Teams & Teammates

Over the years, Matthew has made friends with many other kids whom I was privileged to coach.  Although Matthew was not a member of a couple of teams listed below, I have included them here since many of these players also knew Matthew or have won awards in Matthew's memory.

Hockey has brought me and Matthew so much joy and happiness and continues to do so even though Matt is no longer here.  For me it is a form of therapy - it helps me to keep Matt's spirit alive and I can certainly feel his presence at the rink.  Ever since Matt's passing, he accompanies me to the rink both in my heart and on the 8"x10" photo I carry in my clipboard to every game and practice.  I still look up to his jersey from the home bench and say hi and it gives me some comfort.

I have met some wonderful people during my hockey tenure - players, coaches and parents - many of whom who have helped make my decision to stay with hockey an easy one.  The level of support has been tremendous and the feeling I get being involved helps to ease the pain.  I firmly believe I have something to give and deeply enjoy the camaraderie between the coaches as well as with the players of not only my team, but of all the midget teams.  I cannot say that all my experiences have been positive ones (as any minor sports volunteer can attest to) but luckily, this is overshadowed by the positive experience of it all - something I treasure and hope to be involved with for many years to come.

Back Row (L-R): Ryan Perks, Sean Dyke, Barry Hill, Brad Vivian, Kris Tiller Middle Row (L-R): Rod Churchill (Assistant Coach), Nick Tuck, Brett Collins, Josh Pitcher, Garrett Murphy, David Martin, Jordan Connolly, Bob Perks (Head Coach) Front Row (L-R): Stephen Tulk (A), Alex Walsh (A), Mark Healey, Robbie Perks (C), Adam Billard, Brent McNamara (A) Missing: Roger Tulk (Assistant Coach)

This was probably one of the most skilled teams I have had the pleasure to assist Bob and Roger with.  Although a couple of unlucky goals put us out of medal contention in the Provincial Tournament, I feel that we were the best team competing.  I look forward to seeing many of you guys again next year, and for Scooter, Viv, Tulkie, Awol, Perksie and Adam who have finished their minor hockey careers, it was a real pleasure knowing you guys and I wish you the best of luck in the future.

Back Row (L-R): Rod Churchill (Head Coach), Barry Hill, David Fleet, James Reid, Kris Tiller, Patrick Heffernan, Zach Stapleton, Kyle St. Croix. Front Row (L-R): Aaron Rhinelander, Stephen Hickey, Nick Hogan (A), Ryan Sweeney, Evan Bursey (A), Patrick Power (C), Derrick Drake. Missing: Tyler Johnson, David Price

Although our season wasn't the best, we really showed some true spirit in the playoffs only missing the medal round by a single goal.  Good luck to the midgets who have now finished including James Reid, Aaron Rhinelander, Nick Hogan and Evan Bursey.  It was a pleasure to have got to known and coached you guys.

Back Row (L-R): Greg Thorne (Assistant Coach), David Lahey (Assistant Coach), Iain Dunn, Tyler Purcell, Mark Dalton, Trevor Denine (A), Ryan Slaney, Aaron Waterman, Brandon Fitzpatrick, Jason Duggan (Assistant Coach), Rod Churchill (Head Coach).  Front Row (L-R): Mark Fleming, Devon Connolly, Jeff Payne (C), Zach Parsons, Matthew Hutton, Charles Dart, Steven Doyle (A).  Missing: Justin Johnson, Mark Kennedy, Graham Howley.

This was the first time I have coached below the midget level in many years and did so in order to have Greg, Jason and David start their minor hockey coaching careers.  Although our team struggled over the season, we were pleased to see that many players steadily improved their skill sets under our guidance. The team really enjoyed having the junior coaches involved and I am please to say that many of our players helped form our the Caps Bantam "D" team who won silver in the Provincials with Greg and Jason as coaches along with Gary Connolly.  All in all, I enjoyed the season down in Bantam and look forward to seeing Tyler, Mark D., Weezie, Fitz, Mark F., Big Payne, and Zach in the midget division next season.

