Glass is Half FULL

[StateWarsDir]

Guys every time I log onto this site all I read is negative stuff. It's either AAU this or RHA that, now people complaining about $20 for the NCRHA (but will spend $10 for a beer at a NHL game), or knocking someone or something in the sport. It really is so tiring already. It's bad enough that every time you turn on the news it's something bad or every newspaper you pick up is about how bad the economy is. Hockey is SUPPOSED to be all of our escape from all of the bad and negativity in the sport. Would you want to go to the movies if every movie out there was sad and made you feel bad? NO. So come on guys lets talk about what's going on that's great in the sport, let's try a new approach and lest see who can post some topics or ideas on here that is actually about something good or positive in the sport.

I'll get the ball rolling on some things in the sport that I am involved with or am aware of that is positive. Please people add to this thread, I don't care if you have an AAU, RHA, USAHIL, NARCh, TORHS, State Wars tattoo on your arm, just state something fun and exciting.

Here you go...

1. This year any player who tries out for their state team and is not selected gets a FULL tryout fee refund, so all players should come on out as tryouts are NO RISK.

2. Once again this summer State Wars Hockey will be awarding twelve $1000 college scholarships to the top 12 players in the 1991 birth year division

3. NCRHA is getting more and more colleges playing each year

4. NARCh continues to have a relationship with the NHL and is coming off a year where they set a record with over 400 teams playing at summer Nationals

5. TORHS is offering lowering prices for 8under teams, to get more new kids playing.

6. At Winter Wars, State Wars Hockey raised close to $1200 for the "Hockey Fights Cancer" foundation in an effort of working together with the NHL

Again this aren't the only good things going on in the sport but at least it's a start!!!

Tim McManus

[/LIST]

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

7. IHC went 30 days without bickering but here we go again.

[STEMM]

Come On Tim, This site is not all that bad, there all plenty of good things going on here, you just logged on at a bad time...Besides beers are only about $9 at an NHL Game...That's NHL Game, the best Hockey Players in the WORLD.

P.S.

The 6 things you listed are Positive. Especially Suprising are 1 & 5.

I think TORHS lowering the price for 8U is the best thing going. As I mentioned in a previous post "will the others follow suit ?"

As far as the State Wars get Cut Refund Policy. I think it will help you get more Single "A" teams to the Top Notch Event you put on every year. Which is Great because everyone should get a chance to be part of that.

Just do one thing in Cincy this year...Get the Lights Out during the Award Ceremony, it didn't have the same feel with the lights on.

[quick_dry]

7. IHC went 30 days without bickering but here we go again.
yeah, but it was as quiet as a morgue

i'd like to be able to post: IHC had a debate where everybody attacked the ideas, not each others characters... but I reckon thats about as likely as FIRS and IIHF having a big 'lets get along' teaparty.

positive item: some new kids joined the local league, and more and more guys from 'back in the day' are showing up from time to time.

[33]

Great post Tim. We actually got an 8u team together in the Jr. lunatic program this year and i have 12 kids that are willing to travel in the NAYRHL and are actually talking about State Wars, NARCH and TORHS. Most of them played on my travel ice hockey team and i brought them over to roller and they fell in love! I believe this will happen with most kids if they just try it. Very exciting!

[zipyaj]

6. At Winter Wars, State Wars Hockey raised close to $1200 for the "Hockey Fights Cancer" foundation in an effort of working together with the NHL

Again this aren't the only good things going on in the sport but at least it's a start!!!

Tim McManus

[/LIST]

Tim,
Thanks for the good work and helping our sport. Every one can always do a little more to help. For one example...

In 2008, our local Give Blood Play Hockey Inline Hockey Charity Tournament event (www.givebloodplayhockey.org) experienced a 40% increase in team registrations over its inaugural year, successfully raised over $35,000, contributed 138 pints of blood - a 30% increase, and 66 new bone marrow registrations. Proceeds from fundraising efforts were contributed to CHOC in the amount of $25,000 and $5,200 to the National Bone Marrow Foundation in the name of Evan Cousineau and the BAHBAD organization. Our local Anaheim Ducks helped with donations and gifts for our charity raffles - they even sent the Power Players!

