Minnesota Special Hockey Albums: 2006 to 2011 including Alexandria Tourney and 2011 Disabled Hockey Festival

This post includes links to the albums that are currently available online, starting with the 2006 Spring pre-season skates.

• 2011 Disabled Hockey Festival April 1-3, 2011 - @280 pictures, Eagles, Wild and teams we played from Opening Ceremonies through Sunday.
• 2011 MNSH Alexandria Tourney
• 2010-2011 Eastern Eagles season album
• 2010-2011 Eastern Eagles team photos
• 2008-2009 Stingers
• 2007-2008 Stingers
• 2006-2007 Stingers
• 2006 Minnesota Special and Sled Hockey: In spring 2006 there was one team and we practiced with sled hockey at Richfield Arena

How to download a full sized version of a photo

You can download a full sized version of any photo. Simply view the photo, then click the download menu item as shown below. If you install the free Windows or Mac (Intel Only) Picasa software you can download an entire album at once.

Open skating events: first one at Braemar arena July 21

We are NOT having a summer clinic due to the lack of participation from the previous years. Instead, we are planning “Open Skating” events at ice rinks around the Metro Area. These will just be very informal get togethers for anyone that wants to show up. The players and parents might want to wear their team colors (jersey, sweatshirt, t-shirt) to identify themselves. The arenas do not allow hockey sticks and pucks in the ice during open skating. It is a place to work on skating skills.

The first event is going to be at Braemar Arena in Edina on Wednesday, July 21st from 5:00 – 6:00.
The fee for open skating is $4.00.

Please see the following link for more information http://www.ci.edina.mn.us/content/facilities/braemar_arena/PDFs/SummerOS.pdf

Any questions? Contact Jane Cashin at jocashin@comcast.net

Please spread the word to any interested participants!

Also, anyone interested in planning one of these events in their area let me know. I will help get the word out!

Hope to see you on the 21st!

USA Hockey Disabled Festival - Blaine, Minn., April 1-3, 2011

The Disabled Hockey Festival is is coming up -- it's less than a year away.

There's a great blog about it, I'll be helping contribute for MN Special Hockey.

You can read more at - USA Hockey Disabled Festival: Everything you need to know about the 7th Annual USA Hockey Disabled Festival in Blaine, Minn., April 1-3, 2011.

Wild 2010 Summer Bash - MNSH will be there

MN SH will be at the June 24 party ...

Wild 2010 Summer Bash - Minnesota Wild | EMail Archives

Join us on Thursday, June 24 for the Minnesota Wild Summer Bash at Mall of America from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

• WCCO Radio live broadcast (6 – 8 p.m.)
• Minnesota Wild Fantasy Broadcast Booth
• Nordy Challenge (Fans of all ages are invited to play an interactive hockey game with Nordy)
• Wells Fargo Booth
• FOX Sports North Booth
• Minnesota Wild Booth
• KSTC Booth
• Player photographs
• Wells Fargo Booth
• Minnesota Hockey / Disabled Hockey Booth
• Minnesota Wild Foundation Booth
• Minnesota Wild Booth
• National Guard Booth
• Player autographs
• Wells Fargo Booth
• Minnesota Wild Booth

Stop by the Wild Booth at the Sears Court and Bloomingdale's Court to register-to-win a player autographed jersey. Visit the Wild Booth in the Best Buy Rotunda to try your luck at the Spin-N-Win wheel and win a prize.

Work side-by-side with Dan Terhaar and Mike Greenly for a chance to interview a Minnesota Wild player at the Fantasy Broadcast Booth. Each participant will receive a free DVD of their performance.

Stop by the Photograph Booth to take your picture with Wid players and alumni. Don't forget to bring your camera!

Mike Max will broadcast live on WCCO-AM from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Wells Fargo supports Cell Phone for Soldiers! Receive a free puck or mug when you donate your used cell phone at any of the Wells Fargo booths. Cell Phone for Soliders will recycle the used cell phone and send a 60-minute phone card to a solider overseas for each phone donated.

Check back for information on when the Wild players, alumni and broadcasters will appear at each station!

All dates, times, locations and guests are subject to change.

