Canadian Hockey Expo:

Canadian Hockey Expo:
Bringing the Game Together
By Scott Taylor Photos by Jeff Miller
18 GAME ON
PLAYOFF EDITION
J
arret Hannah is a Winnipeg marketing guy. He’s owned the GEL Marketing Group since 2008 and he’s
spent that time providing marketing and
growth strategies for companies large and
small. In his spare time, he’s part of an ownership group (that includes St. Louis Blues
star Alexander Steen) in Winnipeg’s Great
Big Adventure.
Chad Balmer is a Selkirk-based financial
advisor who has dedicated his life to hockey.
they decided they were going all in, Balmer
and Hannah didn’t know what to expect.
However, the response they have received
has been nothing short of positive.
“When we ask people about the project
and whether or not they want to be involved,
few people have outright said no,” said Balmer. “There are some larger companies that
have asked us to give them some time, but
it’s almost unanimous. People want this and
they are ready to get involved.”
Jarret Hannah and Chad Balmer have had a vision for
quite a long time. Fact is, they are both rather
surprised that no one else in Canada has had the same
inspiration. On June 11 and 12, the first Canadian
Hockey Expo will be held at Winnipeg’s RBC Convention
Centre. Now that they’ve made the commitment,
neither Balmer nor Hannah are surprised by the
response.
He played and coached at the Triple A level
and is a former member of the KJHL’s Selkirk Fishermen. He is currently the President
of Lord Selkirk Minor Hockey and Chairman
of the Lord Selkirk Seven Oaks AA Rebels
Hockey Program. He also owns and operates
his own hockey school.
Together, they have come up with something so obvious that neither can believe
anyone else has tried it before. In fact, when
“This,” is the 2016 Canadian Hockey Expo
which will be held June 11-12, at the RBC Convention Centre in downtown Winnipeg.
The Mission Statement is simple: “Our objective is to provide you with a vast array of
vendors to offer you a holistic view inside
rink, a pair of tube skates and a new wooden
stick.
“Ask any parent and they’ll tell you that
hockey is no longer just a sport in Canada,
it’s a lifestyle,” Hannah said. “Our goal is give
people a holistic view of what hockey now is
– mind, body and Canadian soul. We’re pursuing everything from how a newbie gets
involved in the game to what does the competitive player need to be successful.
“We want to educate the parent, coach
and athlete about all the options they have
available to them. Our goal is to have people
leave the show better educated about the
game than when they walked through the
the sport of hockey. You will discover the latest trends in equipment, learn about injury
prevention and treatment, and find out what
it takes to maintain a proper diet. Within the
show, you will also be introduced to leading
edge training facilities, camps and educational faculties. Whether you are new to the
sport, looking to reach the next level or just
a hockey enthusiast, the Canadian Hockey
Expo will have something for you.”
According to Hannah and Balmer, there is
more to hockey these days than a backyard
door.”
Not surprisingly, Balmer has a slightly different approach than his partner.
“Oh, and to have fun,” Balmer said with
a laugh. “This will be an action-packed two
days of interactive hockey, hockey, hockey.”
Here at Game On Magazine, we’re also
getting prepared for the fun. Both days at
the Expo, fans will be able to join us at the
Game On Magazine Lounge to hear successful players, coaches and hockey executives
tell their stories about the game. The converPLAYOFF EDITION
GAME ON 19
The purpose of
this show is to
provide a one-stop
shop for everything
from diet, sports
testing, equipment,
start-up programs,
training programs
and all the hockey
schools and camps
you could possibly
attend
Chad Balmer, Frank Burgraf and Jarret
Hannah: Frank Burgraf, internationally
renowned skating coach will be in
Winnipeg, from Fargo, with an exhibit
at the 2016 Canadian Hockey Expo.
20 GAME ON
PLAYOFF EDITION
sation will be insightful, exciting and loads of
fun.
“Hockey is more than just instruction and
education, of course, it’s interactive,” said
Hannah. “At the Canadian Hockey Expo, you
can test equipment, try stickhandling and
shooting, take part in competitions or try out
new advancements in strength and conditioning. We even have equipment manufacturers
from California who are considering an exhibit.”
The show will also have a fair sized synthetic hockey rink right in the middle of the RBC
Convention Centre.
“This is not about people picking up a couple of brochures and then leaving,” Balmer
said. “Our goal is to make it very difficult for
people to just go in, get some information
and leave. There will be a lot to do.”
Balmer and Hannah want their show to provide answers, answers for parents who want
to get their kids involved, for parents who
aren’t sure as to how their kids can get to the
next level and for parents who are looking
for personal training and coaching for their
young players. Those answers will all be at
the Canadian Hockey Expo.
“There are so many different options for
hockey players these days,” said Balmer. “The
purpose of this show is to provide a one-stop
shop for everything from diet, sports testing,
equipment, start-up programs, training programs and all the hockey schools and camps
you could possibly attend.”
Not surprisingly, there will be even more.
Balmer and Hannah also want the C.H.E. to
attract hockey fans. To do that, there will
autograph sessions with players along with
other surprises that will be enjoyable for all
hockey enthusiasts.
“The Expo will give people an opportunity
to feel and test things,” said Balmer. “It will be
a whole lot more than just window shopping.”
Hannah’s goal is to make it an annual festival of hockey.
“Certainly an important part of our vision is
to make this a sustainable Expo for the Winnipeg market,” he said. “Winnipeg has the most
passionate Hockey fans in North America, we
want folks to mark this in their calendar as an
annual event.
“To our surprise, there is really nothing else
like it going on in Canada today. This idea has
been bouncing around in my head for three
years. I just needed the right partner at the
right time. Chad was the right partner. He’s
a trusted friend and businessman, plus he’s
a rock solid hockey guy. I was surprised that
there was no centralized exposition for the
business of hockey in Canada. Chad and I are
thrilled that the first one is going to be in Winnipeg.” n