Hockey Helping Hockey. One Community United.

Keep up the good work everyone and best of luck in all you do!

[ACCCT2]

Ummm..."FULL" of what?

Hmmm...how 'bout we went a full month without yet another save-the-sport quasi-NGB being formed (...at least I think we did).:eek:

[GoRangrHky]

Hofstra Roller Hockey brought in about $2,000 for the St. Baldrick's Foundation a few weeks ago, with 8 players shaving their heads. The event was hosted by the team and held on Hofstra's campus, and in total brought in close to $5,000 with what ended up being about 25 people getting shaved, including some people who got in on the act last minute. http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/event_info.php?EventKey=2009-1659 The total there doesn't include the cash donations, just online donations, so the actual total is quite a bit higher.

[alex]

Ummm..."FULL" of what?

Hmmm...how 'bout we went a full month without yet another save-the-sport quasi-NGB being formed (...at least I think we did).:eek:

I can't imagine what we'd do without your consistently fresh input; always uplifting, never repetitive.

[CoachClipboard]

Tomorrow night, March 28, The Harrisburg Lunatics will be trying to raise money to fight breast cancer. The players will be sporting custom pink breast cancer awareness jerseys with the traditonal nasty lunatic face on them which will be sold during the game by silent auction. WHTM channel 27 news (Harrisburg's local affiliate of ABC) anchorwoman Alisha Richards (A strong public supporter of the cause) will be at the game to drop the ceremonial puck, along with Teresa Pipito to sing the national anthem. The Hershey Bears of the AHL have signed a special pink one piece stick for the event to raffle and Build-A-Bear Workshops have donated a limited edition pink breast cancer bear to raffle. All raffle and jersey proceeds go to American Cancer Society. A lot of people have come together to make this event possible. People in this sport who care, who give of their hearts. It is very refreshing to see the positives of hockey like this and events listed above. The Lunatics will play their backyard rival PA Typhoon.

[Rzorbck]

Todd - good luck tomorrow night! Hopefully all your planned activities go off without a hitch, you have a good evening and raise a good amount of money for the cause. Nicely done as usual.







Ummm..."FULL" of what?

Hmmm...how 'bout we went a full month without yet another save-the-sport quasi-NGB being formed (...at least I think we did).:eek:

ACCCT2 - It just amazes me that you don't even have the common decency to leave a positive thread alone. Didn't your mommy ever tell you if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all?

[ACCCT2]

I can't imagine what we'd do without your consistently fresh input; always uplifting, never repetitive.



ACCCT2 - It just amazes me that you don't even have the common decency to leave a positive thread alone. Didn't your mommy ever tell you if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all?

GEEZ...CHILL OUT DUDES -- IT WAS A JOKE. You obviously have NO sense of humor whatsoever, eh -- or is even someone else's differing sense of what's pertinent, ironic or funny up for debate and/or approval or ridicule as well here?:eek:

[RichardGraham]

Hi Tim,

Nice thread topic. Most of the Home Page stories I post are fairly positive. It's easy to focus on the negative, for sure.

Here's a personal one -- my knee ligament is not half torn... it's half healed! ;)

[Patn Lawton]

1) I have only lived in Virginia about a year, but I have definitely seen some growth in youth roller hockey in that time. Interest in playing for travel organizations and trying out for State Wars has increased. I am hoping to see VA bridge the gap between their teams and some of the "powerhouse" states like PA, CA, NY, NJ, etc.

2) The first official State Wars sticks are in, and should be available for viewing at tryouts along with order forms. (I don't want this thread to turn into a Q and A about this, so if you have any questions then PM me.)

3) This is more on a personal note, but I have enjoyed my first season in the PIHA this year. I know there was a lot of negativity surrounding the league last year, but I am glad I decided to join in on the fun. Occasionally I run across old opponents from college that I get to play against again; its always nice to chat with them afterward.

