Many thanks to all the individuals whom have accepted their nominations for next season's new Board of Directors. Please have a look at the listed nominees and review the bios that have been provided.
The Director positions will be voted on at our AGM on Thursday May 15, 2025 6:30pm at the CCC (Cameco room A & B)
Leroy Woodman
I would like to express my support for new initiatives within the organization and bring the associations soul focus back to the skilled sport of hockey without political influence over our young players.
I come to the organization with 17 years of playing hockey as a youth in Northumberland, and now play men’s league. I will be a part of Northumberland Nighthawks through my children for the next 15 years, and hope to see much needed change and growth. I do have my certification for head coach.
I would like to see this organization return to focusing on the skill development and individual growth of each of our players whether its house league or in the Rep level of hockey to be inclusive to ensure equity. I feel with community supports and fundraising events this will allow our organization the opportunity for much needed growth in development bringing in skilled developers to our centre.
I appreciate the time and dedication you put into supporting the growth and success of our hockey community. The board of directors play an essential role in shaping a positive and inclusive environment for all involved and I would be honoured to be a part of this.
Corey Mackenzie
I am eager to join the NMHA Board of Directors because I am passionate about minor hockey and the positive impact it has on youth development. My experience in team management and commitment to community engagement aligns with the Board's goals. I am motivated by the opportunity to help shape the future of hockey in Northumberland, ensuring it remains a positive, inclusive, and safe environment for all participants. I look forward to contributing my skills to promote and grow the sport, supporting the development of young athletes both on and off the ice.
Wayne Mahaffy
As a advocate for minor hockey and youth development, I am deeply committed to fostering a positive and inclusive hockey environment where young athletes can thrive both on and off the ice. I believe my experience and skills align closely with the criteria outlined for this role. I am dedicated to ensuring that hockey remains a welcoming and supportive space for all participants, regardless of background or skill level. With a proven track record in leadership roles, I bring experience in governance, strategic decision-making, and community engagement. I understand the importance of collaboration and teamwork in achieving organizational goals. As an effective communicator, I am confident in my ability to work collaboratively with fellow board members, stakeholders, and the broader hockey community to drive meaningful outcomes. I am fully committed to attending meetings, contributing to discussions, and actively participating in the decision-making on behalf of the association.
Bill Woodman (2022/23 President, 2023/24 and 2024/25 Past President)
My name is Bill Woodman and i will be accepting my nomination for a seat of the board for the upcoming 2025/26 season. I have previously been on the board as various roles from Equipment to vice president of HL to events, and President 2x. I coached during the 2024/25 season so I couldn't volunteer on board last year but this year I don't coach so I would like to get back in and help continue to steer the association in the right direction for my little guy that will be coming up thru along with my nephews.
Jason Murphy
I am Jason Murphy. I have been a Port Hope resident for the last 5 years and I have coached my kids through their early hockey years, into the first few years of rep hockey. During this time, I have watched not only my kids but many, many kids transition from Timbits to Minor Development and ultimately to younger levels of Rep all while growing their love of hockey and their skills. Some have developed into AAA players and some have elected to move outside of NMHA seeking alternatives options for various reasons. While watching young players leave for AAA opportunities, I have been discouraged to see some leave for more hockey that is available right here in Northumberland.
I believe that I would be a good fit for the NMHA Board of Directors as I am approachable, humble and believe that the best option for Northumberland hockey players is to play here and develop here. As part of the NMHA I would work to determine what causes players leave this organization and what can be done to make the Nighthawks a destination of choice for players in the area. I believe that our teams have room to improve their overall results while also increasing the level of enjoyment and fun while playing for the Nighthawks.
I am a passionate, energetic individual with a variety of coaching and professional experiences that I believe will enable me to aid positive improvements to this organization. Thank you for your consideration.
Jennifer Lynn
My name is Jenn Lynn. For the past 3 years, since our four kids joined NHMA less than a week after we moved to Northumberland, I've been an enthusiastic parent, manager, and eventually, trainer within the association. My primary motivation for seeking a Board of Directors position is a deep passion for ensuring every single child enjoys a fantastic hockey experience focused on fun, development, and sportsmanship. Leveraging my professional background as a program manager, I am eager to collaborate with the board to strengthen our activities and guarantee a positive, supportive environment for all our young athletes. Thank you for your consideration!
