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Saskatoon Redwings Newsletter - February 2003
Contents Commissioner's Comments (back) The 2002-2003 hockey season is quickly coming to an end. Provincial and City playoffs are now under way. I want to congratulate all of the young men and women who wore the Redwing colours this season. From what I saw at the rink, win or lose, you always made us proud. I hope that you will take with you many memorable hockey moments and new friendships from this season. This season the Redwings registered just over 800 boys and girls to play minor hockey on 48 teams. That's approximately 25% of all those who registered to play hockey (excluding the Comets) and 30% more than the next largest Zone. Obviously our Zone could not function without a significant number of volunteers who give enthusiastically of their valuable time to ensure that there is Redwing hockey for our children. To all the coaches, assistant coaches, managers, timekeepers, scorekeepers, members of the tournament committee and members of the executive I offer my heartfelt gratitude. Evaluation forms for players and parents are now being distributed. This is an opportunity for players and parents to express their opinions regarding the operation of their respective teams. They are an important source of information for feedback to coaches and in providing information to the coaches selection committee when they are selecting coaches for next season. The Annual General Meeting is also an important avenue for the Zone to receive feedback. In addition to reports and elections there is also an opportunity to express your opinion on a given topic. It is also an opportunity to let your name stand for the respective position the come open on the Executive. This marks my second year, and end of my term, as your Zone Commissioner. It has truly been an honour to work with the many fine, energetic and conscientious people that comprise the Zone G Executive. It has been a privilege for me to represent Zone G interests at the board of the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association. Again, these are hardworking people dedicated to ensuring that our hockey programs, in Saskatoon, are the best anywhere in the country. We in the Redwing Zone have much to be proud of. We have excellent people working towards providing the opportunity for our boys and girls to play the game of hockey. See you at the rink! Assistant Commissioner's Report (back) Here we are at the end of January, can you believe the season is 2/3rd's over? Playoffs are starting soon for the older level teams and the tournaments are in full swing for the younger players. Since tryouts I have heard from a few parents on how the Zone should be organized, how to pick teams and how to select coaches. This is the time of year when people should decide to let their names stand as an executive member. There will be positions open so now is the time to get involved. The Redwing Zone is UNDER REPRESENTED on the SMHA Executive so decisions are being made without us having a strong voice on matters such as rezoning. Coaches Evaluation are being circulated and this is the best forum for parents to help the Coaches Selection Committee. Your response will help decide on the 2003-2004 coaches for your child. All we ask for is an honest and open evaluation of the coaching staff: REMEMBER they are volunteers! The COACH has the most important role in all of minor hockey. The influence of the coach on young players has an immediate impact on whether the experience is positive or negative. As a coach, your responsibility is to help make the minor hockey experience a positive one for ALL kids. The key to accomplish this is to make each player on the team feel valued and treated as an equal to the rest of the team. There is NO room in minor hockey for favoritism and the worst example for favoritism is shortening the bench. Coaches that play equal ice time for all players demonstrate courage and class. They are the true leaders and innovators in minor hockey. The critical levels for coaching in minor hockey are Initiation, Novice and Atom. Coaches have the responsibility to get kids off to a good start in their hockey experience, not just from the stand point of equal ice time, but to develop the basic skills needed to reach their potential. At this time I would like to thank all the Coaches, Ass't Coaches and Managers for their time and dedication to our children's development in hockey. THANKYOU!!! We as a zone need to keep developing Goalies in all levels. This is why the zone has purchased goaltender instruction at Goal-Tech. If you have a player that is interested in playing goal, contact your team manager or coach for more details. The Redwing Zone will provide most of the equipment for the younger levels. Throughout the years I have met some wonderful people and I have always been proud to be a REDWING. I believe minor hockey provides parents and players an excellent opportunity to have fun and create lifelong friendships. I have one boy winding down his minor hockey career and fortunate to have another one starting. To all the Players and Parents that are finished with Zone hockey THANKYOU!! You will truly be missed. And to the Players and Parents that are just starting, ENJOY, it will be the best times and most fun of your lives… Respectfully submitted, Kevin Wilhelm Non-Contact Coordinator Report (back) This year there are Redwings Non-Contact teams in PeeWee and Bantam. The players in the Midget Division formed a team with the Raiders. There is no Senior Non-Contact because of low registration numbers in the city. Thank you to all coaches involved for your hard work. Happy New Year to all, and best of luck in the second half of the season! Sincerely, Iris Rugg, Coordinator Hockey