Kayla Borman selected as a Fresh Faces in the State of Hockey finalist!

A Polars player will be featured at the 3/23 Wild game ...

Minnesota Wild & Mission Foods Fresh Faces in the State of Hockey

Congratulations to Kayla Borman of the Minnesota Special Hockey Polars Team for being selected as one of the honored players in the Minnesota Wild/Mission Foods Fresh Faces of Hockey contest. Kayla will be honored during the second period of the Minnesota Wild Game on Tuesday March 23, 2010 with a photo montage on the JumboTron, along with a short bio of her on-ice and off-ice accomplishments. 

Coach Chris Winkel will accompany Kayla and her family.

Congratulations to Kayla and her many fans!

Season ending event reminder - Mar 7 2010

Toni Boelter reminds everyone:

Who: All MN Special Hockey Players, Families & Friends
What: MN Special Hockey End of Season Event
When: Sunday, March 7; 3:30 - 5:45 p.m.

Game #1 Eagles vs. Wildcats - 3:30 - 4:15 p.m.
4:15 p.m. Trophy Presentation for Game #1
4:30 p.m. Team Photos (we will take a photo of each team and a photo of the entire program)

Game #2 Polars vs. Stingers - 4:45 - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. Trophy Presentation for Game #2

Where:

Maple Grove Community Center
12951 Weaver Lake Road, Maple Grove
763-494-6500

MN Special Hockey End of Season Event Sun Mar 7

Who: All MN Special Hockey Players, Families & Friends
What: MN Special Hockey End of Season Event
When: Sunday, March 7; 3:30 - 5:45 p.m.

Game #1 Eagles vs. Wildcats - 3:30 - 4:15 p.m.
4:15 p.m. Trophy Presentation for Game #1
4:30 p.m. Team Photos (we will take a photo of each team and a photo of the entire program)

Game #2 Polars vs. Stingers - 4:45 - 5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. Trophy Presentation for Game #2

Where:

Maple Grove Community Center
12951 Weaver Lake Road, Maple Grove
763-494-6500

Questions? Contact your coach or email Susie Miller at
susiemiller35@gmail.com

This year we will not have a pizza party. With 71 players and guests it becomes very challenging!  Join us for great hockey and trophy presentations.

Have a great day!

Susie Miller

Seasons end, Protect the Net and Maryland Tournament

From the desk of Susie Miller …

Protect the Net for Youth Hockey

Tonight MN Special Hockey is the American Family “Protect the Net for Youth Hockey” beneficiary. For every save the Wild goalie makes $10 will be put aside for our program. While I hope the Wild win, I hope the Oilers get a lot of shots and I hope that Josh Harding steps up and makes the saves for MN Special Hockey.

Maryland

We are close to having enough players attend. Bus would be about $175 per person. Hotel $119 per night (3 nights).

We would provide $250 per player towards the trip (between special hockey and mn hockey).

The bus would transport us while we there, we could do a Cherry Blossom Tour, or other exciting events throughout Maryland. We are planning to host the tournament in Blaine in 2011, it would be great if we could send a team out there before! Please contact Susie at susiemiller35@gmail.com with any questions.

Additional thoughts form Susie Miller

We are entering the final months of our season, I have a few thoughts for those newer players who have not been with us the whole time. The 2009-2010 season is only our 4th Season as an association. In the past 4 years we have come a long way.

Administrative: Created teams including logos/jerseys, schedules, secured ice (which was one of our biggest challenges in the beginning).

Marketing: We are on the radar of most News stations (local cable and statewide). We have received publicity in the Star Tribune, many articles in Lets Play Hockey, and also a few local newspapers. We have been receiving more and more referrals from Special Education teachers and departments.

Fundraising: MN Special Hockey has developed amazing partnerships with a few incredible organizations that have helped us raise enough money to provide some security to the future of our program. As well as allow us to continue to offer our program without raising fees since our start up.

Relationships: We now have a relationship with MN Hockey and USA Hockey. MN Hockey has helped us create a relationship with the MN Wild, which in turn has helped us in fundraising and more fame as a program.

