soon after off to university where I was able to take some coaching courses. I continued to coach over the years and continued to learn not only from courses and books, but from the many coaches I met along the way. Then came the day I was able to coach our own children. Darlene and I were blessed with four boys. At a young age they all wanted to play baseball and hockey. I had never coached hockey, so I decided to volunteer. For nine years Darlene and I spent a lot of time at the local rink as I learned the game of hockey with our boys. The boys were close enough in age that every second year two of them could each play on the same team. Thus I would be either assistant coaching or managing two teams versus the next year when I would be coaching or managing four teams! We were at the rink "8 days a week"! That was our life and things seem to be out of control as everything revolved around practices and games. For the most part our boys played house league and occasionally one or two ventured onto a travelling team. We did this for 9 years. In 1993 our oldest son turned 12 on the last day of the year. We asked the president of minor hockey if our son (who would be too old by one day) could still play in house league atom hockey with his brother...the answer was no. He either played on the travelling peewee team or he did not get to play. Then it hit me - in Drumheller there were approximately 60 players in each age category, but as soon as it came to peewee that number dropped to 20. Forty kids disappeared. I brought this to the president's attention. His answer was "it separates the boys from the men". Not a good answer in our opinion. So that year I coached two house league teams and managed the peewee travelling team. We shared the extra cost of travelling with Darlene's sister & brother-in-law whose son played as well. We took turns driving, packed lunches, shared motel rooms and at the end of the season it still cost an additional $1500 for one son to play never mind the juggling of time for us to make all of our son's games/practices!!! Minor hockey was not willing to entertain house leagues for players peewee age and higher, so then it was time to look elsewhere. In October 1994, the Drumheller FunTeam Hockey Club was born - thanks to the generosity and direction of FunTeam Alberta.

Sereda Family (left-right) - Chris, Kyler, Nicky, Garrett, Darlene, Nick The first year we retrieved almost half of the 40 kids that disappeared. Within three years our phone was ringing off the hook! Parents wanted to know if we could open up our program to all ages, as minor hockey was making changes to their house league program which involved travelling to some nearby smaller centers. Many families were limited by transportation, cost or time issues and were unable to travel. We found more ice times and today we offer Rookies (ages 4 & up), Juniors (ages 11 & under), Varsity (ages 12 & up), Intermediates (ages 18 & under) and Senior (ages 18 & over). We have ice time every Sunday for 1 hour and 15 minutes. From November to March we offer optional out of town games twice a month to play out of town teams on their home ice. This year we will be hosing our 17th Annual FunTeam/RecTeam tournament between Christmas & New Year's, which is a two day event that hosts over 250 youth playing Rec hockey! Our annual theme is "Everyone is a Winner". Throughout the season we also participate in three other tournaments, the All-star & Provincial Games that are held annually at the Red Deer Centrium and weather permitting, we also host an annual outdoor Heritage Games.

FunTeam is about our youth being able to enjoy a healthy activity in a safe environment where regardless of skill and ability, they feel comfortable learning a sport and do not have to worry about "not being good enough or having to win at all costs". They have an opportunity to grow and improve at a rate comfortable to them and in a positive environment. They learn respect, sportsmanship, citizenship and about giving back to their community. The entire program is run by volunteers and made affordable to families at a cost of $75/year/participant (price has not changed in a decade). We have collected refurbished equipment which is available for use at no cost and for those who need additional help there are Kid Sport applications to ensure that all youth who wish to participate have an opportunity.

The time commitment for families is a couple of hours every Sunday afternoon from October to March. Away games and tournaments are optional. This allows families to do other activities whether they are family, church, school or community based, thus not having to give up or sacrifice these things because they are committed to one sport or activity, which in turn encourages our youth to become well rounded individuals.

In FunTeam, "Everyone is a Winner". As we have heard over the years from more than one family, "FunTeam is a breath of fresh air"! Yesterday I met a family who has been involved with the Drumheller FunTeam Hockey Club for the last 10 seasons and their 14 year old daughter said to me "only 52 more sleeps until we start hockey again"!

It is an honour to be able to coordinate this program for our community youth over these years and to be able to count on so many selfless and dedicated volunteers who have the best interests of the whole program and not just their family in mind. This, together with the great support and vision we receive from FunTeam Alberta, has made Drumheller FunTeam Hockey Club the success story it is today! Drumheller FunTeam will be celebrating its 18th season this October, it started off in 1994 with 19 players whose ages were 12 to 14 and today it offers non-contact rec hockey to an average of 130 players ages 4 to 56!

For more information on Drumheller FunTeam hockey or starting up a FunTeam group in your own community please contact the FunTeam office at 1-888-FUNTEAM or info@funteamalberta.com. FunTeam resources include everything from equipment to funding sources and any sport can be a FunTeam sport.

Drumheller FunTeam/RecTeam 2010/2011 Annual Awards Supper	2011 Alberta Provincial & All Star FunTeam/RecTeam Games at the Centrium
Drumheller FunTeam at the West Edmonton Mall Anniversary Celebrations

Drumheller FunTeam Rookies & Coaches try on their florescent T-shirts they received at their annual season windup in April.	Drumheller Junior FunTeam & Coaches displaying their new hoodies at annual season windup in April.
Drumheller Varsity & Intermediate RecTeam & Coaches enjoy their new hoodies they received at their annual season windup at the end of March.