Forest Lake Hockey Association

Special thanks to so many people who make the season possible! Our amazing coaching staff (and their spouses!!) who give up personal and family time to coach our girls. Thanks to Michelle Brennan, Darin Thompson, John Remington, Derrick Nelson and especially Troy Parent for all your input, advice, hockey knowledge. I never would have been able to put anything together without all your help!  This last weekend, thanks to Tom Gleixner for putting in 18 hours at our girls tournament working the clock, books and box - along with Mike Schurrer for announcing players and games. I look forward to watching our girls program grow, thanks for the opportunity and your patience while I learned the process! I wish all the girls a continued success in their remaining years of youth hockey - it all goes SO FAST!

I must thank Madi and Joe for being so understanding all the time this position took away from them - and for Paul for stepping in and taking on the role of two parents while I was busy!

What a party!! Our amazing mite director and his Jamboree committee put on a Carnival like atmosphere for the end of the season jamboree for the intros, mites and 8U's. Tons of people filling the arena - our arena manager hasn't seen the arena that full since the gun show. Great job Jeff Dzurik and crew - thanks for a great time!

Thanks to those of you who gave several hours for our 10U girls to play in a tournament this weekend - both the tournament committee and the minor officials - thank you!

12's teams were BOTH ranked in the top ten in state this year! Our 12A's advanced to regions - only to lose both games in overtime! Our 12B's played 2 close games in districts, losing in double O.T. - refusing to give up without a fight! They had a fantastic overall record of 11-4-1 and finished 3rd in league play for District 2.

Still waiting for a 14U update from someone!

For those of you with daughters who LOVE hockey and are sad to end the season, there are many local AAA programs in the area. I have information about some club hockey in Andover. E-mail me for information. Start googling AAA Hockey on the internet, as tryouts are often held over holidays, and the kids' days off for school. Some programs are invitation only, some tryouts are open to the public. Questions to ask:

1.) Cost
2.) Location of practices
3.) How many hours of ice for my dollar?
4.) Will my daughter be a developmental (practice player only) or tournament player?
5.) Who is the coach?
6.) Are they guaranteed ice time in a tourney?  

Ask YOURSELF AND YOUR SKATER:

1.) Will my daughter burn out or lose interest?
2.) Is she doing this because SHE wants to, or I want her to?
3.) Are we taking the family time to go to the cabin and enjoy the weekends?
4.) Are the hockey tourneys still fun family weekend vacations?! (plan other activities in the area the day after the tourney)

We need a new girls director to take over my spot at the end of the season as my two year term is coming to an end. It would be great to have a level director for each level - it makes the work load a lot smaller if you divide it among several people. All level directors have agreed to stay on as an "advisory board" to help those stepping in to fill our shoes. I am making a book documenting things that I've done, mistakes I've made, things I've learned, advice - good or bad, etc. You won't have to start from scratch as I did!

Our girls numbers has grown to 134 this year - can we make it to 150 for next year? I tell ya, it would take a HUGE amount of stress out of this position to not have to worry if we have enough to form 2 teams at every level - so that kids can develop at the appropriate level - and I don't EVER AGAIN want to hear anyone say "we should just cut some players".  This is youth hockey, we are here to develop players, and a love for the game, at any level.

Have a great summer!!

Sue

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Hockey may have been invented by boys......but it has been perfected by girls!