Dunedin Ice Hockey Association

Newsletter October 2012

From the President

The ice hockey season is winding down and it’s an appropriate time to look back on some of the achievements of the club during the 2012 season. Towards the end of last year the club made a significant commitment by moving to a full time professional coach, with our partners Dunedin Thunder and Dunedin Ice Stadium, when the opportunity to employ Janos Kaszala came up. Janos has been with us for a year now and we’re very pleased with the energy, coaching ability, and commitment that he has brought to our club. The results are also there – our peewee team reclaimed the SIHL trophy for 2012, Janos coached the SIHL U16s to their first gold medal in the Junior Elite League, and Dunedin Thunder, in their best result ever, came within a couple of points of playing in the NZIHL final for the first time.

Players are seeing these benefits throughout the club. Seven club members were named to the NZ U16 Development Squad which recently played the Australian U16 team in Auckland. Jacob Hurring, Joe Orr and Ben Roth were named to the NZ U18 team which will compete in Taipei in March next year. Jaimee Wood, Kelly Cooper, Sonja Texley, Whitney Keenan, Holly Barclay, Caitlin Orr, Zanzee Pielak-Jones, Steph Patchett, Megan Gilchrist and Annika Matravers were all named to the Ice Fernz squad to compete for places to represent NZ in Auckland next year. Paris Heyd, Regan Wilson, Cameron Frear and Rick Parry were all named to the Ice Blacks squad which will compete in Turkey next year in April. Further club members will be named to the NZ U20 team when that is announced later this month. We’ve also seen a number of Dunedin players make the Southern U13 peewee team (silver at nationals), make up almost all of the Southern U16 team, the Southern U19 team, the Southern Womens team (silver) and the Southern “Skate of Origin” NZIHL team. These are tremendous achievements for all these individuals and a reflection of the quality of coaching that the club offers.

Janos has also been named as the Ice Blacks Assistant Coach for 2013, and Sophia Leon de la Barra has been named as Ice Fernz Assistant Coach. Congratulations to them both.

In light of this the club has committed to keep Janos coaching at the club, and we look forward to working with him for the coming seasons.

As always, I welcome feedback on the direction of the club and the issues you are experiencing as players, parents etc. We hope you enjoy the upcoming season!

 

Pete Wallis

president@dunedinicehockey.hellyer.kiwi

 

Gear to Donate to Club?

The club is steadily growing, and along with some gear going missing, other bits breaking, we are seeking more gear for our gear room to help kiwihockey and adult beginners grow – sticks, elbow and shin pads, shorts etc. The club has some grant applications in to assist with this, but if you have any gear that you no longer need and wish to donate, please give it to Barrett Wilson, or leave it in the gear room with a note on it.

 

Dunedin Ice Hockey League

The club’s end-of-season league begins in two weeks. The league costs $98 for 7 games. Sign up now on club hub – choose A or B grade depending on where you think you’ll fit, but be aware that the organisers may move you to suit the skill level of the league.

 

Womens Hockey Games

The club will be running a series of womens games as the beginnings of a womens ice hockey league in the coming months. Five games for $70. Sign up on club hub, for more information see Sophia.