We are headed in the right direction, but still have a long way to go. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we experience growing pains and develop the program we know will be successful.

Volunteers needed: Let’s Play Hockey Expo March 12 and 13

We will need help at the MN Hockey booth at the Let’s Play Hockey Expo (part of the boys high school state tournament) on March 12 & 13. Please contact Toni Boelter (tboelter@minnesotahockey.org) if you are able to help out either of these days.

Volunteers needed: Prairie Island (2/20) and Family Fun Day (2/20)

February 20 we have two events that we need volunteers:

Prairie Island (Feb 20)

See the flyer for the Skate at Prairie Island.

This season they presented MN Hockey – Disabled Hockey Section a check for $10,000. We will be receiving some of these funds in grant form. They would like us to come down and skate at their arena. Our skate time is 4:30 – 5:15 p.m. W

hile this should be a fun event for your skater it is also a great time for us to say thank you and show Prairie Island exactly where their money is going and how it benefits us! If you are able to help with this event please contact Toni at: tboelter@minnesotahockey.org

Gillete Childrens Family Fun Day (Feb 20)

Gillette Childrens’ is hosting a family fun day at Buck Hill, they are looking for organizations to come and promote winter sports to their attendees. The time we would need to be there is 1-3 pm (on our way down to Prairie IslandJ). If you are able to help with this event please contact me at susiemiller35@gmail.com

Hockey for all – Yahoo Sports article about a New Jersey initiative …

Published Jan 26, 2010 in a Yahoo Sports blog. It covers both Disabled and Special hockey (emphases mine) and references the EveryBODY skates organization …

Hitting 54 rinks in 54 hours, for one great hockey cause - Puck Daddy - NHL Blog - Yahoo! Sports

Josh Pauls, 17, is a bi-lateral amputee from South Plainfield, NJ, whose legs were surgically removed at 10 months old. He's also a heck of a hockey player.

Pauls is a sled hockey player for the Woodbridge Spinal Rangers, and has been a member of the U.S. Junior National Sled Hockey Team (2007-2009) before earning a promotion to the U.S. Men's Paralympic Team that will compete in the Paralympics in Vancouver next month. He's also a member of EveryBODY Skates New Jersey (ESNJ) -- an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for more athletes like Josh to break through barriers and experience the incomparable thrill of competitive hockey.

"People just think of sled hockey, and there are 300 other disciplines," said Jon Schwartz, who along with brother Andrew coaches and leads the ESNJ campaign. "Because hockey has so much stimulus, it helps. Especially with autistic kids."

On Friday, Jan. 29, as part of Hockey Weekend in America, EveryBODY Skates New Jersey will begin an ambitious journey through the Garden State: Visiting all 54 New Jersey ice rinks in 54 hours. The goal is to help convince those rink owners and operators that allocating just one hour of ice time per week to disabled hockey can make an enormous difference for this fledgling program and thousands of potential players across the state.

"We're going about 1,370 miles to prove a point," said Schwartz. "That hockey is the ultimate occupational therapy for people with disabilities."

The notion of "disabled hockey" is usually limited to sled hockey (or sledge hockey), which is played around the globe. (And even results in a fight or two sometimes, as we learned last year.)

But Schwartz said that notion ignores hockey for the deaf, for example, and hockey for players with developmental disabilities.

An obvious question: What does Autistic hockey look like?

"It's a little scary for parents to put a weapon in the hands of a kid who has Autism and put them out on a slippery surface," said Schwartz. "But I think it looks beautiful. There's no icing or off-sides. We just go. The scoreboard is like a nice decoration."

He said hockey is used to stimulate as well as inspire. Goals are arranged for young players to easily score. Eight-year-olds battle adults for face-offs. "Can you imagine at 16 years old getting your first [athletic] jersey?" Schwartz asked.

There are clear benefits to disabled hockey, and Schwartz said there academic studies underway to confirm them. The obstacle facing EveryBODY Skates New Jersey and other programs like it is the same obstacle facing so many other community hockey organizations throughout the U.S.: a little thing called "available ice time."