4) I would like to encourage everyone involved with the sport to try and find some time to volunteer for the sport. When I was involved with the NCRHA, I helped tally votes for the allstar games or entered stats. I had the opportunity last summer to coach three teams at state wars, and I helped coach four teams at winter wars. Currently I am coaching an 8u travel team for the spring/summer, and hope to be involved with state wars again. There are just so many options available to volunteer your time to better the sport, every small task adds up...especially with a lot of volunteers.

[William Bourque]

4) I would like to encourage everyone involved with the sport to try and find some time to volunteer for the sport. When I was involved with the NCRHA, I helped tally votes for the allstar games or entered stats. I had the opportunity last summer to coach three teams at state wars, and I helped coach four teams at winter wars. Currently I am coaching an 8u travel team for the spring/summer, and hope to be involved with state wars again. There are just so many options available to volunteer your time to better the sport, every small task adds up...especially with a lot of volunteers.

This may be your first serious post! That's a positive.

But its awesome to hear that your still involved in the sport. That being said, I think your 4th point needed to be quoted for its importance.

[quick_dry]

ACCCT2 - It just amazes me that you don't even have the common decency to leave a positive thread alone. Didn't your mommy ever tell you if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all?
maybe its the difference between Aussie/British sense of humour and the American one - but I took it as a joke and chuckled (and wondered how long till people jumped on it).

[ACCCT2]

maybe its the difference between Aussie/British sense of humour and the American one - but I took it as a joke and chuckled (and wondered how long till people jumped on it).

Hmmm...maybe I'm really a Dan'unda-Disc-Dangler (or Mother-Pucker?) at heart, eh?;)

[Doug Jones]

Looks like there is going to be a new rink in Myrtle Beach, and it's good news because after the SportsZone fiasco/foreclosure coming in May, tournaments and leagues will still thrive and the SC Pirates will have a new home and identity. This year was trying after finding out the owner of the rink had funded his business with the team's funds and put us out of business...finally, it's legally being resolved.

This rink will be a full sized 200' by 85' and have bleacher seating within a preexisting successful business. It will be non profit for all youth programs.

[GoRangrHky]

Hofstra Roller Hockey brought in about $2,000 for the St. Baldrick's Foundation a few weeks ago, with 8 players shaving their heads. The event was hosted by the team and held on Hofstra's campus, and in total brought in close to $5,000 with what ended up being about 25 people getting shaved, including some people who got in on the act last minute. http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/event_info.php?EventKey=2009-1659 The total there doesn't include the cash donations, just online donations, so the actual total is quite a bit higher.

Been a while, but here's the story http://media.www.hofstrachronicle.com/media/storage/paper222/news/2009/03/26/Features/Bye-Bye.Hair-3686727.shtml

Hofstra actually won sports club of the year for the school, as well as charity event of the year for all clubs (not just sports ones).

[skooled]

The NSW leauge in Australia (NSW having a population of roughly 7-10 million) now has 6 teams in the hockey league, which is a 50% increase on last season

[DannyG]

noted above, that not only new, younger players are finally coming to the sport, but also some from-back-in-the-day, "returnees," as I call 'em.

For fifteen years, exactly concurrent with Rollerblades as a trend/fad, every little kid had skates. You confront a kid about coming to try hockey, and his thought process was, "Yeah, I got rollerblades, I could do that, it might be fun."

Present day, the rollerblade fad is completely over. No little kid has skates. When confronted by the suggestion to come pay hockey, there is no "bridge" of having rollerbladed to get kids to come try the game.

Inline Hockey must now sell itself, so to speak.

Fortunately, it seems that a good percentage of kids that try, and get over the initial learn-to-skate hump, end up thinking, "Hey, I can do this, this is fun."

I have twelve 4-5-6 year olds that have skated at my rink during the past three weeks. We have a game just for them on Saturday mornings. I would drop over dead if they all showed up at the same time on any given Saturday, but what they heck, it is happening, the game itself will keep 'em if we can get 'em in the door.

This has certainly been a positive thing for my program. Everybody else, congratulations on all the above notes, and keep up the good work.