Saturday, September 24, 2011

New teams: Alexandria and Burnsville

Yay!

Minnesota Special Hockey

...We are adding 2 new teams! Alexandria is home to the Muskies and Burnsville will be home to the Rams.

If you are interested in registering for the program please contact President Jane Cashin at jane@mnspecialhockey.org or call 612-581-4483....

 

Friday, September 16, 2011

MN Special Hockey Registration is now open!

Minnesota Special Hockey Registration is now open!

For more about MNSH please see our web site or visit our Facebook Page. We have players of all ages, sizes and genders. We have players with all ranges of cognitive disabilities, from ADHD and Aspergers through the autism spectrum to players with limited language ability. We have players who sit in chairs, players who can't skate (many learn!), and players who have played mainstream hockey competitively. We have players who always loved hockey, and players who followed their siblings.

There's help available for low income players. The time demands are limited -- typically 2 hours a week of game/practice. There are no volunteer commitments required.

Players:

Please follow the instructions on our website to complete the registration: http://www.mnspecialhockey.org/page/show/224315-2010-2011-registration-instructions

If you are unable to print your forms during registration, they can be found at: http://www.mnspecialhockey.org/page/show/348704-forms

Coaches and Volunteers over 18 years old:

Follow the instruction at the link above under the Coaches and Volunteers Registration.

  1. Must register with USA Hockey (free for volunteers) if not already registered with another organization.
  2. Then go to the MN Hockey link to complete a background check form. * Enter "Special" for Hockey Association name. * Enter "0" for MH District.
  3. Then email your USA Hockey Confirmation number to Jane Cashin at jocashin@comcast.net

 

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Minnesota Hockey Recreational League for some MNSH players

The MN Hockey Rec League may be of interest to some younger MNSH players. It's a non-checking co-ed league with two age brackets.

I'm planning to try my son Tim F this year in addition to his MNSH participation. Coaches Bill Thielbar and Tom Illg from MNSH have also coached in the Rec league. It's not an adaptive league, but it is open to players of varying abilities.

The Rec League site provides some details:

  • 12 combined games/practices from Dec - Mid March
  • The cost of the 2011-12 Rec League season will be $290.
  • There will be two age classifications: 15U and 12U.  Both age classification will be co-ed and no-check.
  • There will be one(1) game per week, almost always on a Saturday or Sunday (never on Sunday mornings).  There will also be a handful of practices and/or 90-minute game sessions.  For 90 minute game sessions, the first 20-25 minutes will be a shared practice for both
  • Pre Season Skills Clinic
  • Target one event per week typically on Saturday
  • 90 minute ice slots
  • Two referees in the upper age groups
  • All games played at Twin Cities area arenas
  • Centralized location in your Metro area (SW, NE, NW, SE)
  • Team Jersey to keep
  • Sign up as an individual or a team
  • Both leagues are no-checking and co-ed
  • Year End Celebration
Registration is through MN Hockey, it concludes in mid-October.

The official web site is pretty poorly organized, but I did find a phone number: "if you have questions about the MN Hockey Recreation League, contact Mike Snee at 651-602-5727.". I think this league is better at hockey than at web pages!

Monday, September 05, 2011

The 2011-2012 Season is starting - Open Skate Oct 16, Fund raising

The 2012 season is starting, and events are being added to the official MNSH calendar. The list includes an event this week and a few in weeks to come. As in past seasons news will be posted here; Facebook members should be sure to "like" the Minnesota Special Hockey Facebook page.

First up is the Hendrickson Foundation Inaugural Fundraiser Friday 9/9 in Lakeville:

Minnesota Disabled Hockey has a great new opportunity for our organization to help raise funds for all our programs. The Hendrickson family (Darby Hendrickson and his father Larry) have formed a foundation with the primary purpose being to support Minnesota Disabled Hockey. They will be hosting their first fundraising event on Friday, September 9 .

It is a golf tournament at Crystal Lake Golf Club in Lakeville, MN.The Hendrickson Foundation has asked us to help support the tournament by passing on the attached flyer to any friends and family who would be interested in playing in the event.  In addition, if you have any contacts who would be interested in sponsoring the event or providing silent auction items please share the attached sponsor letter with them.

Please contact Suzy Lindeberg, MN Special Hockey Board Member, if you have any questions regarding the event at slindeberg@comcast.net. Please help to support the Hendrickson Family Foundation raise funds for Minnesota Disabled Hockey.  This is a huge new opportunity for our programs! Thank you.

On September 30th we will have Disabled Hockey Night at the Wild game -- a fun time and a way to raise money for Special Hockey by selling programs. There will be skating between periods.

The season really starts with an Open Skate at Mariucci arena on October 16th. We should also be getting registration information in the next 2-3 weeks.

More information to come as we get closer to the Wild game ...