Dunedin Ice Hockey Association

November 2009 Newsletter

From the President

As the dust settles on another ice hockey season (with Oldtimers dragging it out until Xmas!) it is an appropriate time to look back on the achievements of the club and its members. They are too many to list here, but at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (6pm) and Dinner and Prize-giving (7pm) on 21st November at the rink we will have the opportunity to celebrate many of them. We hope you all can attend and bring friends and family.

While there is only minimal ice hockey taking place over the summer, the next three months are actually the time where many of the decisions are made about the upcoming season. Starting with the election of the new board at the AGM, the club will be making a number of important decisions over the coming months, including the number and nature of practices, the cost of ice hockey and the way that we collect the money. New leagues, such as a Premier contact league are proposed for next season, as well as changes to existing leagues such as the DIHL and High Schools. There are many ways that members can input to this discussion, but the most important one is to complete the members survey. This will close at the AGM, enabling the results to be compiled and given to the board for future planning, so if you have not completed a survey, please do so and return it either to the gear room or AGM. See below for a link.

Lastly, earlier this year the club hosted the Division III World Champs, and the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation has returned a proportion of the profits from that event to the DIHA. Those club members that volunteered their time to the event have either had their share forwarded to the Dunedin Thunder (where appropriate), or will receive a cheque or credit on money owed to the club soon.

The work of volunteers drives most of the club’s work, and now is the time when we ask for members and their parents to volunteer to help with the coming season. If you are at all available to help in any way please get in contact via email or let me know at the AGM.

Lastly we hope all members enjoy their summer off, and we will see you in late February for the beginning of another season.

Kyle Matthews
President
president@dunedinicehockey.hellyer.kiwi

News

Dunedin Ice Hockey League

Well done Jets and Superfly, who won the 2009 Spring DIHL A and B grades respectively, in a very competitive competition in both grades. A big thanks to Pete Lamb and the rest of his DIHL team for all their work in making the competition successful.

Congratulations

To all the club members who attended the recent Nationals. Southern Women narrowly missed out on gold on goal differential. Peewee and Midget teams came close third, and Juniors rocked Auckland and Canterbury by bringing home gold – the first gold Southern has won in this grade ever.

End of Season

Sunday night practice will be having its last night on Sunday 22nd November. In addition, there will be no ice hockey on 15 November due to a speed skating camp.

Membership Card Photo Competition

The club will be distributing a membership card to all members for the 2010 season. This card will have associated discounts around town to reward you for your membership and support of Dunedin Ice Hockey. The club is holding a competition for the best ice hockey photo to go on the front of the card. Get entries to Callum Wood by the 21st November, email operations@dunedinicehockey.hellyer.kiwi.

Coming Up

Annual General Meeting

The AGM for the DIHA will take place on November 21st, 6pm, upstairs at the Dunedin Ice Stadium. The AGM elects the board for the coming season, sets the membership levy, and receives accounts and reports for the year. We will also be calling for volunteers for the many positions that make the club a success – coaches, managers, league coordinators etc. The board will also be presenting draft player codes of conduct for discussion to members.

While the AGM is taking place peewee and midget players will be playing cross ice games, $5 each.

Further information is available at https://dunedinicehockey.hellyer.kiwi/diha-agm-21-november/.

In addition, the AGM is the last chance for members to complete the survey that the club will use to make changes for the 2010 season. Complete and return to the box in the gear room, or at the AGM. More information and a copy of the survey is available at https://dunedinicehockey.hellyer.kiwi/survey/.

End of Year Prize Giving

This will immediately follow the Annual General Meeting at 7pm. All members, family, friends and supporters are welcome. The prize giving will include a BBQ dinner, at $5/head, and a cash bar. Grades will also present prizes to players.

Anyone who is available to help with the prize giving dinner (cooking for a hundred people is a major job!) please contact Larry Martin on larry2c@yahoo.co.nz, or 021 272 0079.

Rick Parry’s Summer Goalie Camp

Dunedin Thunder and Ice Blacks goal tender will be running a summer camp focused entirely on goaltenders from 27 – 29 November. The camp includes on and off ice work and goalie specific drills. For more information visit https://dunedinicehockey.hellyer.kiwi/rick-parrys-summer-goalie-camp/.

Women’s Development Camp, Dunedin, 11 – 13 December

The New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation is holding a development camp for women in the South Island at the Dunedin Ice Stadium next month. The camp includes four on ice sessions and two off ice, for $100. Email Jeff Bonazzo for more information, jeffbonazzo@hotmail.com.

Peewee and Midget Development Camps, Dunedin, January 2010

The New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation is holding development camps open for all players in late January 2010 at the Dunedin Ice Stadium. These camps are run by the Ice Blacks coach, assisted by many Ice Blacks and Ice Fernz. They are a fantastic way to get top level coaching. For more information and registration forms go to https://dunedinicehockey.hellyer.kiwi/national-u13-u16-development-camps-january-2009/.

New Zealand Masters Games 2010

For all those males 35+ and females 30+ plus, Dunedin Ice Stadium will be hosting the New Zealand Masters Games for the second time in Waitangi Weekend 2010. The competition will include teams from around New Zealand and Australia. To register visit http://dunedin2010.nzmg.com/, for more information contact Steve Jackson on steve.jackson@otago.ac.nz. Earlybird registrations close at the end of November.