Volunteers needed: Let's Play Hockey Expo

From Antonia O'Brien:

This year at the Let's Play Hockey expo, Minnesota Hockey is giving us designated space at their booth to discuss disabled hockey.  

We need to have people there throughout the expo who can speak to disabled hockey (sled, special and warriors).  I can provide people with the talking points if they are not familiar with other programs other than their own.  

We will have disabled hockey flyers and my business cards, but you are also welcome to bring those of your own.  In addition, they would like to have a sled and some sticks there as visuals and we will play our DVD and psa.

Below is the over all time.  i would like people to take 2 hour shifts, but feel free to take more.  Please e-mail me (tonio@dakcom.org) and let me know what you can commit to.

The booth hours are 10-6 on Friday, March 8 and 10-5 on Saturday, March 9.

Friday shifts:
10a-12noon
12 noon to 2pm
2p-4p
4p-6p

Saturday Shifts:
10a-12 noon
12 noon to 2pm
2p-5p

Free hockey gear at Xcel Energy Center October 6th 9am - noon

I haven't heard that MNSH will be participating as a hockey association. I'll ask on Facebook if there are more details.

The Herb Brooks Foundation

The Minnesota Wild, Let’s Play Hockey and Minnesota Hockey announced a partnership for a fourth annual Used Hockey Equipment Drive. The drive will culminate in a public distribution on Saturday, Oct. 6, at Xcel Energy Center from 9 a.m. to noon.

Sponsors and partners for the program, in alphabetical order, include Berger Transfer, Boehm’s, FOX Sports North, 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, Total Hockey, 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 Thursday, Aug. 23, through Tuesday, Oct. 2. On Saturday, Oct. 6, the equipment will be distributed to hockey associations and individuals at Xcel Energy Center from 9 a.m. to noon. Goalie equipment, as well as sticks and helmets, are in the most need...

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

Open skate and annual meeting Oct 7 2pm

From George Holden:

Our open skate and annual meeting will be Sunday, October 7, 2012 at Mariucci Arena at the University of Minnesota. We will meet at 2:00 in the arena stands for the annual meeting which will last less than 30 minutes.

Following that we'll put on the skates and have open skating until 4:00 PM.

Everyone is welcome to skate but you must be covered by USA hockey insurance or sign a waiver plus you must wear a helmet. No sticks or pucks. We expect Goldy Gopher and the U of M cheerleaders to be there to help us celebrate the opening of our 2012-2013 MN Special Hockey season!!

Registration for the 2012-2013 season is open!

The web site is slightly confusing, but the registration page has everything in one place. The Player registration process has two parts: USA Hockey Registration and then MNSH. Total cost is $160. (HINT: copy paste the player reservation number to a document so you can copy/paste it into the MNSH registration. Saves awkward typing.)

I don't know if/when registration closes. Our skills clinic is Oct 19-21 and registration is required to attend.

There is scholarship money available, but the $50 that USA Hockey and MN Hockey collect is not available for scholarship. You'll see the link for scholarship information after you complete player registration, on the billing page.

New players get a jersey. Returning players can buy a new jersey for $60.

Both the USA Hockey and MNSH registration make it easy to register two or more players. The option to add another player comes up after the first registration is done. When you're done be sure to print your order receipt.

During player registration you'll see medical information and consent to treat forms to print and to hand to coaches

Coaches and volunteers have to register and that includes a background check for adults and completion of a waiver of liability form. (Coaches have to pay $40 to register, volunteers are free but in theory volunteers cannot be on the ice.) (NOTE: As of 9/22 the background check link doesn't work, I've sent a note on to Colleen. I think this is the correct link. Look for the electronic registration link at the top, you don't need the PDF forms. It goes quickly.)

Some key points:

* Colleen Simcoe is our registrar. You can contact her at: colleen@mnspecialhockey.org with questions. Thank you Colleen!

* If you registered last year, most of the information for the fields is retained for this year. Remember to sign on to start the process.

* The completed Medical Information and Consent to Treat forms are to be given to your coach or manager at the first practice.

* USA Hockey requires a credit card to register, USA Hockey fees are $40, MN Hockey fees are $10, for a total of $50.

* Please complete Step 2!!! After you obtain your USA Hockey Confirmation number, you must then register with MN Special Hockey.

