The USA Hockey Disabled Festival blog is live

The USA Hockey Disabled Festival blog is live! We're all looking forward to April 2011 in Blaine.

I'm going to add a widget for it so you'll see updates on our blog page.

You can subscribe to our calendar

The MN Special Hockey web site has a calendar that you can subscribe to. That means you can view along with your own calendar on some phones (iPhone, Android) and with some calendar software (OS X iCal, Google Calendar, Outlook 2010).

Just use this Calendar address with the "add calendar" feature of your software:

webcal://www.mnspecialhockey.org/ical_feed?tags=196799

The right side of this news page also shows an agenda view of official calendar. You can click on the icon (+Google Calendar) to add it to your Google Calendar view. 

Used equipment drive - Distribution Oct 10 at Xcel Energy Center from 1-4pm

This is not limited to Special Hockey, but it is open to us. It's also a good way to donate old equipment. I don't know if the donations are tax deductible.

--

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Minnesota Wild, Let’s Play Hockey and Minnesota Hockey today announced a partnership for its second annual used hockey equipment drive. The drive will culminate in a public distribution on Sunday, Oct. 10, at Xcel Energy Center from 1-4 p.m.

    Sponsors and partners for the program, in alphabetical order, include Berger Transfer, Boehm’s, FOX Sports North, the Herb Brooks Foundation, Let’s Play Hockey, Minnesota Girls Hockey Coaches Association, Minnesota High School Hockey Coaches Association, Minnesota Hockey, Minnesota Ice Arena Managers Association, Minnesota Wild, Upper Midwest High School Elite Hockey League and Westwood Sports.

    Berger Transfer will place drop-off boxes throughout the Twin Cities at select arenas and hockey shops, beginning Friday, Sept. 17, through Wednesday, Oct. 6. On Sunday, Oct. 10, the equipment will be distributed to hockey associations and individuals at Xcel Energy Center from 1-4 p.m. Goalie equipment, as well as sticks and helmets, are in the most need....

    ... The drop-off locations include the following arenas: Burnsville, Woodbury, Super Rink (Blaine), Eden Prairie, Plymouth, Lakeville, Bloomington, Eagan, Highland (St. Paul), St. Thomas (Mendota Heights), Stillwater, Cottage Grove, Maple Grove, Apple Valley, White Bear Lake, Braemar (Edina), Buffalo, North St. Paul, Tartan (Oakdale) and Minnetonka. Westwood Sports (Bloomington and Apple Valley) and Boehm’s (Mendota Heights and St. Paul) are also drop-off locations.

    In addition, Xcel Energy Center will have drop-off boxes stationed on top of the Xcel Energy Center Box Office for the Wild’s pre-season game on Thursday, Sept. 22. Fans bringing in a piece of equipment on Sept. 22 will receive a discount voucher for any Wild 2010-2011 regular season home game. Vouchers must be redeemed in person at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office.

    The Upper Midwest High School Elite Hockey League will donate used gear to the drive. Boehm’s hockey shop in St. Paul and Mendota Heights will be offering discounted cleaning coupons.

    For more information, please contact Doug Johnson of Let’s Play Hockey at (612) 729-0023.

Open Ice times September 2010

The times in bold have a commitment from a MN Special Hockey representative (a coach and/or board member)
via Jane Cashin

Bielenberg

http://www.ci.woodbury.mn.us/parks/bsccalia0910.html

Sunday 9/19, 2:30 – 3:50 – Joe Kelly and Mark Lindeberg

Sunday 9/26, 2:30 – 3:50

Schwans

http://www.nscsports.org/facilities/superrink/pdf/sr_open_sched.pdf

Saturday 9/25, 12:30 – 2:40

Sunday 9/26, 5:30 – 7:00

Braemar

http://www.ci.edina.mn.us/PDFs/FallOS.pdf

Saturday 9/18, 1:45 – 3:15

Sunday 9/19, 8:30 – 10:30 am

Sunday 9/19, 2:15 – 3:45

Saturday 9/25, 1:45 – 3:15

Sunday 9/26, 8:30 – 10:30 am

Sunday 9/26, 2:15 – 3:45 – George Holden

Rogers

http://www.ci.rogers.mn.us/rac/OpenSkate/ES_Default.htm

Wednesday 9/15, 6:00 – 7:15

Sunday 9/19, 4:00 – 5:30 – Tom Schuneman

Wednesday 9/22, 6:00 – 7:15

Sunday 9/26, 4:00 – 5:30

Wednesday 9/29, 6:00 – 7:15

Plymouth

http://icecenter.ci.plymouth.mn.us/Open%20Skate/ES_Default.htm

Friday 9/17, 5:15 – 6:45

Friday, 9/24, 7:15 – 8:45

Saturday 9/25, 1:00 – 3:00

Richfield

http://www.cityofrichfield.org/Recreation/Arena/publicskating/ES_Default.htm

Wednesday, 9/15, 6:30 – 8:00 – Sean Slattery (Stingers) will be there!  Sam and I might be there too.

Wednesday, 9/22, 6:30 – 8:00

Wednesday, 9/29, 6:30 – 8:00

Registration for the 2010 - 2011 Season is open

2010 - 2011 Registration is now open. There's a new team in the New Hope area -- the Raptors

...The Raptors are a new team this year, their home ice is in New Hope. Please consider becoming part of this team, they are looking for new and existing special hockey players.

Oct 31 is a first registration deadline. Players registering after Oct 31 can't join a team with full roster, but we expect the Raptors will have room throughout the season.

Volunteers are also welcome to register now!

Minnesota Special Hockey: new web site operational

The new Minnesota Special Hockey site is now fully open. Jane Cashin is maintaining the site as well as coaching the Stingers (go Jane!). Jane is also managing the domain mnspecialhockey.org.

We're planning to make this blog a part of the site, we're still finishing up that process.

Calvin Rogers of the Eagles died Aug 30, 2010, funeral services September 8

Calvin played for the Eagles.

Toni O'Brien:

It is with great sadness that I write to you all to let you know that Calvin R., a player with the Minnesota Special Hockey Eagles team, passed away peacefully on Monday evening. Calvin had continued to struggle with his health this summer and in the end had made the decision to end treatments. he was surrounded by family and friends when he decided to leave us. 

As soon as I get any more information regarding services I will pass that on to you all. Calvin really loved hockey and especially all of the new friends he made over the past 4 years. Thank you to everyone for all that you do and please keep his family in your prayers this week.

Laura Porras, Program Coordinator, Carmen Lane

I am very saddened to inform you that Calvin Rogers, who lived at Carmen Lane, passed away on Monday, August 30th. He was surrounded by loved ones. Calvin had an incredible spirit and exemplified kindness, humor and perserverence throughout his life. He will be greatly missed by many.

Funeral services for Calvin will be held on Wednesday, September 8th at the Washburn McReavy Funeral Home at 1600 Lowry Avenue North, Minneapolis. His wake will be from 11am-Noon on Wednesday and the funeral will begin at 12pm. Burial will immediately follow at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.