2026 Annual Meeting

Name 

Samantha Kienholz

Email

samantha.schwan@hotmail.com

Phone Number

701-570-7055

Are you a current MCHC member?

Yes

Do you have children in MCHC?

Yes

If yes, What age groups 

Learn to skate/Learn to Play

How many years have you been involved with MCHC?

1 year as coach, 1 year as coach/parent

Short Bio 

My name is Samantha Kienholz, and I am a proud Watford City native, wife, and mother of two. Our son, Kooper, currently plays at the LTS level, where I also assist with coaching and our daughter, Kendall, is eagerly waiting her turn to join us on the ice! Having played for the Oilers from 2004-2011, this program holds a special piece of my heart. I understand firsthand the lasting impact youth hockey can have on young athletes through teamwork, discipline, and confidence.

Professionally, I serve as a Purchasing Agent for RTC Networks. My role requires strong organization, attention to detail, collaboration, and clear communication. I believe these skills are foundational to any successful organization.

My goal is to help make this club the very best organization to play for and be a part of – one that develops not only skilled players, but confident, and respectful individuals on and off the ice.

Why are you running for MCHC Board of Directors?

This program played a significant role in shaping who I am today. The friendships, memories, and life lessons I gained through youth hockey are things I still cherish. It would be such a privilege to give back to a program that gave so much to me and to help create the same positive experience for this next generation of players.

What other boards or committee are you on ?

N/A

Please highlight one specific topic related to he MCHC program that you are passionate about strengthening or making better 

I am especially passionate about the coaching and development side of our program. I believe youth sports play a critical role in preparing kids for real-world interactions – teaching accountability, respect, teamwork, communication, and resilience, ensuring our players are coached in a way that develops not only their skills on the ice, but also their character off the ice.

I also believe strong, consistent communication between the board and our coaches is essential. Coaches should feel supported, valued, and equipped with resources, material, and knowledge needed to guide our players effectively. By strengthening that line of communication and support, we can create a positive, development-focused environment for everyone involved.

Name 

Kris Johnsrud

Email

kdongsrud@hotmail.com

Phone Number

701-770-3422

Are you a current MCHC member?

Yes

Do you have children in MCHC?

Yes

If yes, What age groups 

8U

Squirts

How many years have you been involved with MCHC?

20

Short Bio 

I was born and raised in Watford City and played hockey from an early age until I graduated. During that time, I got to see the transition from playing outdoor hockey to our first indoor building at the old fairgrounds. As I was going to college, I stayed connected to hockey working at the VFW arena in Bismarck in which I got to be a part of all age levels of hockey and Bobcat hockey games. Since that time, I have been working in the gas processing operations for 22 years and currently have 15 years with ONEOK, which is 10 years in management.

Why are you running for MCHC Board of Directors 

I would like to be a part of building a culture for the long-term success of the club. The Vision and Standards should be clearly defined by the board and everyone held accountable to that, along with each committee with clear Roles, Responsibilities and Expectations so we are structured and organized. Along with that we need to have better communication to all club members on a continued basis to keep them informed and up to date, setup a system that informs people of the basics in hockey as this is important for new families to the club from equipment to understanding the game, Allow people to bring ideas no matter who you are so we can make the best decisions for the club, Support our Hockey Director set a clear alignment that supports a good working relationship, High focus on recruitment to continue to grow our club, Setup a recognition/nomination program to show respect for people that help out in our club along with highlighting kids in our club for achievements not only in hockey but other accomplish

What other boards or committee are you on  

None

Please highlight one specific topic related to he MCHC program that you are passionate about strengthening or making better 

The Culture. Improved communication, be open minded by allowing respectful challenges and find common ground to help make the whole club successful for the kids.