Our Story-Timeline

What is the Kitchener / Lancaster Friendship Hockey Exchange & how did it all begin?
Mr. Paul Pelland from Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Mr. John Bieth from Kitchener were traveling on business when they began to talk and realize they had several things in common. The one thing that both men had in common was their involvement in the youth hockey programs back at home. After their flight and going off in their separate ways John received a phone call inviting him and his hockey team to Lancaster Pennsylvania for a weekend of hockey and friendship. It is from these first hockey games in 1972 that the Kitchener/Lancaster Friendship Exchange was born.
What began as two teams meeting to play the sport they loved has become the longest running exchange of its kind in North America. This exchange and the tradition of friendship hockey is now in its 40th year and continues to grow.

 

The Friendship Tournament Time Line

  • 1971- John Bieth and Paul Pelland boarded a plane on business they met and discussed their interest in Minor Hockey.
  • 1972- Friendship Exchange Begins - One AAA team from Kitchener Kitchener Minor Bantam Knights) and one Lancaster in-house team played games at Park City Rink in Park City Mall, Lancaster. Parents and Players were billeted with their host families. This was only a one way exchange this year.  Canadian teams went down to Lancaster Pa.Friendship Exchange Game played in Hershey Arena directly after a Hershey bears game. Everyone in the sold out arena stayed to watch the young Canadian boys play in the Friendship Exchange. The Canadian team won but the Friendships would live on.
  • 1973- First Game Played in Kitchener.  Teams form Lancaster visited Kitchener for the very first time.
  • 1974- First Year that the exchange went both ways. 
  • 1975 - Kitchener starts to bring down Kitchener Minor Hockey Select Teams. This team was coached by: John Bieth, Don Egerdee and Peter “Puck” Rosenburg.
  • 1976 - Paul Pelland co-founder of the Kitchener Lancaster Friendship Exchange passes away.
  • 1977 - The original teams that would later reunite as an alumni team stop participating in the Friendship Exchange
  • 1978- Harold Hilsher starts to get involved in the Friendship Exchange
  • 1982 - 10th Anniversary- Doug Hebebrand organized the friendship exchange along with Dick Snow
  • 1984-1988 - Tim Forsyth organizes the Kitchener end of the Friendship Exchange/Harold Hilsher for Lancaster
  • 1986-1987 - First House League Team from Kitchener participates in the Friendship Exchange. The coaches of this team were as follows: Mike Aultman, Ken Brackett, Ross Stephenson and Dick Barkosky. Manager: June Aultman.

Friendship Exchange Logo created for sweat shirts for Peewee Team to sell. The creators of the Logo: Mike Aultman & June Aultman. Logo was used off and on after this but did not become the official logo until 1994.

  • 1987- 15th Anniversary
  • 1989 - Alumni Team (team members reunited) created but ran their program separate from Minor Hockey
  • 1990-1992 - Ross Barber organizes the Friendship Exchange for Kitchener/Harold Hilsher organizes for Lancaster
  • 1992-1994- Howard McKinnon organizes the Friendship Exchange for Kitchener/Harold Hilsher organizes for Lancaster
  • 1992- 20th Anniversary

Alumni Team and Minor Hockey teams join as one group.

  • 1994-present- Mike Aultman organizes the Friendship Exchange for Kitchener/Barry Melchi and Harold Hilsher organize for Lancaster. Jeff Walls joins the organizing group in 2002 for Lancaster.
  • 1994- Lancaster Ice Rink Opened. Representing Kitchener: John Bieth, Justin Brown (Minor Hockey Player) and Mike Aultman.

Logo made official symbol for the Kithener/Lancaster Friendship Exchange-Logo changed to add country’s flags.

  • 1995- First Kitchener Friendship Exchange Committee Formed. Alumni and Minor Hockey teams were asked to participate and pull their resources together.

The first Committee members were as follows; Mike Aultman, John Bieth, Howard McKinnon, Don Egerdee, Glen Batchelor, Brenda Breguda, Al Dillman, Harry Blinkhorn & Mike Mathews. The extended committee included all members of the coaching staffs.

  • 1996- Kitchener Committee puts together first joint effort Fundraising Drive. They organized a 50's/60's Dance at Kitchener's Farmers Market. (The money was used to help defray the bus costs.)
  • 1997-25th Anniversary

Logo changed to reflect Exchange and Friendship. Characters trade Flags.
Exchange changed from a 3 day event to a 4 day event to give families more time to spend off the ice.
The first Bieth/Pelland Friendship Awards given out to people that had spent many years dedicated to the Exchange and helped the Exchange continue to grow. The First recipients were: John Bieth, Paul Pelland†, Howard McKinnon, Don Egerty and Harold Hilsher.

  • 1998- First Committee formed in Lancaster to organize the ExchangeCommittee consisted of: Harold Hilsher, Barry Melchi, Jeff Walls As well as the coaches in their program.
  • 2001- First joint meeting between representatives from both Kitchener and Lancaster committee’s to start the planning process for 2002.
  • 2002- 30th Anniversary

The Bieth Pelland Friendship Awards for achievement were presented to the following friendship committee members. Kitchener: Dave Andrews, Mike Aultman and Andre Fournier. Lancaster: Barry Melchi and Jim Witmer.

  • 2004- 10th Anniversary of the Kitchener Friendship Exchange Committee
  • 2005- First joint summer meeting between both committees held in Lancaster Pa. July 2005.
  • 2006- First Female Team

35th Anniversary preparations begin

  • 2007- 35th Anniversary

The Bieth Pelland Friendship Awards for achievement were presented to the following friendship committee members. Kitchener: Eric Skovsgaard, Karen Falkenstern. Lancaster: Bob Rutherford, Jeff Walls.

  • 2008- Grant Beauchamp organizes for Lancaster-Mike Aultman for Kitchener
  • 2009- Players from York introduced to the exchange -Coaches Charity Classic Hockey game played in Kitchener for Children's Wish $3000 raised
  • 2010- John Prime organizes for Lancaster-Mike Aultman for Kitchener Players from York, Lancaster and Harrisburg Participate - Coaches Charity Classic Hockey Game played in Harrisburg raises $3000 for Clarky's Kids-Summer Meeting in Lancaster August 1, 2010-Heritage Hotel
  • 2011- Jr. Hershey Bears join the Friendship Exchange. Charity for 2011 Coaches Charity Classic in Kitchener - Kitchener Ice Pirates- Raised $2000
  • 2012- 40th Anniversary....The tradition continues.....................