Board positions and Bio’s
Sandra Slater
President
About Sandra:
30+ years working in Health Care
Currently working as a Senior Clinical Informaticist for a large Health Care System
For last 2.5 years has been Chair for Business and Operations Committee for the California Data Modernization Consortium (CDMC)
Project management
Consulted for hospitals
Statistical analysis / database work: Noggin Sport Inc.
Grew up with hockey, and hockey night in Canada and has a true passion for hockey as a sport
Son played competitive inter-city A hockey and competitive travel lacrosse in Canada for 9 years
Is passionate about hockey and players rights
What she would like to see for Goals and achievements for WAIPU North America
Sandra spent time listening to many players in 2012 and 2017 about issues regarding player rights in the CHL. From this she concluded that most players had some form of a positive experience playing hockey, usually related with the sport and team members, but most players had too many negative experiences that affected their physical and mental wellbeing at the time of playing and for many years after their CHL career.
Sandra comes to WAIPU with a non-biased / untainted view of players rights. She believes if you surround yourself with extraordinary talent and experience you will have a winning team. It is this team that will make WAIPU North America a success. WAIPU’s main goal is to always put the players and their rights first. If the focus is kept on the players WAIPU will be successful.
How she envisions WAIPU assisting players
Player’s rights advocates, putting the player first
Assisting players with sensitive issues, giving them the support, they need
Place players health and welfare as a top priority
Bring in better educational packages and ensure education is a priority. Allow as well for priority into apprenticeship programs worldwide.
Bring in better benefits for the players
Ensure players receive equal pay for equal work
Profit sharing program for players to share in the profits they generate for the owners in the CHL in all areas
Help with transition both coming into the CHL and leaving the CHL. There is currently nothing in place for this. Many young men are shell shocked leaving their families and friends living with strangers their first year in the CHL league and then at the end of their CHL career there is no transitioning or assessments done to help hockey players with career choices, educational choices or other options
For players who want to, to allow players to play for teams around the world
Setting up a database to monitor sports injuries with a major focus on concussions, mental health and other sports related injuries
Eventually set up a mandated Quality database worldwide for all sports injuries in hockey and possibly other sports. This will allow teams to pull stats. Different teams will be able to compare their placement worldwide for sports injuries. This will also give teams a better understanding on where they stand with their training programs and what needs to change. This will assist teams with better training programs, and possible equipment choices putting the welfare of the players as the number one priority. This will give players a more positive and safer hockey experience. This type of database is mandated and being done in many areas of health care.
Gene Chiarello
OHL Regional Director
About Gene:
1996 – 2000 London Knights (OHL) Gene was an OHL All-star goalie during his four-year career with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League and is the franchise leader in both regular season and playoff appearances.
2000 – 2003 University of New Brunswick (AUS) Gene enjoyed a five-year career with the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds where he was a conference All-Star, World University Games silver medalist and Canadian Interuniversity Sport silver medalist.
Present – Gene is a certified teacher in the Province of Ontario and is a practicing lawyer specializing in the areas of employment and labour law.
What Gene would like to see for Goals and achievements for WAIPU North America
Gene brings a great wealth of experience with hockey both on and off the ice. His experience with teaching and labor laws for the Province of Ontario makes him a very valuable asset to the WAIPU North America team. Gene wants the best for all hockey players in the CHL and with his proven record we are assured the players will come first and be well taken care of.
Shane McColgan
Director of Player Relations
About Shane:
2008 – 2012 Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
2011 – 2012 Connecticut Whale (AHL)
2012 – 2013 Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
2013 – 2014 Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
2013 – 2014 Penticton Vees (BCHL)
2014 – 2016 St. Thomas University (AUS) New Brunswick
2016 – 2017 Tilburg Trappers Toekomstteam (BeNe) Netherlands
Present – hockey coach squirt A hockey team
Present – gives private hockey lessons to improve children’s hockey development. Shane gets great satisfaction helping develop young players
Shane currently works as an installer for a fitness company and coaches a squirt A hockey team
What Shane would like to see for Goals and achievements for WAIPU North America
As a WAIPU board member Shane would like to help players in respect to being treated fairly and help them NOT be taken advantage of
Shane would like to be the voice and the support person for any CHL player that feels they cannot express themselves due to intimidation techniques that most the clubs in the CHL utilize
Shane wants to make the sport of hockey a better and a safer game, he genuinely cares about every player in the CHL and will do his best to help mistreated and abused players
Quote: “I definitely have some good and some not so good memories playing in the WHL. Playing in the European hockey league was a wonderful experience and it taught me a lot about hockey.”
Tyler Maxwell
WHL Regional Director
About Tyler:
2007 – 2008 played in the USHL for Des Moines Buccaneers
2008 – 2012 played for the Everett Silvertips in the WHL, played 3.25 seasons accumulating 107 goals in 200 games breaking the franchise record
2008-2009 ranked in the top 150 of the NHL Central Scouting list.
2011 signed NHL contracts with the Los Angeles Kings and Minnesota Wild and played 8 exhibition games
2011 – 2012 played for Edmonton Oil Kings, who went on to a 27-game winning streak. Tyler scored the winning goal in the 7th game of the Memorial cup against the Portland Winterhawks. His hockey stick was displayed at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada for months to follow.