New Jersey's 54 rinks give preference to established travel teams and high-school hockey programs. They're businesses, so that's understandable; the challenge for ESNJ is convince some of them that, if given the opportunity, disables hockey programs won't simply be charitable ventures and will pay for themselves.

"Most rinks don't realize that disabled hockey programs can pay their own way. They just need a chance to access some ice time and gain some support from the community," said Schwartz. "We have a community in New Jersey that can mobilize its forces very well. If word spreads that Rink X is holding time for disabled hockey. If you build it, they will come."

This weekend, the word spreads over 54 hours. Among the group touring the state will be U.S. Paralympians Tim Jones and Josh Pauls; U.S. Amputee team member Joe Bowser and two U.S. Deaf Olympians, along with Schwartz and others. The trip begins at the NHL Store in Manhattan at 10 a.m. on Friday, with NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and ESPN's EJ Hradek scheduled to attend. (Schwartz said 20-percent of store sales that morning will be donated to ESNJ.)

The final rink of the trip will be the Prudential Center in Newark on Jan. 31, where the ESNJ athletes will be honored before the New Jersey Devils take on the Los Angeles Kings.

ESNJ has a petition on its Web site to drum up support for the cause; there's also a complete schedule of their stops during the 54-rink trek (pdf).  "Some stops might be a quick in and out," said Schwartz.

The transformative power of competitive sports is always a compelling subject. So is the battle of available sheets of ice for a growing program, which is something I experienced while covering the birth of a high-school hockey league in Northern Virginia, driving home from covering games until 12:30 a.m. on a Friday night.

Hockey is for everyone, or at least it should be; and whether it's EveryBODY Skates New Jersey or a program in your community, it's important to recognize the efforts of those who are trying to bring the Game to those it can inspire and encourage. Here's to safe and effective 54 hours in Jersey.

Maryland tournament update: Contact Susie before Jan 31.

Update on Maryland Special Hockey tournament from Susie Miller:

MN Special Hockey is planning to send a team to Maryland. If we can get 40 people who would like to charter a coach bus we could provide transportation for less than $175 per person. The bus would leave Wednesday evening, April 7 and leave immediately following the activities in Maryland on Sunday, April 11.

Both ways the bus would travel through the night for ease of transportation. We would have 2 bus drivers to make sure it is a safe trip. The chartered bus would also provide our transportation around Maryland. We have rooms booked at SHERATON HOTEL COLUMBIA Rate is $119.00/Night + tax.

MN Special Hockey will give players $100 and MN Hockey – Disabled Hockey section will give $150 per skater. So $250 will be given towards the trip.

Please let me know by Sunday, January 31 (susiemiller35@gmail.com) if your skater is planning to go to the tournament (please let me know even if you have expressed an interest in the past), and if you would ride the chartered bus if we were able to have enough people interested.

Any specific questions please email me or call me at 612-325-3392.

Apparel forms for 2010 - including wildcats

You can download and print the 2010 Apparel order form. Players should send in the form to Jane Cashin no later than February 8th.

Exhibition skate in Red Wing - Feb 20th

Toni Boelter writes:

We will be holding an exhibition skate at Treasure Island in Red Wing on Feb 20th.

Special hockey will skate first. I need to know what players will be there and what coaches can attend. After that the adult sled team will take on the adult sled team from Chicago.

Treasure Island is holding a block of rooms for us if you would like to stay and celebrate after the games. Just follow the directions on the flyer. Please let me know if you have any questions!! This will be a great way to say thank you to Prairie Island for supporting Disabled Hockey in Minnesota.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to put the flyer online due to a Google bug. Toni and coaches should have the information.

Photos from open skate - Fourth season

Jane has provided some photos from the open skate event.

They're in an online album: Minnesota Special Hockey 2009-2010.

The album password is the same as all our previous albums: mnhockey.

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WCCO story on Eagles and Augsburg

From our active Facebook page comes a link to a story from WCCO ...

Giving Everyone The Opportunity To Play Hockey - wcco.com

Minnesota is known as the "State of Hockey" so a special organization is proving hockey is for everyone in the state.

Minnesota Special Hockey launched four years ago. Now there are four teams in the metro area.

If you ever need a pick-me up, check out the Woodbury Eagles. You can't help but feel good watching these athletes play their hearts out.

