Youth Hockey Golf Outing

I am on the planning committee for the DMYHA golf outing and it is our one fund raiser each year.

We can use everyone’s help, so please forward this blog entry on to anyone that may be interested in sponsoring or golfing. If you would like, you can forward me their email or contact info and I would be happy to contact them as well.

The event is on August 14th with a 9:00 a.m. start. This is the break down of sponsorships:
Lunch Sponsor $1,000
Recognized as provider of lunch for all players Signage at lunch & awards presentation
Golf for 4
Drink Sponsor $750
Recognized as provider of drink tickets for all players
Signage at lunch & awards presentation
Golf for 4
Hole Sponsor $500
Signage on golf hole Opportunity to "staff" golf hole to promote business
Sign Sponsor $250
Signage on golf course

Let me know what you think, I can be reached via email at joebafia@gmail.com, or cell phone at 202-6620.

You can also just golf with no sponsorship. $75/golfer or $275/foursome.

We'd love to have you at there for this great cause!

Hossa Brings His Curse

The announcement came to my cell phone today in the form of a text that said "Hawks Got Hossa?!"

That was my reaction as well....questioning and excited.

We'll see what he brings to the table with all the youngsters on the team. Could this be the needed veteran the Hawks need to win the Cup? Personally, I don't blame him for leaving Detroit as he realizes their so called "Dynasty" is no longer.

Welcome Mr. Hossa, to a team that will embrace you, but if you don't perform, I'm jumpiing off the bandwagon.

Honesty is the Best Policy

You may be asking "Why is there a picture of a baseball playing kid on this blog entry?"

I wanted to recognize the famous Danny Almonte who pitched a no-hitter in the 2001 Little League World Series. He had a 70 MPH fastball and dominated everyone he faced.

To be playing in the Little League World Series was an honor for any 12 year old...but the problem was that Danny was 14. His birth certificate was falsified and he was 2 years older than every other player at the event.

Its sad to think that teams, coaches & parents feel the need to cheat their way to victory, and to think its acceptable behavior. But hockey is an honest sport that has values and would not resort to that type of behavior.....right? Wrong.

I took a team of 8 & 9 year olds to a tourney in Minnesota this weekend. It was the International Cup and the competition is very good. Divisions are broken up by birth year. Its simple. Our team was in the 2000 division which means that every player has to be born in the year 2000 (or later like 2001). This makes the kids 7, 8 or 9 years old. We lost every game but held our own in most of the games. During our first game, we played a team that had some big kids. One of these bigger kids had 4 of the teams 7 goals. "Boy would I like to add a kid like that to our team..." I thought. At no time thinking that he was not of the correct age.

Wrong again. After much discussion between other teams & parents, we came to find out that first team we played had not 1, not 2, but 3 ineligible players based on birth year. This made these players 10 & 11 years old. Making this potentially a 4 year age difference between their oldest kid and our youngest. In the end, they ended up forfeiting all their games. 2 other teams were "accused" of ineligible players, but nothing was proven.

I had the opportunity of being near the standings board at the arena where parents were discussing how wrong it was that they actually tried to cheat. A parent from the accused team stepped forward and said "We were wronged as well. We were told that everyone does it and that this tournament followed a don't ask, don't tell policy." A mother responded before I could with my same thought. She said, "Regardless of what you were told, how can you think its ok to do that. Its still cheating." The conversation didn't go any further, but a good point was brought up.

We went to this tournament with the expectation we could possibly lose every game and we were prepared to do so. To know that we didn't have a fair opportunity to win is what burned me. An apology & a forfeit win did not make it any better. That game still happened and although our kids know they cheated, we still don't get to replay the game.

I was once told by a coach that the responsibility of the coach is to not only make good hockey players, but also to make good citizens. If we teach 8 year olds that its ok to bend the rules, what rule will they bend when they are 21? And shame on the parents of these players. My son is in the 5% rank in size for his age. He could play as an 8 year old for the next 3 years and still be smaller than the rest. If a coach approached me next year asking him to play on a 2001 team because "no one will ask due to his size", I would 1) Be offended as I would want him to play with kids his own age, and 2) Never play for that coach as they teach no values and have no ethics.

In the end, our kids had an awesome time despite losing every game (indoor water parks seem to cure all losses). They also learned a valuable lesson that cheating does not get rewarded and there is no benefit to doing it. They kept their heads high and played as best as they could...as true 8 & 9 year olds.

Stick & Pucks Added!!!

Many have asked to bring Stick & Puck back, so your wish has now come true!

If you want a great opportunity to work on your skating, stick handling or shooting, then this is the perfect opportunity for you!

It also gives parents & kids a chance to skate together.

Here are the details:

When - June 10th, 11th & 12th
Where - Bucs Arena
Time - 6:45 PM - 8:30 PM
Cost - $10/Adult $5/Kid
Required - Helmet & Stick (full gear encouraged for kids)

If you have any questions, let me know, otherwise spread the word and see everyone there!

Gabe Fleming

It is with great sadness that I write an entry in my blog regarding the passing of a fellow adult league hockey player.

Gabe Fleming was an adult league player for the Slapshot Team. He passed away during a Pay & Play on Saturday, May 23rd, 2009.

Here is the obituary as listed in the Des Moines Register:

Gabriel (Gabe) Dana Fleming, 30, passed away May 23, 2009 in Des Moines, IA. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 27 at Ankeny Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 3 p.m., Thursday, May 28, 2009 at Ankeny Funeral Home.

Gabe was born November 24, 1978 in Dubuque, IA to Dana and Regina Fleming. He and Michele Becvar were married October 17, 2003. He graduated from Ankeny High School in 1997. Gabe owned and operated Fleming Technologies and was employed at Iowa Finance Authority as an Information Technology Specialist.

Gabe enjoyed playing and watching hockey and died with his skates on. He was a die hard Packers fan and also loved riding his motorcycle and spending time with his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Michele; parents, Dana and Regina; brother, Zak and sister-in-law, Aly of Ankeny; grandparents, Douglas and Nancy Fleming of Prairie du Chien, WI and Emil and Gloria Schmit of Patch Grove, WI; and five nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/dclassifieds?Dato=20090526&Kategori=OBITUARIES&Class=30&Type=CAT1320&Lopenr=90500629&Selected=9

The hockey community is a fairly tight-knit group of players where everyone knows everybody. This type of loss becomes very traumatic to all those that played with & against him. Our thoughts are with you & for your family, friends & teammates.

A Memorial Event is in the early planning stages by some of his fellow players, and more details will come out as available.