2012-2013 signed a contract with Salzburg Red Bull (Austria). In 23 games, he earned 17 points as well as a game winning goal during the European Trophy Finals in Sweden.
2012-2013 Tyler signed a contract with the Calgary Flames Organization and was assigned to their affiliate, the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL).
2012 – 2013 played for Bakersfield Condors
2012-2013 played for the Ontario Reign (ECHL).
2013-2014 played for ValPellice Bulldogs (Italy-A). Tyler was an integral part of the Italian Cup contending team scoring 20 goals and 26 assists in only 32 games.
2014-2015 contract with the New York Islanders of the NHL. Maxwell attended training camp and participated in 2 Exhibition games. He was then reassigned to their affiliate, the Stockton Thunder (ECHL), where he led the team in goals, and finished 2nd in overall points, and was their assistant captain.
2015-2016 played for the Alaska Aces (ECHL)
2015 – 2016 was traded to the Toledo Walleye, earning 1st star in his first game
2009 to present – started and owns the Maxwell Hockey Camp. It has been in full force since 2009, donating a portion of his proceeds to charity.
He is now coaching for several esteemed programs such as USC, Anaheim Jr. Ducks and Orange County Hockey Club.
Head Coach: USC Trojans Hockey Club.
Head Coach: Orange County Club.
US Scout: Salmon Am BCHL.
What Tyler would like to see for Goals and achievements for WAIPU North America
Quote: “Having been through the ringer and going through many experiences both positive and negative, my main motive is to advance the game of hockey in a positive direction.”
As a WAIPU board member Tyler would like to assist and develop a program that will help teach correct techniques and communication approaches. It is pertinent that educators of the game are teaching the right way, on and off the ice, building character and encouraging leadership with a winning culture in mind. Providing an excellent foundation for proper growth and development, as well as fueling passion for driven student-athletes should be what today’s mentors need to focus on.
He is committed to serve on the WAIPU board that has this goal in mind and willing to do what it takes to push for a better hockey community all around
Garrett Taylor
Director of Transitional Experience
About Garrett:
Westview High Varsity Hockey MVP, 1st team All-County All-league
USA U-17 Select team – Silver medalist in 5 Nations tournament
Athletics Resource Invitation Prospect Tournament. First team All-Star. Prospect potential listed as Division 1 and only player ranked as a Pro-prospect
2008 – 2009 Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) “Garrett has great hands and vision with good speed, I see him playing a major role in the WHL this season.”
2009 – 2010 Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
2010 – 2011 Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
What Garrett would like to see for Goals and achievements for WAIPU North America
As a WAIPU board member, Garrett would like to contribute to change the pattern of abuse that is prevalent in hockey today
Quote “I was naive, I thought my talent brought me to the WHL, and if I played the sport of hockey well it would keep me there, but there is so much more to playing in the WHL than this. I felt alone and vulnerable.”
Hockey is a rough sport both physically and mentally. Garrett wants to help players who feel alone, unappreciated and vulnerable. Through the strength in WAIPU Garrett will be able to give players and parents a platform and a voice for change and healing
Jon Parker
Director of Career Enhancement
About Jon:
2008-2010: Seattle Thunderbrids (WHL) – Rookie of the year
2009-2011: Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) – Lead goal scorer raider in 10 years, leading team to their first playoffs in over 5 years. He set the records for the most goals and points in a season by an American born player with likes of NHL Hall of Famer Mike Modano. Just finished the season with 45 goals and 86 points.
In the off season of 2011, Jon signed a NHL 3-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres and led the whole AHL in shootout goals and shooting percentage going a 100% in all 5 attempts
2011-2012: Rochester Americans (AHL)
2011-2012: Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL)
2012-2014: Rochester Americans (AHL)
2013-2014: Colorado Eagles (ECHL)
In 2014 Jon was traded to his home state team the Los Angeles Kings in his home State.
Jon started the following season playing for the Malmö Redhawks in the Swedish Elite League before coming back to play in North America.
2013-2014: Ontario Reign (ECHL)
2014-2015: Colorado Eagles (ECHL)
Jon Played 2 more seasons before retiring in 2016 making stops with the Chicago Blackhawks organization, San Jose Sharks organization and Montreal Canadians organization
2014-2015: Indy Fuel (ECHL)
2015-2016: Reading Royals (ECHL)
2015-2016: Allen Americans (ECHL)
2015-2016: Brampton Beast (ECHL)
2015-2016: Manchester Monarchs (ECHL)
Jon was a member of the board for the PA and worked on union matters for PA during his time in the AHL. Jon now has a blossoming career in the real estate market.
What Jon would like to see for Goals and achievements for WAIPU North America
Jon believes in the solidary of a union and wants to fight for the CHL recognition as a minor professional team and players rights. He wants to help players in the CHL anyway possible and give guidance to young players. Jon has played in many leagues and has the experience being traded many times and moving around, and still maintaining record breaking years, this shows his courage, patience and determination.
As a Waipu board member Jon would like to assist with the transitioning of players both coming into the CHL and even more importantly leaving the CHL. He knows 98% of the players will not accomplish a true NHL career and this transitioning experience would make the difference for many young players. Support coming into the CHL will help players adjust to being away from home, but leaving the CHL and giving guidance and support based on experience can make a life changing difference to many of the players lives post CHL.
