(RedDeerMinorHockey.com)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

new president elected

Big changes to leadership at Red Deer Minor Hockey

Jun 28, 2024 | 5:04 PM

Major change is afoot at Red Deer Minor Hockey (RDMH), where both the president and general manager have stepped down in the past week, though for reasons unrelated to one another.

Al Sim, who has spent 24 years with the organization, is gone as president.

Lane Moore, who just started as GM in December 2023, is out as well.

Peter Entz, who was elected as the new president/board chair at the association’s recent AGM, says the search is on for a new GM.

He also commends Sim and Moore for the dedication and passion they put into Red Deer Minor Hockey.

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“For me, it’s a matter of getting comfortable with the new role. I joined the board one year ago, and I believe at the time, we added five new board members. We’ve been working diligently on some strategic initiatives to improve the organization and modernize it,” says Entz of his objectives.

“It’s a lot of internal work to create consistencies and increase transparency across the board. As president, I’m going to continue to support those initiatives, and as we go forward, I’ll listen to our members, take into consideration what other organizations are doing, and make Red Deer Minor Hockey the best place for hockey that it can be for both kids and board members. That’s really what I’d like to see.”

Entz is also president of Predator Drilling, and sits on the executive committee for the Canadian Association for Energy Contractors, he notes with respect to his management experience.

Entz has two kids in hockey, and says he’d like to give back to the community while making sure the association is all it can be.

Sim, speaking to rdnewsNOW, says life circumstances led him to the decision to step away, which, he assures, is happening on amicable terms.

“Looking back, what’s most memorable is watching the evolution of the game, the growth of our association, working with the City on a new building (Servus Arena), plus working out agreements on dedicated office space and dressing rooms. We also had the Outdoor Winter Classic for 10 years, and we negotiated with Red Deer Polytechnic for space there,” says Sim.

“The crowning success for me was getting endorsement from the Indigenous community when we had our logo ceremony last year. That set the association up for many years to come.”

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Born and raised in Red Deer, and a former RDMH player himself, Sim is proud of the association’s history.

“It’s important we continue to recognize that history and I hope the board will continue on with those efforts.”

Sim technically holds the board position of past president, but says he won’t be attending meetings.

Moore, meantime, says in a statement, that his stepping down is for personal reasons.

“I am fully committed to working closely with the news general manager, once hired, to make the transition as smooth as possible,” he says.

“Thank you to the board for your support in the short time I have been here. I want to commend them for the work they do behind the scenes to make sure every child has an opportunity to play this great game.”

Moore also acknowledged the hard work of office staff to make the association run seamlessly, with over 1,400 athletes on more than 70 teams.

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