If you haven’t yet, take a quick look at the Teams & Schedule page (make sure you’re logged in). It’s got a list of all of the scheduled games, team practices, and challenge games for this season. Last week’s info will be shown first (good for double-checking who won that game last week), with older stuff hidden behind a link. I wanted to talk briefly about some things the website will be doing this year.

 

How To Report Absences

When you’re logged in, the website can tell what team you’re on. It will show you a checkbox with “I am attending” beneath your team’s games. If you’re going to miss a game, email your captain to let them know, and uncheck that checkbox. That’ll let the website know it needs to find a sub for you.

Please do this before noon on the Sunday of your game!

How To Sub In A Game

If you want to sub for a game, you’ll tell the website this on the Teams & Schedule page. This replaces the sign-up sheet we used to have at the entrance to Hartmeyer. Pick which games you want to sub for and click the “I want to sub” checkbox underneath.

Please do this by noon on the Sunday of the game you want to sub for! Hockey Ops will email captains about missing players and potential subs shortly after noon, so if you’re late, you won’t be included in that email. Captains will email you asking you to sub in their game.

The website will prioritize recommendations to captains. You can read through all of the decisions it makes, but the most important one is skill level. If your skill level is too different from the absent player, the website won’t recommend you to sub. Everything else is just icing on the cake to make things nicer – the skill level filter is to make sure games are balanced. You might sign up for a game… but if there aren’t any players of your skill level missing, you won’t get recommended to sub.

New folks – this means it’s OK for you to try to sub for games!!! You will replace someone of the same skill level as you, so the games will remain fair. 🙂

How to do this has been summarized, too, in case you’re ever curious in the future and don’t want to dig up this email.

Scorebox

If you’ve been poking around on the Teams & Schedule page, you’ll notice that you have scorebox assignments, too. If you’ve never done the scorebox before, the scorebox documentation should help you out.

I created a utility that will help you track goalie saves on your phone, which some of you might prefer over paper. You can get to it through the scorebox documentation linked above, or through the game off of the Teams & Schedule page (where it will be pre-populated with the appropriate teams).

Your Calendar

If you go to your team’s page, scroll down to the bottom (where upcoming games are displayed). A link underneath will let you add all of the games to your calendar!

This doesn’t work for challenge games or your scorebox shift. That might not get coded until next season. 🙂

To view the contents of this post, you must be authenticated and have the required access level.

The MGHA season calendar is updated with dates of clinics, evaluations, and practices. The season schedule will be released the week prior to the first games. Before the games begin, however, there are a series of important events to help us all prepare to take the ice. Please read carefully and reply to this email if you have questions or concerns.

Clinics
Clinics are open to all new and returning players. New players who are new to hockey are strongly encouraged to/should plan to attend all clinics.

We are very excited to announce that we will be having a GEAR SWAP on Saturday the 20^th, just before PRIDE!

TLDR:

• Stop by between 1-3p on Saturday in front of Hartmeyer Ice Arena
• Donate, swap, and acquire gear
• Look as fly as this pug with new gear; see image below
• Returning players: We’re having a jersey drive. Donate all of the extra jerseys and socks you have lying around!

 

Mo’ deets:

This event is for new and returning players who want to acquire new gear or get rid of old gear. We have a bunch of donated gear that is free if it fits you, so this is a great opportunity to save some money, especially for new-to-hockey players who don’t have any gear yet. Don’t be shy! If you have no idea where to start, come hang out with gear mentors and other returning players and get some advice. Returning players – if you’re interested in selling your gear, please plan to be available to accept payment. Even if you don’t have any gear you’re looking to move, come hang out and help out!

 

Can’t make this date?

• Players who need gear: contact Kit (kit@madisongayhockey.org) and we can see if we have anything that’ll work out for you
• Players who want to get rid of gear: post your items on locker-room/our Facebook group and wait for someone to bite! Or if you want to donate your gear and not have to think about it further, contact Kit (kit@madisongayhockey.org) to arrange for a gear drop-off/pick-up ASAP (preferably before the 20^th)!

Thanks,

-Kit Hamada and Sarah Bottjen, Gear Swap Rockstars

League fees for next season are now available.  The fees are $275 dollars and due by the end of the business day on Friday, September 30  If you have already worked out financial aid with Shelly, you do not need to pay your league fees using this button. If you want to work out a payment plan for your league fees, please contact Shelly (treasurer@madisongayhockey.org).

Your $75 deposit counts toward your league fees.  You can pay the $200 remainder below:

A couple of quick recruiting announcements, along with some TODOs for you.

Recruiting Updates

1. We’ve filled up our 10 teams for the season!  We had a surge of interest since the last email, so we’ve got a wait list, now.
2. We’re still working on that goalie spot.  For those of you who helped spread the word – thank you!
3. We’re getting mentors set up for the new players this season.  If you’re new, expect some communication from us shortly.

The Season Begins…

1. The first skills clinic is Sunday, September 11th at 6pm at Hartmeyer.  Ironman is that weekend, so be aware of downtown traffic.  Expect another email from Hockey Ops with more details soon!
2. We blocked off on the MGHA calendar for the games, but we’re still figuring out teams and jersey colors.  When we’re done, you be able to copy your team’s games to your own calendars.

Things For You To Do:

1. You can pay your league fees, now!  The fees are $275 dollars and are due September 30th.  Your $75 deposit counts toward your league fees.
2. If you haven’t done so already, make sure to register for USA Hockey.
3. Make sure your profile lists your pronouns.
4. Make sure your profile lists your emergency contact information.
5. While we’re on the subject of your profile… take a moment to update your bio!

Quick update: we’re up to 141 players next season. Just 9 more spots left… things are filling up fast!

We still need 1 more goalie, so we’re holding one of those spots open. Do you know any goalies who’d be interested in playing with us? Have YOU ever wanted to try being a goalie? (they’ve got… interesting humor (thanks Nikki!)) Just shoot a quick email to Randi and the Recruiters (trademark pending) and let us know!

We hit 125 players (out of 150) yesterday! In fact, yesterday was so busy, we’re up to 129 at the time of writing this email. We’ve got a lot of players – the recruiting team is working hard to make sure we have enough goalies for next season.

In order to play next season, you have to register for USA hockey!
https://www.madisongayhockey.org/usa-hockey-registration-2016/

New folks have already gotten this link, but as a reminder for returning players – don’t forget to register!

Today is the final day to secure your spot in the league for the next season! You have until the end-of-day today to submit your deposit or talk to Shelly.

Today is ALSO the day where we have hit 100 players joining us next season. There are 50 spots left.