SMHA Newsletter - September 07 issue


Hello fellow hockey parents,

Welcome to a new SMHA hockey season.  This year 1110 kids will hit the ice about 40 times each to enjoy Canada's favorite sport.  I'm also pleased to report that already 400 of you have signed up to get this newsletter which be published whenever there is enough news (and hopefully soon some photos) to share.  Speaking of news, if you have something to share, someone to compliment, or even a question to ask, just hit reply and I'll either point you in the right direction, add your info to the next newsletter, or completely ignore you (just kidding on that last point!).  Seriously, this is your association and your newsletter, so "speak out" please. 

Here's what's new this month: 

Official Dates for Season Start
Evaluations and sort-outs continue but Friday October 12th is the first game of the season!

Clinics and more clinics
The SMHA is hosting 3 clinics this Fall - Speak Out, Trainer I/II and Intro Coach. They are close to home, not very expensive and totally worth the time.  Everyone is welcome.  Check out the Clinics page for more info.

Stittsville RAMS

The Stittsville RAMS is Stittsville Tier 3 competitive program and not only are they 100% Stittsville kids this year, they now have their own brand new website. Check it out!

EDUCATION IS THE FIRST STEP TO PREVENTION
Dr. Pashby Hockey Canada and the Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Fund invite all coaches, managers, trainers, parents and players over 16 years of age to the Think First Concussion Road Show on how to recognize and manage concussions including discussion on return to play to be held at Scotiabank Place in Kanata (Ottawa), Ontario Saturday November 3, 2007.  It's free but registration is required:

ICE, ICE, ICE
If you haven't been to the new Beckwith arena yet, you will soon.  This year the Beckwith arena will have a lot of red jerseys skating around.  The SMHA no longer has ice at the Sensplex but we have lots in Beckwith to go along with our ice in Stittsville and at the GRC.  A second ice pad is in the works for next year in Beckwith and for the GRC in 2008 or 2009 (depending on who you ask).  Tidbit:  Wondering why you are hearing reports of the ice in Beckwith feeling hollow?  It's because the ice surface is built on sand which gives it a unique sound and feel.

Meetings
If you are a head coach, assistant coach, trainer or manager this season, you'll want to attend two key meetings:  The Lanark Carleton Coaches meeting for all associations in LCMHL which is being held in the community center room upstairs of the Richmond arena on Tuesday Oct 9th at 8 pm, and The Stittsville Coaches meeting on Thursday Oct 11th at 7:30 upstairs at the Legion in Stittsville.  Come on out and hear what's new this season in your hockey world.


Thanks for reading, next issue I'll try for some pictures to make it less dry.  If you have some good SMHA hockey pics in your collection, email them to me and I'll try to include them here or on the website. I also need ideas for the poll on the website, so please don't be shy.

Feel free to spread the word about this newsletter, and if you are reading someone else's copy, sign up here to get your own.  We take your privacy seriously and we will NEVER trade, sell or swap our email list for any reason.

Lynda
Your SMHA Roving Reporter
communications@stittsvillemha.com