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Chris Tanev Interview with Mark Masters (TSN)
Tanev talks 'Where It All Began' Tour and long road back from injury-plagued Leafs season
Chris Tanev will meet and greet fans during an event Sunday at Victoria Village Arena, which is where he played minor hockey. The 36-year-old defenceman, who underwent core muscle surgery in March, is hoping to be on the ice next week when the Leafs open training camp. Tanev spoke to TSN about the "Where It All Began Tour" and a challenging summer of rehab.
MEET TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS CHRIS TANEV AT VICTORIA VILLAGE ARENA
Date: Sunday September 13th
Location: Victoria Village Arena (Doors open at 10am, ends at 2pm)
Cost of ticket: $90 (Only 500 tickets available)
Ticket includes: 1. Meet and Greet with Chris Tanev, 2. Personally Signed 8"x10" Photo by Chris Tanev (NHLPA Certified), 3. Goodie Bag from Sponsors (up to $200), 4. Digital Picture Taken with Chris Tanev Emailed to Ticket Holder (Priceless)
Click for detailsPresale: Click below
Presale QR codeWhere it All Began Tour
Home is where your heart is. For Chris Tanev, the Toronto Maple Leafs powerhouse defenseman, his first home was with the Victoria Village House League (VVHL).
Chris laced up his first pair of skates with Victoria Village at just 5 years old. There, he gained the confidence and skill to jump from house league to select to rep hockey. From ages 9-15, Tanev played with some of the top GTHL teams of the time (North York Canadiens, Toronto Red Wings, and Mississauga Reps). But being the smallest on the ice meant he was often overlooked by coaches and scouts.
It was Chris’ grit and determination that pushed him to never give up on his dream of playing in the NHL. Where most players make it to the pros through the draft. At under 5’10”, Tanev was never drafted. Instead, he played NCAA hockey at RIT University on a US scholarship.
It was during his first year there that his prowess on the ice caught the attention of NHL scouts. In 2010, Chris's dream of playing in the NHL finally came true, and he signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks. The smallest guy on the ice had made it.
In his 16 years of NHL hockey, Tanev has grown, not just into his 6’3 stature but also into an elite defenseman known for his hockey IQ, his positional awareness and his fearless shot-blocking skills.
From learning to skate at Victoria Village HL to playing on hockey’s biggest stage, Chris’s journey hasn’t been easy. Despite adversity and not fitting the traditional mold of a hockey player, his love of the game has never faltered. He is a devoted team player, who remains proof that with hard work, anything is possible.
The Vikings Select Program is a competitive hockey program for players from the U7 - U18 divisions. Team tryouts are in the spring, except for the U7 and U8 divisions which are in the fall.
Select is an optional program for players who want to further grow their skills and play at a more competitive level. There’s a separate cost for the Select Program which is set by each select team.
In addition to House League, select players have a weekly team practice and game competing against other select teams in the North York Hockey League (NYHL). Games take place at arenas across the city of Toronto.
Tryouts
Vikings Select Tryouts for the U7/U8 division are in the Fall of 2026.
Cost is $20 per player per tryout date.
| TEAM NAME | DIVISION | BIRTH YEAR | COACH/MANAGER | CONTACT | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings U7/U8 | U7/U8 | 2019 | Jordan Mudryk | Jordanmudryk94@gmail.com | ||||||
| TRYOUTS
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TRYOUTS
| Sept 13, 11am-12pm Victoria Village Arena |
Select Coaches
Introducing our coaches or main contacts for the upcoming 2026/2027 season.
All Viking Select Coaches are trained under the Hockey Canada Development stream and have completed a Vulnerable Sectors Check (VSC). Many of our coaches are parent volunteers from our community looking to pass on their love of the game to the next generation.
| TEAM NAME | DIVISION | BIRTH YEAR | COACH/MANAGER | CONTACT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings U7/U8 | U7/U8 | 2019 | Jordan Mudryk | Jordanmudryk94@gmail.com |
| Vikings U9 | U9 | 2018 | James Polgrain | jamespolgrain@hotmail.com |
| Vikings U10 | U10 | 2017 | Huw Williams | huw@rogers.com |
| Vikings U11 | U11 | 2016 | David Williams | dowilliams@rogers.com |
| Vikings U12 | U12 | 2015 | Peter Platis | peter@platis.com |
| Vikings U13 | U13 | 2014 | Gus Papaioannou | gus.papa08@gmail.com |
| Vikings U14 Blue | U14 | 2013 | Huw Williams | huw@rogers.com |
| Vikings U14 Orange | U14 | 2013 | Travis Kelly | travis_j_kelly@hotmail.com |
| Vikings U15 | U15 | 2012 | Lindsey Gardner | Lingardner@gmail.com |
| Vikings U17 Blue | U17 | 2010 | Sandro Mancino | sandro.mancino@gmail.com |
| Vikings U17 Orange | U17 | 2010 | Chris Pavlides | vicvillageorange@gmail.com |
Vikings Select Invitational Tournament
Our Vikings teams are in the early planning stages for our highly anticipated 2026 Pre-Season Tournament. Participation is by invitation only.
The tournament will run from Sept 25-27, 2026 and will have the following divisions: U9, U12, U13, U14 Blue, U14 Orange, U15, U17 Blue and U17 Orange.
Interested in attending? Please reach out to the team contact listed in the Select Coaches section to inquire about the availability and eligibility of a division.
Schedule and Standing
Full season details including game time, score and standings can be found on the NYHL’s site.
FAQ
DOES MY PLAYER HAVE TO PLAY HOUSE LEAGUE?
Yes. The Viking Select Program is an added program to our House League Program. Select players are expected to attend all House League practices and games. Failure to attend House League will result in a player’s suspension from the Select Program.
HOW MUCH DOES THE SELECT PROGRAM COST?
The Select Program is a separate fee on top of your House League fee. Each select team sets their own budget. A team’s cost depends on a number of factors (e.g. the number of practices, special skill coaches, tournaments and team wear). On average, team fees can range between $1500-$2500.
WHEN AND WHERE ARE GAMES AND PRACTICES?
Select game times and locations are set by the NYHL. Viking teams play at several rinks across the city of Toronto. In the Select Program, teams do not have a set "home arena” or “home game time” and so game times and locations will vary from week to week.
Each Viking Select Team is given 1 hour of weekly practice ice. Times and location depend on team requests and ice availability and vary from season to season. Past arenas include: Victoria Village Arena, Angela James Arena, Pleasantview Arena and Agincourt Arena.
I’D LIKE TO COACH A SELECT TEAM. WHO DO I CONTACT?
Volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization. If you’re interested in coaching a select team, contact us.
All select coaches and bench staff must complete a VSC (Vulnerable Sectors Check) and have valid coaching training and accreditation. Depending on the age group you’re coaching, different levels of training are required.
Here are the requirements as outlined by the OHF (Ontario Hockey Federation).
WHAT IS FAIR AND EQUAL ICE TIME?
While select is a competitive stream, our Viking teams support Fair and Equal Ice Time for all players. “Fair and Equal Ice Time” means ensuring that all players get the same opportunity to contribute to the outcome of all games, regardless of skill or ability. A coach’s responsibility is to develop all players to contribute. Shortening of the bench is not permitted. All players should receive fair and as close to equal ice time as possible, including equal opportunities on special teams.