Spring / Summer Registrations

Ready for Spring/Summer Hockey?

Registrations are being accepted for Spring / Summer Adult Hockey. All leagues will be held at Metro Ice Sports Facility.

Registration Forms can be printed off our website at www.alienhockey.com

The Metro Ice Sports Facility will be coordinating & running the leagues this summer, so please contact them at 515-276-7200 or email Tim Knox at timpuck@aim.com

Looking forward to a great season!

We Should Learn From Kids 8 & Under

Yes, my hair was colored green.

My cousin & co-coach, Mark, also sported the grassy colored hair. We had our first playoff game this evening and wanted to support our team and add some fun.

We coach an 8 & Under Mite House League Team (the Stars) and our powerful record of 3-12 put us as the #5 seed out of 6 teams going into playoffs (yes, there is a team with even less wins than 3).

Our philosophy has always been to get the kids to improve from when they started. After all, will anyone remember (or care) 10 years from now if their Mite Team won the house league championships back in 2007? If someone does care, then I feel sorry for that person.

So today we faced the #2 Red Wings (11-4), and we told the kids in the locker room, play hard, do your best, and win or lose, have fun. They skated their best and ended the game in a 3-3 tie.

More importantly, I saw something with our kids during this game, that we in adult league can learn from. There were many similarities between our 2 leagues, so I'll recap what I saw tonight and you can decide how it compares to our league.

• The ref didn't make every call perfect (like in adult league) - but never did a kid challenge, argue or discuss with the ref
• Kids got knocked down and ran into each other (like in adult league), but they never exchanged words with their opponent, never went after their opponent, nor did they come to the bench complaining how dirty the other team is
• Kids were out of position many times (like in adult league), but they never yelled at their teammates or argued

You may say that kids are not as smart, or maybe naive about the game, but I disagree. Hockey is hockey. Its a game. Right now its fun for these kids, but at some point, it will be played for the wrong reason. One day, a coach, parent or other will take the "fun" out of it. Is there any reason an adult team can't go 3 - 12 and still have fun?

Both the kids and adults play 5 on 5 hockey, with a goalie, need water between shifts, think they can play longer shifts than they should, love to celebrate when they score and want treats after the game. Lets get the adult league to not complain to the ref, not take things personal and play fair. After all, in the end both the adult league & kids league shake the opponent's hands after every game and can't wait until the next game.

D League Final Games

In the Final games of D League, we have some much anticipated match ups.

B & B Vs. Alien Hockey
After a remarkable and stunning win over 11 to 7 Insurance last week, the B & B players finally earned their first win. "My new helmet & mask combo did the trick" stated Hobbs of B & B. "Joe at Alien Hockey is the best guy in the whole wide world selling me some fabulous equipment to improve my game, I have him to thank for this great win and my great performance." Kessler of B & B contributed with 5 assists. "Finally, the person I passed it to finished by scoring." proclaimed Kessler. "I've been setting people up all season, they just couldn't convert." Alien Hockey got skunked last week to a strong Cup team. "We got too cocky" informed Keller of Alien, "I tried to keep them focused, but they were acting like 6 year olds" B & B has the momentum with the win, but I think it was just a lucky game. Alien by 3

Cup Vs. 11 to 7
"I guarantee a win...no question" exclaimed Green of 11 to 7. On the other side, Captain Johnson said "The only way we lose is if we don't show up." The battle of the top 2 teams should be a great end of season battle. "I plan on having at least 2 goals" mentioned Beede. "I should have 3 or 4 goals "stated Tinker of 11 to 7. He also stated ,"I predict the score will be 11 - 7 in our favor as a sign of respect to our sponsor."
"If they think they are getting by my brick wall defense, they have another thing coming" said Whiteman of Cup. "They are no match for me and my poke check."
I will go by the prediction of a final score of 11-7 with 11 to 7 winning.

Good luck & have fun!