Kingston native, Jim Hulton has spent the last seven seasons as a head coach in the Ontario Hockey League (Major Junior “A”). In addition to the Kingston Frontenacs who he led for the past three seasons; Hulton also spent time as the skipper of the Mississauga Ice Dogs, and Belleville Bulls. In addition to his OHL experience, he also was an assistant coach with the Canadian National Junior Team, which won silver and a gold medal in 2004 and 2005 respectively.  The Canadian Under 18 team, which he was the Head Coach, won the gold in 2002.  

In short, he arrives at RMC with some great hockey coaching credentials!  

Jim Hulton is 37 and married to Kingston native, Kristina.  They have a two-year-old son, Jimmy Jr. and they have a second child due in April.  One could say the RMC position came about at the right time.  As a relatively young but experienced coach he has a long future ahead of him.  At the moment “RMC is the perfect fit”, for the Hulton family.     

Coach Hulton will be inheriting a team comprised of 16 veteran players and four players with Tier II - Jr. A who have been “attracted” to RMC.  The Paladins finished last season with 19 points.  They jumped off to a great start earning 14 of their points before the Christmas break.  Whether it was the turkey or the holiday spirit, they only managed two wins (both against last place Ryerson) and a tie against Queens who also did not make the play-offs in the second part of the season.  UQTR took them out two straight in the play-off.  This was the fifth straight year that RMC failed to win a play-off game.  They did rally, however, to earn a tie at home against West Point.  

Hulton has a reputation of being a hard worker who displays patience.  Those familiar with him as a coach at the major junior “A” level consider him a great teacher who did an outstanding job adjusting to the demands of young teams.  His handling of the bench during game conditions is highly regarded and his practices are always well thought out and high tempo.

A current member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Matt Stajan, speaks of his former Bellville Bulls coach, “I’ve always focused in on the defensive aspects of the game,” the Leaf forward explains.  “It’s one of the biggest parts of the game, and my coach in junior, Jim Hulton really helped me develop a lot of confidence in that part of my play."

Jason Spezza just one of many who played under Coach Hulton.

Other current NHL players who applied their craft and learned the finer points of the game under Jim include: Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators; Kyle Wellwood, Toronto Maple Leafs; Cody McCormick, Colorado Avalanche; and Anthony Stewart, Florida Panthers just to name a few.  

The measure of good coach is the ability to have his players buy in to the systems in place, the higher caliber the players the more difficult this seems.  Hulton has the proven ability to motivate high quality players to execute the systems in place nearly flawlessly with a relentless determination that almost guarantees players and the team play to their full potential.    

At this stage, like any good coach he has not decided on the “systems” until he sees what he has in the RMC lineup.  With so many returning players, he should expect to have a competitive team during his

first year.  The fact that there are only four rookies slated to arrive this week to – March through the Arch is cause for concern for future years.  

Once he is organized his first order of business is to set-up an Attraction Program.  He plans to learn the ropes quickly and to be an active partner with the “Red & White” program.    

Coach Hulton is considered a player’s coach in the true sense of the word.  He has never criticized his players publicly.  However, the players who don’t pull their weight will feel his wrath privately, and the team may as a group read about it publicly.  For example, following a late season disappointing loss last season, “We were horrible,” Kingston head coach Jim Hulton told the Kingston-Whig Standard after the Whalers’ 3-2 victory over the Frontenacs.  “We lacked intensity, desire, heart.  All those things that go into winning games, we had none of it.  To me, the turning point was the drop of the puck.  We had nothing going.”   

Much like a page out of the Major Danny McLeod coaching manual.

Phone Call into Danny McLeod

One of the first calls the new coach made after accepting the RMC position was to Major Danny McLeod.  The two have a get together planned over the next few days to discuss RMC hockey. Danny is quite familiar with Jim because of the Kingston hockey ties.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall!  

A leading sports authority, and close follower of the OHL, Dave Gross is a big Hulton supporter.  “Never understood Mississauga making the move, and now this summer, Kingston.  I’ve been a Jim Hulton fan since he broke in with the-then absolutely horrific Mississauga Ice Dogs in 1999.  He’s bright, young, committed and - with all due respect to the Royal Military College - he’s now coaching at a level below his capabilities.  Hockey Canada must agree because they keep giving him jobs at the national level.  He’s been an assistant with our Canadian junior team and a head coach with the gold medal winning Under-18s.” 

We don’t share the sentiment (nor does Jim) that he will be coaching below his capabilities.  We do know this about him – he is a Class individual.  The type of coach that young student-hockey players (and their parents) will be attracted to – for his sincerity – his coaching experience – and his genuine interest in ensuring that if they do choose RMC they will become better prepared leaders and people as adults.  

The hockey program at RMC is in good hands.  We wish him well.   