2008 Midget "B" Allstars

Back Row (L-R): Frank Squires (Assistant Coach), Nick Tuck, Curtis Squires, Stefan Lono, Josh Kreiger, Matthew Chaulk, Andrew Hynes, Stephen Donovan, Josh Sutton, Andrew Mullaly, Jackson Fowlow, Greg Thorne, Matthew Clarke, Robbie Morgan, Rod Churchill (Assistant Coach), Bob Perks (Head Coach)

Front Row (L-R): Alex Walsh (A), Kenny O’Leary, Jordan Foley (C), Robbie Perks (A), Mark Healey Missing: Doug Chaulk (Assistant Coach)

This team was the first time I have helped coach at the Provincial Tournament level since Matthew's death in 2005.  It was special to me since I was part of this team from its inception through to winning the Midget "E" Provincial Tournament in April 2008.  There are several kids on this team who played hockey with Matthew such as Greg Thorne and once again represents the last of the kids who knew Matthew from hockey since they are now finished their last year of minor hockey.  All-in-all, it was a great group of kids and I extend my deepest thanks to them for making this a special time for me.  I truly did appreciate the experience.

Back Row (L-R): Steven Pearcey, Adam Drover, Jason Duggan, Scott Jones (Assistant Coach), Danielle Collins, Claire Lenehan, Rod Churchill (Head Coach), Greg Thorne, Neil Hamilton, Greg Squires

Front Row (L-R): Nick Tuck, Garrett Peddigrew, Adam Dillon, Kenny O’Leary, Andrew Morrissey, Stephen Donovan

Missing: Matthew Drover, Chris Cole

Honorary Member: Matthew Churchill

Some of the third year midgets on this team are the last of the players who would have played with or against Matthew during his time in hockey.  Matt's friends Jason Duggan and Greg Thorne were part of this team as well as four former Matthew Churchill Hockey Award Winners (Greg Thorne, Jason Duggan, Claire Lenehan and Kenny O'Leary).  I am happy to say that we captured the Bronze medal this season.

Front Row (L-R): Shawn Gamberg, Keiran Buckingham (A), Greg Throne (A), Dennis Jones, Matthew Clarke (C), Mike Noel, Luke Fogwill

Second Row (L-R): Frankie Mackey, Adam Dillon, Stan Burke, Jason Duggan, Brad Murphy, Scottie Marshall, Rod Churchill (Head Coach), Craig Jackson

Missing: Gary Wills, Brad Bonnell, Steve Marshall (Assistant Coach)

Honorary Member: Matthew Churchill

2005-2006 Midget Altius Predators

Front Row (L-R): Mario Bassan, Ben Steffler (A), Doug Norris (A), Dennis Jones, Danny Reid (C), Tyler Walshe, Myles Murphy

Second Row (L-R): Scott Jones (Assistant Coach), Jason Duggan, Alex Hynd, Andrew Carter, Matt Hawco, Nick Ryan, Barry Nolan, Greg Thorne, Rod Churchill (Coach)

Honorary Member: Matthew Churchill

This was my first house league team since Matthew's passing in March of 2005.  Several good friends such as Andrew Carter, Jason Duggan, Greg Thorne, Danny Reid and Dennis Jones were members.  We captured the silver medal that season and I am sure Matt would not have been too happy......he always said that you don't win silver, you are given silver.  He may be right, but I still enjoyed a great season with a great group of guys that had a large void that no one could fill......Matt's absence.

Front Row (L-R): Andrew Hurley, Steven Doyle (A), Jason Carew (C), Mike Winslow (A), Shane Collins; Middle Row (L-R): Glen Winslow (Coach), Chris Owens, Jeff Carroll, Jeremy Power, Dale King, Kendrick Au, Wayne Norman, Jeremy Dixon, Rod Churchill (Assistant Coach)

Back Row (L-R): Paul King, Wayne Furlong, Joey Husk, Cody Parrell, Craig Hammond

Missing: Sean Pittman, Josh Hill, Andrew Matthews (A), Keith Boland (Assistant Coach)

Wow, what a team.  This was my first time involved with coaching at the Allstar level and to be simply put......this was the dream team - a group of kids who for the most part came through their minor hockey careers playing allstar hockey.  It was certainly a great experience for me.  Although Matthew was not a part of the team, he was tickled pink that I was coaching at the Midget Allstar level.  This team cruised through the regular Tri-Com season with only a couple of losses, won the Tri-Com championship, won the Midget "A" Provincial Tournament and almost won the Provincial Midget "AA" title.  Sadly, this awesome experience was marred by Matthew's passing which happened the very first day of the Provincial "A" Midget Tournament.  Although I missed the rest of the Tournament for obvious reasons, I did return to the team within two weeks and stayed with them until they won the Tri-Com Championship.  I needed to come back to hockey after Matt's death since I knew it would help with my grief - which it did.  For me, it was probably one of the best things I did.

