LEADERSHIP

Last December, when Winnipegger Billy Keane joined the Notre Dame Hounds’ hockey staff he was taken aback. He had no idea how dynamic, thorough and supportive a school hockey program could be. But now that he’s been around the Hounds for a while, Keane is starting to understand how one of the world’s most prestigious hockey programs, a program that has been extremely successful in Western Canadian hockey for more than 102 years, has not only survived but flourished to this day. “It was certainly an eye-opener,” said Keane, who came on as the hockey program co-ordinator at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame on Dec. 15, 2022. “It was an eye-opener to see how dynamic the Notre Dame staff team is. The entire staff at Notre Dame is supporting every student-athlete and they are all so passionate about it. These people have the Hounds’ logo tattooed on their hearts. It’s quite something. “It’s like playing at university. You look at the people who have played and studied at Notre Dame and the legacy they have left on the National Hockey League and at universities and colleges across the entire hockey world, and you have a program that says to a young hockey player: ‘These are the people who have played in this program so this is where I want to be.’ The name Notre Dame Hounds takes on almost legendary status across the hockey world.” Founded by Father (Père) Athol Murray and the Sisters of Charity in 1920 in the town (pop. 258) of Wilcox, Sask., hockey has been part of the school’s daily life almost since day one. Today, the campus features a full-sized Olympic ice surface, a state-of-the-art off-ice skills training facility, a high-performance training facility including a university-calibre weight room and cardio centre with a certified strength and conditioning coach, athletic therapy staff, a fully equipped gymnasium and elite coaches with provincial, national and international experience. “Notre Dame ices a team in the Saskatchewan Junior A Hockey League, five teams in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL); at the U15 Prep and U15 Varsity, U16 and U17 Prep and U18 Prep Divisions; and five teams in Hockey Saskatchewan at the U18A, U18AA, U18AAA male categories, as well as U18AA and U18 AAA teams in the female category.” The U18AAA Hounds have won the Telus Cup five times, most recently in 2018, with both the male and female U18AAA teams having competed in the 2022 National Championships (TELUS and Esso Cups respectively) after having both won Western Canadian Nationals. The school also operates competitive teams in athletics, baseball, softball, basketball, football, rugby, soccer, golf, volleyball, badminton, ultimate, cross country, lacrosse and Esports. But for Keane, one of the things that impressed him most was the emphasis on academics. According to the school’s mission statement: “Notre Dame is a caring, safe, prairie community dedicated to the development of intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and physical qualities of our students with a passion for life-long learning. Through a strong boarding environment and a balance of mind, body and spirit, we prepare our students for life. “Notre Dame Hockey teams compete in some of the most respected leagues and tournaments for U15, U16, U17, U18, which includes the CSSHL, SMHA and junior hockey in North America (SJHL/CJHL). Our student-athletes are expected to carry a full academic workload, maintain a high-grade point average, contribute to the school community and be accountable for their actions both on and off the ice.” With great history and reputation comes great responsibility, to paraphrase the bard of Marvel, Stan Lee. “Hockey is important,” said Keane. “But this school is quite remarkable and I had no clue until I got out here. I have some buddies who are alumni and they always raved about it but you really don’t know what it’s like until you’re in it. When we say student-athlete here, we mean that. It’s student first. Education always comes first.” With a graduation rate of 100 per cent, including 80 per cent of the student population achieving honour roll status, the facts speak for themselves. We all know most young men and women who play prep school, Junior hockey or college hockey do not wind up in the NHL or the pros, but a look at the school’s alumni suggests that a good number do. Notre Dame has developed more than 215 alumni who have been drafted and have either played or coached (or both) in the NHL alone, with hundreds more having signed pro contracts in other leagues worldwide. In fact, no other high school in the world has developed more elite, Junior, NCAA, USPORT, National, Olympic and professional hockey players than Athol Murray College of Notre Dame. As an example, Hounds’ Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier won a Stanley Cup together in Tampa and currently 20 Hounds’ alumni are playing, coaching or working in the NHL. People such as Jaden Schwartz, Dylan Ferguson, Morgan Rielly, Jordan Eberle, Dillon Dubé, Sean Couturier, Tyler Myers and Hayden Fleury are playing while Barry Trotz, Jon Cooper and Rod Brind’Amour are head coaches. “The people on this Notre Dame team work so hard to make this program a cut above everything else,” Keane added. “This program is second to none when it comes to supporting student-athletes. And I mean that in a holistic sense – on the academic side, on the coaching side and on the life experience it provides.” Notre Dame offers every hockey student-athlete with a world-class private school experience complete with challenging academic and leadership opportunities that develop the entire student. The university-style campus provides all the amenities right on your doorstep including four dormitories, a cafeteria, brand-new state-of-the-art classrooms, science labs, health-care facility, arts facility and much more. Many Notre Dame hockey players are multi-sport athletes who also participate in the music and arts programs to enhance their Notre Dame experience. “And when you combine the high level of coaching, practices, off-ice training and game schedules with ideal facilities, you offer the perfect training environment for players to develop. And when you add in the academic side, there is no better place for a young person – male or female -- to play the game,” Keane says. Check out the website www.notredame.ca for more information on admissions, staff, history, academics and campus life or to register for one of Notre Dame’s spring or summer hockey camps or to book a campus day tour.