For more articles on the Jim Hulton hiring:  

http://www.geocities.com/rmc_redmen/06-07pressreleases-New_Coach.html 

http://oua.ca/news/?id=5523
 

as well as the VCDS.  LCol (ret’d) Terry Senft, CD remains Red & White Coordinator for the Pacific Region.  Glenn MacDonald retains responsibility for Prairies, and Andre Durand for Quebec.  It is noteworthy that Lt (N) Dave Benoit is the RMC Club’s National Red & White representative.  Ironically, Dave is also a Red & White mentor in Halifax and he and McLeod have worked together in the past on the Programme.  While McLeod realizes that teamwork and open lines of communication will be paramount to making the Programme work over the next attracting and processing period, he is convinced that the groundwork laid by Rock will greatly facilitate his new duties.  Don can be contacted at (902) 427-7151 or by e-mail at mcleod-d-rmc@ns.sympatico.ca.

The Canadian Forces Leadership Institute celebrated National Aboriginal Day 2006 by hosting the first conference on Aboriginal contributions to the Canadian military experience. This event celebrated, raised visibility and increased awareness of Aboriginal contributions to the Canadian Forces. It also built bridges between these communities and developed ideas that will help strengthen Aboriginal-military relations in the future. 

The conference incorporated traditional Native elements in the opening ceremony, a feast for participants, displays of CF Aboriginal programs and testimonials from past and serving Aboriginal members. The conference also had an academic component, providing a venue for presentations of research findings, discussions and analysis. The military component of the conference was highlighted through the history of the conference site, the Royal Military College of Canada, and other martial traditions such as a Reviewing Parade. 

Through this holistic approach, the conference advanced the transformation of the CF's posture towards diversity - from accommodation (through minimal compliance) to acceptance (that maximizes benefits) - by fostering mutual understanding, respect and trust between Canada's military and Aboriginal peoples. 

This conference not only advanced the Canadian Forces' efforts to enhance Aboriginal representation and retention, but also assisted the Aboriginal, public service, military and research communities to find common ground and ways to promote future collaboration and discussion.The conference was open to all, and there was no conference fee. 

Ed Note: E3163 Victoria Edwards (RMC 2003) presented on "Doing Business with Defence: Aboriginal Procurement Strategy" and "the Oka Crisis and the Recruitment of Aboriginal Peoples."

The department of athletics produced 10 student-athletes in the 2005-06 school year that earned Academic All-Canadian status under Canadian Interuniversity Sport guidelines.  Another ten athletes earned Ontario University Athletics recognition.  The reason for the difference is that Fencing and Men’s rugby both varsity sports at RMC compete within the OUA and not the CIS level.  From an academic perspective the recognition is identical.  

In order to qualify, a student-athlete must be full-time and have achieved a minimum of 80% in their studies while using a year of athletic eligibility in an approved OUA / CIS sport. 

The men’s fencing squad and the women’s soccer team proved to be the smartest of all RMC teams this

 

past season both with five honorees, followed by the women's fencing team with three nominees.  Men’s rugby and basketball both had two; women’s basketball, men’s soccer and women’s volleyball had one each.  

The list, which was composed of 10 women and 10 men, featured a geographical breakdown by residence: Ontario 11; British Columbia & Nova Scotia 3 each; Alberta, Quebec, and Manitoba had one a piece.  

In terms of academic discipline, ten are registered in arts; eight in engineering and the remaining two are in science.  

The breakdown by Year: I two; II four; III seven; & IV seven.  

Congratulations to our 20 “All Canadian Academics”! 

Wounded in the right leg when his tank exploded just at the end of fighting to close the Falaise Gap in         August 1944, Lt. Don MacEachern, son of Mr. and Mrs. N. MacEachern of Wetaskiwin, returned to the city Monday night.

In command of three tanks when he was wounded Lt. MacEachern told The Times, “I was a prisoner for five or six hours. After I was wounded I was taken prisoner but they didn’t think I was worth carrying away so       they left me. Two of my men were killed and another fellow and I were wounded. The rest were taken prisoner. After they marched away two men of the same regiment came along, typical Nazis. One, in a mixture of French, German and English told me I was crazy to come all the way from Canada to fight against the glorious Third Reich.”

The soldiers his unit was fighting when he received his wound were men of the S.S. guards whom Lt. MacEachern considers much superior to the rest of the German Army.

Don MacEachern was born in Wetaskiwin 23 years ago. His father, Norman MacEachern won the D.S.O. and bar in the last war. Don was an active member of the High School Track Team and helped organize        the Students’ Union.

He entered the Royal Military College at Kingston the first of September, 1940, leaving it a year later to join

the active army. While in Kingston, he won the Silver Bugle for the highest individual points in the track meet as well as two silver cups, two silver medals and two bronze ones.

He took an officer training course at Brockville and Camp Borden being commissioned in February, 1942, in the Canadian Armored Corps.

He was gazetted to the B.C. Regiment and went overseas in September, 1942. After a period of two years in England, he went to France in July of last year, 56 days after D-Day. Asked how the fighting       was in France, he said, “Okay,” and added nonchalantly, “I guess it was just like all the fights.”
He was wounded on August 23 and was flown across the channel to a Canadian hospital in England. After three and a half months in hospital he was returned to Canada.

He is now on 30 days leave pending discharge.

He plans to stay in Wetaskiwin.

A younger brother Kenneth received his wings and commission in the R.C.A.F. at the end of last year on his 20th birthday.

http://www.wetaskiwintimes.com/story.php?id=249293