Battalion players to learn about Policing

Steve Chabbert believes there are a lot of parallels between policing and junior hockey. 

He should know.  

The North Bay Police constable, who also serves as a part-time coach with the North Bay Battalion, played OHL hockey with the North Bay Centennials back in the late 1990’s. He realized the connection between the two occupations when he was billeted with a police officer in his overage season with the Guelph Storm.     

“I went on some ride-alongs and I really valued that experience of - as a player at that point in your career you are looking at what you want to do in your future outside of hockey and it gives you a really good glimpse into what this policing profession would be like,” he said. 

Chabbert was one of the officers present at North Bay Police headquarters today as the Battalion and the police service signed a memorandum of understanding that will see the two organizations work together. 

North Bay Police Chief Paul Cook believes this mentorship initiative - similar to one done with the Nipissing Lakers Varsity Sport teams -  will be a win for the police, the hockey team and the community.   

“It provides their players with an opportunity to get an orientation to policing so if any of them are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement. It exposes them to that and from the community perspective one of the things we are going to be challenging the officers and the players to do is engage with the community especially as it relates to youth,” said Cook. 

“So we challenge them to become involved in activities in the school and be positive role models in the community.” 

Battalion Head Coach Stan Butler brought along a handful of Battalion players who are interested in participating in the program and learning more about policing.  The players that attended were Mike Baird, Riley Bruce, Miles Liberati, Jake Smith, Calvin Gomes, Mathew Santos, and Mark Shoemaker.   

Butler says at least 30 of his former players are currently working as police officers.   

“It’s unbelievable when you look at it because so many players go on to policing and you know what happened is Chief Cook and I would get together from time to time and talk about various things and two of the things I really wanted to get involved in the community with our players is the Special Olympics, which we achieved, and the other thing is with the police department,” said Butler.  

Butler also felt it was a bonus for his players to see assistant coach Steve Chabbert in uniform at the event.  

“I think that kind of surprised the guys because they are used to seeing him in a track suit on the ice, and I think what it does for our players is it allows them to see that police officers are human and they are doing their job and it’s a great job because they are making a difference,” Butler added.  

Chabbert believes the program will be effective considering how much interest some of the players already have about his police profession.  

“Whenever I go to the rink for practice and stuff guys are always curious about what’s something fun or interesting that you did, and they want to know the exciting part of it,” said Chabbert. 

“They don’t necessarily care to know about the paperwork which is a large majority of what our job is, but they are excited and I think it’s a good opportunity for them to see another side of the city as well.”