"I love playing it," exclaimed 11-year-old player Grant Jobe.

Each player is unique. Some skate and some are pushed by others. They range in age from five to over 40 year old. They all have developmental disabilities and they all love hockey.

"To me, it doesn't matter. Hockey is hockey. If you want to go out there and work the puck around, go for the net, that's what it's about," said Jill Pohtilla, Augsburg Women's Hockey Coach.

For the first time, the Augsburg College Women's Hockey Team hosted the Eagles. The college athletes offered pointers and played side-by-side with the special team members.

"It reminds you of how much fun it is and why we started playing and how awesome it is that anyone can play," said Augsburg player Toni Menth.

Being included has meant the world to Grant and his family.

"He would be sitting on the bench pretty much most of the time if he was playing with a regular hockey team. This way he gets to play a lot," said Grant's mother Jennifer Jobe.

The Eagles are improving their skills, but this league is about much more than the game. Coach Joe Kelly described a moment he'll never forget. When one of his athletes, nicknamed "Bomber", made a goal for the first time.

"When Bomber got back to the box, he started crying and that meant more to me than anything I've ever seen here. That's what this brings to these athletes. It's a chance for them to achieve some stuff that they've never achieved before," Kelly said.

Minnesota Special Hockey on Facebook

Minnesota Special Hockey has a Facebook Page. It's a good reason to join FB, the page has several announcements and I expect we'll see some photos there as well.

Registration for 2009-2010 season is underway

See the registration page for information.

Fox news story on disabled hockey to run Oct 14

The Fox Sports North piece on Disabled Hockey will run during Qwest Wild Live before the Wild vs Ducks game on Wed, Oct. 14^th. The Qwest Wild Live will start that night at 8:30 PM.

Disabled Hockey Night with the Minnesota Wild - September 24th

The growth of Disabled Hockey in Minnesota has been quite significant the past few years. Several Minnesotans have been able to play hockey because of the efforts of the many volunteers that make Special, Sled, and Stand-up Amputee hockey happen. In spite of everyone’s efforts, there are still many people that could benefit (or know someone that could benefit) from playing Disabled Hockey that aren’t aware of it’s existence.

To help increase awareness for Disabled Hockey, the first ever Disabled Hockey Night with the Minnesota Wild will occur on Thursday, September 24th when the Wild host the St. Louis Blues in a preseason game. Highlights include:

• Disabled Hockey participants and families will sell game programs before the game and will share in the proceeds of the program sales.
• Luke Schmitz, veteran of the war in Iraq and member of the Minnesota Sled team, will skate the State of Hockey flag to center ice as the Wild and Blues take the ice.
• One representative each from Special, Sled, and Stand-Up Amputee will all say Let’s Play Hockey” together to start the game.
• First intermission – 12 Special /Stand Up Amputee players will play a 3 minute game on the ice. While this is occurring a promotional disabled hockey video will air on the scoreboard. Immediately after the Special Hockey game, Section 108 will make a ceremonial check presentation to Special Hockey. Section 108 is a collection of Wild season ticket holders that sit in section 108 – each year they host a golf tournament and donate proceeds to Special Hockey.
• Second intermission – 10 Sled players will play a 3 minute game on the ice. The same video will play on the scoreboard during the game.
• Concourse booth – Disabled Hockey will have a booth set up in the concourse during the game. The booth will be staffed by Disabled Hockey players/families and will feature the National Championship trophy won by the Minnesota Sled team.
• Public Address announcements – Multiple times during the game, the Wild announcer will read Disabled Hockey promotional announcements and direct people to the concourse booth or minnesotahockey.org if they want to learn more.
• Other exposure includes: disabled hockey story on wild.com, radio interviews during the broadcast, etc.
• The Wild will be donating several tickets for the participants. They will also be offering a discounted ticket offer for the others that want to attend with a portion of that money donated back to Disabled Hockey.

The exact ticket offer will emailed soon. When you receive it, please forward this offer on to as many people as possible. It would be great to have a large turnout of Minnesota Hockey supporters showing their support for the Disabled Hockey players!