Draft Coordinator Report (back) The Zone G Redwings Hockey Draft is once again in full swing. Proceeds from the Draft are returned directly to help offset the costs of pre-season ice, coaches' clinics, and special hockey camps for the players. This year's sales of Red and Black Drafts are in excess of 3100 entries. Entrants will by now have received confirmation of their team picks. Be sure to check your team picks and report any errors by writing to: Zone G Hockey Association An update will follow in January. Be sure to also keep an eye on the bi-weekly updates in the Star Phoenix and on the Redwings website beginning in January 2003. The winners of $15,000.00 in prize money for the 2001-02 draft whose names appeared in the May 5th Saskatoon Sun are listed here. No doubt you will recognize some of the names of these winners as some of them are Redwing parents. Good Luck to everyone in this year's draft. And thanks for supporting minor hockey in our Zone. Jim Rugg Fundraising Chairperson Report (back) Hockey season is almost over and all team funds should be in to your managers. Managers are volunteers that take on a large responsibility for the betterment of the team so that your children can have a great season. We ask that you do your share of fundraising and be sure your monetary responsibility to the team is met. Team budgets were due Dec.31; many are still not in. Your yearend financial statement is due April 30/03. Mail to E. Senga, 418 McKercher Dr., Saskatoon, Sk., S7H 3W5. Bingos for next year are jeopardized if we do not receive these. The Redwing Ice-Breaker Dance suffered a loss this year due to a lack of interest and will be cancelled next year if early ticket sales are not higher. It is usually held the first weekend in November. Sock sales were fantastic. Thank you to all. We apologize to those who missed out. We will up the inventory for next fall. Talkmail was slow to start as SaskTel deleted all our lists and it took a while to re set up. There are still many families not hooked up and we urge you to express link at no cost, so that you can receive all Redwing zone messages. Be sure the phone number listed on your registration form is correct. If parents have different phone numbers and both need to be hooked up, make a bold note on your registration form so Jeff and I can accommodate you. I hope this season has been a positive experience for you and your child. I look forward to seeing everyone at the Annual General Meeting in April; this is your opportunity to step up and volunteer or make your voice heard in the Redwing Zone. Elaine Senga Initiation (Pre-Novice) Coordinator Report (back) This year, we have six Pre-Novice teams, three in the beginner and three in the advanced, with team sizes averaging around 16-17 players per team. Since initial registration, we have had four new players join teams. The Team Names and their respective Head Coaches are as follows: Pre-Novice (Beginner) Pre-Novice (Advanced) I want to thank the Head Coaches for taking their responsibilities so seriously. It isn't easy being a Head Coach in hockey any more. Clinics (Initiation, Harassment, Safety, etc.) are necessary and beneficial to all; however, they still take your Head Coach away from the game as well as his family. I have had the opportunity to watch a few practices and games. I have to say that I am very impressed with our little hockey players. I am just as impressed with our hockey moms and dads. It is so refreshing watching pre-novice hockey - the crowds are big and the atmosphere is one of excitement, laughs, and great big hugs for the players after they leave the ice. You come away from the rink with nothing but positives of the game. Keep up the great work. You make my job easy as a result. R.B. (Rob) Kelln Atom Coordinator Report (back) Our season is well underway and many things have already happened. First I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped through try-outs with the various jobs that had to be done. Only through your efforts is hockey for the number of boys and girls in our Zone possible. We have 11 teams in Atom this year, 3 Senior, 3 Intermediate, 3 Junior and 2 Rec. teams. There are 146 boys and girls registered in tiered hockey and 32 boys registered in the Rec. program. To the many Coaches, Managers, Asst. Coaches and multitude of parents working hard to make this season a success for all the Redwing boys and girls I thank-you and congratulate all of you for your efforts. There have been many successes for our Redwing teams at all levels, which are too numerous to mention in this article. I wish further successes to all our Redwing teams and hope everyone has a great second half to their seasons. Kirk Sinclair Novice Coordinator Report (back) The novice program is alive and well with 134 players registered this year. Our zone consists of 9-leveled teams, 3 senior, 3 intermediate and 3 junior. Currently, our novice zone program is operating smoothly with no notable problems. The age change and leveling system from past years has had positive responses from our zone and all the other zones. Congratulations to all Novice players for continuing their efforts in displaying hard work, dedication and excellent sportsmanship. I feel very fortunate to coordinate such a fine group of young hockey players. We would not have any program with out the commitment of 9 coaches and mangers. This is a very demanding position these days with all the certification and programs to attend. I believe we have excellent coaches and mangers in place, so be supportive of their time they spend. In closing, I wish all Novice Players, Coaches, Managers, and Parents a successful season. Novice Coordinator, Pat Elynuik Peewee Coordinator Report (back) Our zone had 120 players registered in the Pee Wee Division this year. This resulted in 7 teams, 1 Tier I, 3 Tier II, and 3 Tier III teams. After the Christmas break, a look at the league standings indicate that for the most part, we have produced competitive teams. On an even more gratifying note, in my first year as coordinator, I have had a relatively easy job. Since the tryout process was finished, through to today, I have had only two phone calls from parents with concerns. This tells me that the teams are working with their managers and coaches in a productive manner. Good job to all. Shortly, we will be handing out coaches and managers evaluations. Lets work together to make this a positive experience for our volunteers. Remember that the role of these evaluations is to help our coaches do their job! In closing, I hope everybody enjoys the remainder of this hockey season. Duane Walker Midget Coordinator Report (back) It has been an exciting year so far in Midget Hockey. Who would have thought that we would have seven teams in this age division? I think that it says a lot for the players at this age level and their commitment to the sport. All of our teams have been doing very well. The Midget Tier I team got off to a slow start but is gathering momentum as the season goes on. Our three Midget Tier II teams are very competitive. The Ultimate Redwings finished 1st after the first round with the G D Redwings right behind them in 2nd spot. The Redwing A's are close behind and still in the hunt. Congratulations to the G D Redwings for their first place finishes in the Knights Tournament and our very own Redwing Tournament. In Midget Tier III again we have very strong representation. The Redwing Renegades lead the pack with the Redwing Thunder right on their heels finishing 1st and 2nd after the first round of play. The Redwing Wild is hungry and there are still lots of hockey games left for them to climb the ladder. In all it is very exciting to see our teams doing so well. Good work and good luck for the rest of the season to all of you. Congratulation goes out to all of the coaches and managers for their commitment to the Drug and Alcohol awareness campaign. Our zone has no outstanding Drug and Alcohol forms. Last but not least, start thinking now about how you can help out and be a part of the Redwing zone. The position of Midget Coordinator will be available for the 2003 - 2004 hockey season. Thanks to all of you that assisted in the evaluation process, the team draft, coaching, and managing of the teams. It is people like you that bring success to our zone. Brian Kuny, Redwing Midget Coordinator Bingo Coordinator Report (back) Working bingo's continues to be a major fundraiser for our zone. Without these bingo's hockey would be unaffordable to many of our families. Thanks to everyone who has signed up and worked bingo's, your support and cooperation makes my job as bingo coordinator easy. However, I do have a concern for people who have signed up for bingo's and have not shown up. Recently we received a written warning because we were short workers. Incidences like this will compromise the zone and the future availability of bingo's. To date, in keeping with other organizations who sponsor bingo's, we have decided that if an individual signs up for a bingo and does not show up they will be charged a penalty of $50.00. Bingo's for registration will be available after February 14/03. I will be on holidays and will be unavailable to take calls until this time. If you have a concern or emergency please contact Penny at 249-5462. We will attempt to allot two bingo's per child, however you must call early in the spring because registration bingo's fill up quick. We will work bingo's for registration between March and August 31/03, as hockey registration is usually the first week of September. The amount of the credit will depend on the overall total of all bingo's worked. Bingo credit will vary between $70.00 and $80.00 dollars. Call after February 14/03 Women's National Hockey Championship (back) 2003 Esso Women's Ticket packages are very affordable at $35 in advance and $40 at the door for all 29 games over the 5-day event.
For tickets please contact Sask Place @ 938-7800 |
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