TEAM OBJECTIVES

The Grand Forks Border Bruins want to win and provide their hockey fans with the best hockey entertainment possible. We believe that the following club objectives will ensure that the team achieves their goals on the ice.

• To provide players the necessary tools to achieve their personal goals.
• To build a team made up of character individuals who are prepared to commit themselves to being the very best they can both on and off the ice.
• To instill a work ethic that will continue on, regardless of what the player’s career choice may be.
• To promote excellent health and physical fitness.
• To involve players in the community so as to expand their knowledge and experiences outside of the dressing room.
• To provide an environment based on the principles of fairness and equality for all players.

EDUCATION

EDUCATION is a major component of the Border Bruins program and we are committed to providing you the opportunity to obtain the best possible education and to prepare you for post secondary education. Whether your goal is to attain a US College Scholarship or to play at the university level in Canada, we will be actively marketing you as a student athlete to all US and CIAU schools. The high school is within 5 minutes walking distance from the arena and enrolls an average of 500 students from grade 9 to 12. Students are offered a wide range of studies that can facilitate a linear or semester timetable. The following services are offered to the players : www.boundaryschools.com

• Career and Personal Planning
• Career Preparation Courses
• Scheduling of student timetables in August
• SAT exam preparation
• Provincial and Scholarship exam preparation
• Work Experience Programs
• Also, the team has developed an excellent working relationship with the high school and monitoring of academic progress is done on an ongoing basis

If you have graduated from high school and are interested in college, Selkirk College has a satellite campus in Grand Forks that offers courses in order to meet academic prerequisites for admission to other college programs, or acquire computer and study skills: http://www.gf.selkirk.bc.ca/

COMMUNITY

Community involvement is a key component of our organization. The Border Bruins players take part in many events both on and off the ice. Our players are committed to being role models for the youth of Grand Forks, through literary programs and mentoring in the schools as well as other various community events.

School District 51
-reading assist programs

Grand Forks Community Food Bank
-food drives throughout the year

Kootenay Boundary Regional District Recycling Project
-recycling collections

Grand Forks Minor Hockey
-mentoring and practice participation

Grand Forks Border Bruins Alumni Association
-participation in fund raisers

Special Olympics Floor Hockey – 2007 Gold Medalists
-playing regularly in preparing the local team for BC competition.

CITY

At first glance our beautiful tree-lined streets and abundance of well-maintained heritage homes will enchant you. But don't stop there, spend some time exploring! Grand Forks has everything one could ask for in four-season recreation -fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, golfing, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, camping, and all types of water sports on our many lakes and rivers.

The Boundary area is also a haven for the history buff with many turn of the century mine sites, the old Phoenix town site, and many abandoned rail grades to explore.

In town, visit our Museum and Art Gallery, browse downtown, stop in for a dip at our indoor Aquatic and Fitness Centre, enjoy a game of tennis or sunbathe at one of the many beaches along the river. And when it is time for lunch, drop in to one of our many restaurants that offer delicious, authentic Russian borscht and a big thick slice of homemade bread.

The surrounding mountains, lakes, and rivers provide the perfect setting for outdoor sports such as downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, fishing. Sport enthusiasts will enjoy a variety of recreation activities for all ages including baseball, bmx, skating, hockey, skateboarding, curling or swimming at the recreation complex. There is also a leisure style public pool, jacuzzi, sauna, fitness center with many programs.

Please visit the City of Grand Forks website for more information on our beautiful town.

ARENA

FEES

BC Hockey Carding cost is $700 at the time of signing and is non-refundable. A $150 per month user fee is required to cover transportation and coaching expenses.

BILLETING

All Border Bruin players are billeted with local families and room and board costs are paid directly to the Grand Forks Border Bruins. The billet families are then reimbursed by the hockey club. Cost of billeting is currently $400 per month. Billet families are carefully selected to ensure that the players are provided with a healthy family environment.

PRACTICE

Practices are held five days a week for one and a half hours per day. The availability of ice time is essential to a player's development and improvement. Practice is scheduled so that school classes are not interrupted. The Border Bruins also have an extensive off-ice training program. A paid membership is given to each player to attend the “Flex Fitness” center. A weight training routine is provided along with instruction and training seminars.

SCHEDULE AND TRAVEL

The KIJHL is expanding to 17 teams for the 2009/2010 season, and the divisions and schedule have not yet been finalized. During the 2008/2009 season, the league was comprised of 16 teams in three divisions; the Border Bruins were in the Neil Murdoch Division of the Kootenay Conference with Beaver Valley Nitehawks, Castlegar Rebels, Nelson Leafs, and Spokane Braves. The Bruins play a 52 game regular season schedule plus playoffs, with 30 regular season divisional games. One of the most important factors in scheduling is limiting the number of school days missed due to travel. Games are played mainly on weekends; the few mid-week encounters involve teams who are geographically nearby. When the Border Bruins are on the road they use a first class bus owned by the team and operated and cared for by a professional driver. Players' traveling costs, meals and accommodations are paid for by the Grand Forks Border Bruins.

PART-TIME WORK

The Border Bruins have a couple of employment ventures that we operate and which provide players with employment opportunities. Also during fall and winter months many local businesses assist players with part-time jobs that fit within the other time demands of practice, school and road/home games.

EQUIPMENT

The Border Bruins cover many of the expenses incurred while you play junior hockey. The club provides equipment and supplies such as home and away jerseys, home and away socks, as well as skate laces, tape, and hockey skate sharpening.

MEDICAL

The general health and well being of each player is a major concern with the Border Bruins staff. Our professional training staff headed by Randy Frank monitors each player’s health. He oversees all players’ medical conditions in conjunction with the community health care professionals in Grand Forks. The Club is insured through the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. Arrangements are made with local doctors to take out-of-town players as their patients.

LEAGUE

The KIJHL is committed to providing players the greatest possible competition, opportunity, development (talent, character and education), and exposure, in order that they are best able to achieve long-term success on an athletic, personal and academic level. US Colleges, Major Junior, Canadian Universities and BCHL and other CJHL scouts regularly attend KIJHL games. The exposure of the KIJHL has gained the league a reputation as a source of quality talent and former KIJHL players can be found at virtually every level of hockey, including the NHL, Minor Pro Leagues, European Pro Leagues, the CHL, CIAU, and US Colleges.