Cait Gordon
I am writing to express my interest in joining the Northumberland Minor Hockey Association Board of Directors. As a dedicated hockey mom of four, I have firsthand experience with the challenges and rewards of the sport at both the house league and rep levels. My deep involvement in the hockey community has given me insight into the needs of players, parents, and volunteers alike, making me a strong advocate for positive change and growth.
I understand the financial, logistical, and emotional commitments families make, and I am passionate about ensuring that all players have access to a supportive and well-structured program.
Beyond my role as a hockey parent, I bring policy writing experience at the provincial level as well a wealth of experience in the volunteer sector. I also served as a tutor for OHL athletes with the Peterborough Pete’s who were enrolled in university programs, providing subject-specific support, helping maintain academic eligibility, and fostering effective study strategies in alignment with their athletic schedules.
I would be honoured to bring my perspective and experience to the board and work collaboratively to support the growth of hockey in our community. Thank you for your consideration—I look forward to the opportunity to contribute.
Trenholm Parker (2024/25 - VP of Rep Hockey Executive Member)
I would like to continue my work on this board to see through the upcoming changes to our structure and overall guidance, for the long term sustainability of the organization. We made some significant strides this year, and we have a ways to go. I'm grateful to have volunteered my time with an outstanding group of executive members who put in so much effort. Thank you
Eric Fraser (2023/24 & 2024/25 - Director of Development Executive Member)
I have been with Northumberland Minor Hockey since my son started Junior IP in 2016. I have been both a Coach and Assistant Coach with NMHA over the years and most recently have spent my time for the last 3 seasons on the Northumberland Minor Hockey Executive as the Director of Development. Over the past 3 years I have made significant changes to the Development Program in Northumberland that I feel will make a lasting difference for the development of our players and coaches within our organization. I have increased the number of development sessions per team and increased the amount of goalie development across all levels of our organization. Through our developers we have arranged for some very well renowned technical instructors to work on various skills at each age group and level. I am continuing the work to institute a coach mentoring program for our coaches that will provide support to our coaches and assist in training and retaining them as the valuable resource that they are to our organization. I have been active in getting Hockey Canada programs in place to guide coaches in getting their qualifications. I am a certified Field Evaluator for Hockey Canada with respect to certifications for Coaches up to Development 1 status. I am passionate about this sport - I have been playing the game of hockey since I was old enough to skate and continue to play to this day. I love the game. I have been coaching it since 2002. I would welcome the opportunity to represent NMHA again in this position to help see the Development program through. We have great things started in Development that will continue to see great results in the future.
Kelly Nicholas
I have been involved, volunteering on sports Executive Committees, in several capacities for both adult and kids leagues. By far, the most rewarding has been serving as a Convenor for the Northumberland Minor Hockey League and the Caledon Minor Hockey league in years past. I pride myself in being organized, communicating openly, having a passion to succeed but more importantly seeing the players succeed.
Most recently, I joined the NMHA as a House League Convenor and served in this capacity for the past two seasons. In this role, I was committed to ensuring parents, coaches and trainers had up to date information about all things related to house league play throughout the season. I was dedicated to ensuring all the administrative items fell to me, to allow coaches to use their valuable time to focus on coaching and developing our players.
Cobourg is my hometown, and after spending 20 years away, I looked forward to coming home to raise my boys in this hockey town but that doesn't happen on its own. I know to make any hockey league a reality, it takes the dedication of many volunteers and I’m prepared to take on that challenge, like many others who have done before me. Throughout my career, I have developed training programs, organized conferences and educational events, small and large. I believe with this experience, having involvement with two hockey organizations, along with my passion for success, these would be valuable assets were I fortunate enough to be part of the NMHA Board of Directors.
David Battersby
Born in Cobourg and raised in Port Hope, I spent much of my adult life in Toronto before moving back to Cobourg in 2020 with my wife and two sons, both of whom started their hockey journeys in the GTHL. Over the past few years, I've served two terms as a Parent Liaison, working closely with the executive team to help resolve issues with a solution-focused, collaborative approach.