* You can pay MN Special Hockey fees by check or credit card, our fees remain $110.

* No player will be allowed on the ice until registered.

* You must be registered to participate in the MN Disabled Hockey Clinic on October 19th - 21st.

* Coaches and Volunteer registration information is also at the above link.

Disabled and special hockey night with Minnesota Wild, September 27 - CANCELED

Updated 9/17/12: EVENT CANCELED DUE TO NHL LOCKOUT. We will try to reschedule.

Please RSVP to Tom Schuneman: Thomas.Schuneman@Michaelfoods.com

Minnesota Special Hockey Players and Families:     As summer ends, the Hockey Season is getting geared up!  One of the highlights of our year is the ability for MN Special Hockey players and families to participate in the MN Disabled Hockey Night at a Wild game in St. Paul.    In addition, this night is also a GREAT fund raising opportunity for MN Special Hockey via our support of program sales. We have several opportunities for MN Special Hockey players and families to participate and volunteer.  All people participating will also get free tickets to this game!

Event Details:

Date:  Thursday September 27^th.  Where:  EXCEL Energy Center, St. Paul, MN. 

What we need:

1.  We are in need of approx. 40 volunteers to sell programs at this event.   We need a combination of players and non-players (including adults!)   Selling programs is a lot of fun.   Once completed, you get to sit down and enjoy the rest of the game!

2.  Once again, MN Special Hockey will be showcased via a short exhibition game to be played in between the 2^nd and 3^rd period.  For this we will need 12 players and 3 coaches.

Next Steps:  Please respond back to me if you can volunteer to help out this event.  Please also note if you are interested in skating (players and coaches) in between periods.   Once all volunteers have been gathered, we will be putting together a list of those that will be skating.  In the event we have more than 12 players wanting to skate, the criteria we will us to select the skaters will be as follows:

1.        If they did not skate at this event last year.

2.       If  they have never skated at this event in prior years

3.       Draw names from a hat.

Last year we were able to accommodate everyone that wanted to skate, so I am hopeful we can do the same again this year.

Please let me know if you can join us for this fun night at the MN Wild!

Tom Schuneman: Thomas.Schuneman@Michaelfoods.com

Disabled Hockey Workshop Orlando Florida Oct 12-13, 2012

There's now a special hockey track in a USA Hockey training program - Orlando Florida Oct 12-13. Workshop is free and room rates are low ($72). Flyer here. Contact Toni with questions: tonio@dakcom.org. I assume there will be one next year too, so if you are interested and can't make next year you could check into the next year schedule.

Special Hockey International 2013 Tournament - Kitchener March 12-16

We've received an announcement about an exciting international tournament next March:

Special Hockey International 2013 Tournament - Kitchener

In Kitchener,Ontario, Canada we are working diligently to plan what we hope will be one of the "The Best Ever" Special Hockey International tournaments. Dates - the 2013 tournament will be held Tuesday March 12 to Saturday March 16, with Sunday March 17 provided as a weekend travel day for those teams that are travelling a distance to participate.

In many of Ontario communities, this is the week of "March break".

Host Team - the host team is the Kitchener Ice Pirates, a Special Hockey International team that is affiliated with Kitchener Minor Hockey Association, the host organization for the 2013 tournament.

Facilities - excellent facilities are reserved for the event, including the main host Kitchener Memorial Auditorium complex that features the Dom Cardillo Rink (home of the Kitchener Rangers of the Canadian Hockey League) that seats in excess of 6,000 people, plus two adjoining ice pads - the Kinsmen and Kiwanis Rinks.

Our secondary facility, to be used as required for scheduling purposes is the Activa Sports Complex that has two ice pads - the Patrick J. Doherty Rink and the KMHA Alumni Association rink.

Sponsors - our Resource Development team is currently recruiting sponsors for the 2013 tournament and announcements will be shared in the near future. Website - our website is being added to periodically and can be viewed at www.shikitchener2013.ca. Please visit it frequently to be kept informed of our progress.

QUESTIONS - if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me for a timely response

John Thompson, chairHost CommitteeSpecial Hockey International2013 Tournament

Kitchener, Ontario, Canada March 12-16, 2013

519-884-4050 sstj99@gmail.com  www.shikitchener2013.ca and facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SHIKitchener2013

Travel to Canada does require some preparation, but we'll talk more about this next year.