Although being part of the team made me proud, I never did feel part of winning the gold at the Provincials.  I am glad to say that my team in 2008 granted me that wish....

2004-2005 Midget Altius Predators

Front Row (L-R): Matt Harnum, Justin Peddle, Matthew Alexander, Matthew Head

Second Row (L-R): Justin Puddister, Rod Churchill (Coach), Matthew Churchill, Maria Cuomo (C), Josh Rogers, Derek Clarke, Glenn Whitten, Andrew McCabe (A), Chris Clark (A), Jeff Clark (Assistant Coach)

Missing: Evan Budgell, Matthew Smallwood, Max Hussey

Ironically, this was the only year since I was coaching that I never had a professional photographer lined up to do my team pictures.  We were lucky enough to have one of the parents snap a photo of us after winning the bronze medal as we were leaving the ice.  Unfortunately, the photo was not as good as I would have hoped and only wish I had have had a proper posed photo for Matt's last year of hockey.  Matthew left us a week after the photo was taken.

2004 Bantam 'C' Altius Predators

First Row (L-R): Robert Bartlett, Thomas Redmond, Dennis Jones, Josh Rogers

Second Row (L-R): Anthony “Shaq” Jackman, Cody Whitman (A), Jason Duggan, Doug Barrett (Assistant Coach)

Third Row (L-R): Rod Churchill (Coach), Matt Churchill, Barry Nolan, Mike Noftall (C), Nick Barrett, Ricky “Tiny” Bradbury, Grant Roberts, Matt Head, Glenn Whitten (A)

Missing: Robert Kavanaugh (C), Luke Fogwill

The was the first and only time Matthew had the opportunity to compete in a Provincial Tournament.  This teams was an amalgamation of players from the St. John's Caps Northeast Minor Hockey Associations.  Although we never fared very well, we did have a ball and that was all I could ask.  As a member of this team, Matthew won the Neil Maynard Award as Most Dedicated Player.

2003-2004 Bantam Altius Predators

Front Row (L-R): Thomas Redmond, Mike Trahey, Anthony “Shaq” Jackman, Chris “Moosie” Moore, Greg Norman (C), Mike Noftall (A), Ryan Brewer (A), Kyla Bruff

Second Row (L-R): Rod Churchill (Coach), Greg Thorne, Ian Bugden, Matt Churchill, Jeremy Power, Ryan Dymond, Ricky “Tiny” Bradbury, Alan Hudson, Jason Duggan, Dave Norman (Coach)

2002-2003 Bantam Boogers

Front Row (L-R): Greg Norman, Ryan Brewer, Blair Evans (C), Brent Whalen, Justin Puddister (A), Greg Butler

Middle Row (L-R): Matthew Churchill, Kyle Peddle, Jeremy Shaw, Jeremy Power, Shaun Steele, Ryan Byrne, Colin Gibling, Robert Kavanagh

Back Row (L-R): Dave Norman (Coach), Rod Churchill (Coach)

Missing: Chris Davis (A)

2001-2002 PeeWee Flyers

Front Row (L-R): Justin Fudge (C), John Furlong, Dennis Jones, Meghan O'Neil, Patrick Furlong

Middle Row (L-R): Jennifer House, Colin Gibling (A), Matthew Churchill, Justin O'Reilly, Chris Moore, Francis Mackay

Back Row (L-R): Danny O'Neil (Assistant Coach), Rod Churchill (Coach), Frank Mackay (Assistant Coach)

Missing: Robert Bartlett, Jeremy Power, Nick Thorne (A)

2000-2001 Atom Leafs

Front Row (L-R): Jeremy Power, Noel MacDonald, Colin Green, Matthew Heffernan, Dennis Jones, Sean Murphy, John Price, Patrick O’Grady

Middle Row (L-R): Matthew Churchill, Jeremy “JP” Power, Colin Jackson, Jennifer House, Amy Bryant, Jason Duggan, Roger Pender

Back Row (L-R): Paul Power (Assistant Coach), Rod Churchill (Coach), Aidan Green (Assistant Coach)

This was my and Matt's very first year of hockey where both of us learned to skate (ha, ha!).  We had a fantastic little team and went almost undefeated for the entire season and won gold in a hard-played 2-1 win over our opponent in the championship game.  I don't know who had a bigger smile......me or the kids!