Professionally, I’ve led high-performing sales and marketing teams through major transformation and change management initiatives, and currently serve as VP of Sales and Marketing at a business communications firm in Toronto. I'm also active in real estate.
I'm passionate about building on the work of past board members and strengthening the association’s long-term success. My focus is on improving communication, supporting player and coaching development, and fostering stronger transparency and accountability across the organization. Most importantly, I want to be actively involved and help create a positive hockey experience for all players and families.
Katelyn Taylor
I am seeking a position on the Board of Directors for Northumberland Minor Hockey to continue the important work I began during my previous position. I have been actively involved in youth sports for over 25 years, and as a parent for the past 5–6 years since my oldest child began participating in organized activities. Over the years, I’ve taken on various roles, including skating coach, soccer coach, and Registrar for Northumberland Minor Lacrosse. These experiences have deepened my understanding of both the administrative and developmental sides of youth sports, and the critical role that structure and leadership play in ensuring a positive experience for all participants.
I hold diplomas in both Office Administration and as a Child and Youth Worker, which have provided me with valuable knowledge in communication, organization, and child development. These skills support my ability to contribute effectively to a board position and advocate for the needs and well-being of the children we serve.
Through my various roles, I have seen firsthand the powerful impact—both positive and negative—that policies, procedures, and consistency can have on children in sports. My focus remains on creating, upholding, and reinforcing the organization’s policies and procedures to ensure fairness, accountability, and consistent processes. I am committed to fostering an environment where every player has equal opportunity and a positive experience through their involvement in the association.
With a strong understanding of the current organization, a passion for youth sports, and a dedication to structure and transparency, I am determined to make decisions that always serve the best interests of our players.
I’m excited about the bright future ahead—especially with the structural changes introduced by the OMHA, which have opened new opportunities for players, as well as the positive developments being implemented by NMHA itself. Combined with our community’s strengths—our location, our programming, and our dedicated families—I believe Northumberland Minor Hockey is well-positioned for meaningful growth and continued success. I would be proud to support and help guide that progress as a member of the Board.
Mike Jones
I am seeking a position on the Board of Directors with the Northumberland Minor Hockey Association because I believe in building a positive, inclusive, and development-focused environment for all athletes—whether they are just starting out in our Timbits program or competing at the highest levels. I admire the work of our current executives and hope that I can bring ideas that support the work they have done. As a proud member of the Northumberland community seeing kids grow and succeed is a goal I think we ought to continue to strive for.
My goal is to help shape an organization that supports every player’s growth, fosters respect on and off the ice, and reflects the values of our community. I previously served as Equipment Manager for the 2023–2024 season and remain actively involved in youth sports, including with the Northumberland Baseball Association.
I am committed to contributing my experience and passion to help NMHA continue to thrive for years to come.Let's Go Nighthawks!
Chad Munday - Treasurer/Director (2024/25 Treasurer for the NMHA)
Jacob Taylor
I’m honoured to be considered for a director position on the NMHA Board.
With a background as a Director of Operations and years of experience in both business and hockey, I believe I can bring a balanced, thoughtful perspective to the board — one rooted in structure, accountability, and a deep respect for the game.
Over the course of my career, I’ve led teams, built functional schedules, managed complex contracts, and developed policies that keep organizations running smoothly and fairly. I understand how important it is to plan ahead, communicate clearly, and follow through — not just to meet deadlines, but to build trust and ensure everyone involved feels heard and supported.
Hockey has been a central part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve worn many hats in this sport — player, coach, parent, and administrator — and that range of experience gives me a strong sense of what our families, volunteers, and athletes need from their association. I care deeply about maintaining a positive, inclusive environment where all players can grow, compete, and love the game.
If elected, I would bring a steady hand and a team-first mindset to the NMHA Board. I’m committed to helping shape smart policies, streamline operations, and support the long-term development of both our players and our programs. Most of all, I want to contribute to build an organization that puts the needs of our hockey community first — both on and off the ice.