Dunedin Ice Hockey Association

Welcome to all members old and new as the season has well and truly kicked off. Both premier league (two teams) and DIHL (six teams) are underway, as are club practices. Southern Ice Hockey League tournaments start next weekend with SNC in Dunedin, quickly followed by Bantams and Peewees. Next term high schools get underway. There’s a fantastic selection of hockey to play and get better at so dig in.

Later this year we are lucky enough to be hosting the NZ Winter Games in Dunedin, including a four team tournament between the Ice Blacks, Australia, China, and one team to be named. Keep the 17^th – 21^st August free to catch some great ice hockey right here at home.

Some of you will have noticed a new face at the ice rink. Cory Sutherland, who has spent several years running the high schools competition is now employed by the rink and learning the ropes. Great to see him out there, particularly after many of you will have seen his story on the front page of the ODT where he was attacked in town.

Some club members will remember Sheree Haslemore, a Gore womens player who is currently in Iceland with the NZ Ice Fernz. Sheree is playing for Saint Mary’s University, Minnesota. Read more about her hockey success here: http://www.saintmaryssports.com/news/2011/2/25/WHOCKEY_0225113632.aspx. There’s fantastic opportunities out there for NZ ice hockey players if they work hard enough!

New Zealand Reps

The club currently has several players overseas representing New Zealand. Regan Wilson is returning from Romania where he has been Assistant Captain of the NZ U18s, who were promoted to Division II this year after winning Division III in Mexico. Sadly the team lost all their games, their closest result being a 4-1 loss to Serbia. Anna Goulding, Steph Patchett, Olivia MacDonald and Zanzee Pielak-Jones are in Iceland playing in Division IV womens. This morning they beat Iceland (who are ranked one place above them) in their first game 3-1, their next opponent is Korea (ranked two places above them).

The Ice Blacks are currently in Sydney in preparation for their Division II World Championships in Melbourne, where they will play Australia, Belgium, Mexico, People’s Republic of Korea and Serbia, beginning on April 4th. Rick Parry, Paris Heyd and Damian Watson are representing Dunedin. Regan Wilson is a reserve for the team.

To follow these games live, go to www.iihf.com, click on championships and you’ll get live scoring updates.

Southern Reps

The following Dunedin players have been selected to play in the Southern New Zealand Junior Elite League team for 2012 (U16s): Xavier Aliberch-Wood, Josh Hubbard, Jacob Hurring, Hadley Johnston, Noah Leahy, Joe Orr, Luke Peat, Ben Roth, Sam Sheard, and Ben Wallis. Tom Pratt, who has just transferred to Dunedin from Queenstown also made the team. That’s a fantastic effort by the kids who make up over half the team. The team plays Canterbury in Dunedin the weekend of 28-29 May, which is also Thunder’s home game so keep that weekend free for some great ice hockey.

Trials for Southern U13s will be in early May, other rep team trials will be announced soon.

Upcoming Holidays

Club practices take a break around Easter and school/university holidays. See below to see when things are on holiday:

Premier League: Four more games, finishing before the holidays.
DIHL: Four more games, then a one week break (no games week of 25 April). Note after the break the Wednesday game moves to Saturday night for the last two weeks.
Peewees: Last practice 12 April. Back 3 May.
Bantams/Midgets: Last practice 14 April. Back 3 May.
Adult Beginners: Last practice 24 April. Back 8 May.
SNC Practice: Last practice 24 April. Back 8 May.

Shinny Session

The club is running a regular shinny session where ice is available in a non-coached environment to practice skills and have free time on the ice. The next one is this Thursday, 7pm. Cost is $10, open to all members.

Easton Cup

The club’s annual SNC tournament, the Easton Cup will be held the weekend 6 – 8 May in Dunedin. This tournament is open to all players 16 years or older, and is most suitable for intermediate or advanced level players. The tournament does not accept individual entries, you must form teams in order to enter.

The tournament will be a fundraiser for the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal, off and on ice officials will be donating their time to help raise funds for Christchurch.

For more information and the entry form visit the web site: https://dunedinicehockey.hellyer.kiwi/easton-cup/
There are sometimes players who want to play Easton Cup but haven’t found a team. If anyone was willing to organise a team of such people, please let Kyle know on communications@dunedinicehockey.hellyer.kiwi.
Southern Ice Hockey League Schedule

The Southern Ice Hockey League Schedule for 2011 is now out. Copies are available on the web site:

https://dunedinicehockey.hellyer.kiwi/2011/03/southern-ice-hockey-league-schedule/

 

Club Night Schedule II

A further club night schedule for the season is now available, this takes us through to June. You can find it on the web site:

https://dunedinicehockey.hellyer.kiwi/2011/03/club-night-schedule-2011-part-2/

 

Owe DIHA Money?

If you still owe money for club leagues or practices, Joyce will be available to collect it off you this Tuesday and Wednesday night.

 

Dunedin Thunder Import Accommodation 2011
The Dunedin Thunder Ice Hockey Team are seeking members of the community to host four international players this season. The players will be in New Zealand for the duration of the season and they need somewhere to live. This is a great opportunity to get to know someone from another country and show them what New Zealand, and specifically Dunedin has to offer.

The players that come are often amateur or semi-professional. The Dunedin Thunder is a non-profit organisation so they cannot afford to pay these great players.

The deal is:

1. The players will pay for food and utilities but not board
2. It would be preferable that the accommodation is within the city so that transport to the rink is simple
3. Accommodation is asked from 1^st May to 7^th September 2011
4. The hosts will be given free tickets to Thunder home games

These players are always a huge asset to the team and the club. They are always willing to volunteer their time to help out. Please help us make their stay in New Zealand a great experience.

We have players from: France, USA, and Canada x2 between the ages of 22 and 29.

Let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in hosting a player (or two), or if you have any other questions.

Kind Regards,

Darcy Knyvett

Email: ktd@eohs.school.nz

 

Dunedin Penguins Team Uniforms

We are about to do an order of the club rep black tops. Any members who wish to order a top that has not already done so, email communications@dunedinicehockey.hellyer.kiwi. The tops and socks, including a name and number on the back, cost $90.

 

Missing Club Tops
The following tops are missing from club sets. If anyone has them return them to the gear room or a member of the DIHA board or a team manager.
Sharks (teal) Nos 1 and 8
Beasts (blue) No. 12
Bullfrogs (green) Nos 1, 7 and 8
SK8 (white) Nos 5, 11 and 15
Bulls (red) No. 9
Stars Nos 6, 8, 12 and 16
Also the red tops worn by the high schools all stars last year, and the white loch monsters.