Jackson Youth Hockey Board Meeting

April 26, 2010

1) Call to Order – Steve Schultz

2) Guests

  1. Kathy Roe and Jolene Erickson – Jackson Hole Women’s Hockey League. Women have one ice time per week at 9:45. There are about 93 members of the team and around 20 over the years that would have played but there was a lack of competition for them. Women have discussed the possibility of a recreation or house league to meet the needs of these girls. They are also interested in obtaining a better ice time and or more ice time. WAHL currently supports U-19 teams for girls across the State. Steve shared there are numbers issues at the upper levels so JYH is looking toward the development of a house league. He described the baseball and soccer leagues and what JYH might learn from them with in house teams, less travel, lower costs.
  2. Bob Carruth – Bob joined by phone to discuss the potential of another rink. Location is still under investigation. The Intermountain Hockey League is through the Morton family out of Chicago. This group has spoken with Yvonne Robertson with the Teton County Fair Board, Teton County School District and Parks and Rec to expand youth hockey. Question raised as to the possibility of year around ice. Bob responded that rink would be on a lease situation so dependent upon those terms as well as need/interest. There is a consultant, Dave Jensen, whom JYH may find valuable with respect to rec/house league.

3) House/Recreation League Discussion

  1. Recommendation to keep this simple in the first year – select one age group and perhaps the Squirt level and implement with PeeWees the following year.
  2. Another thought is to start with the PeeWees this year due to conflicts this past season.
  3. Discussion of current and anticipated numbers and what might be a model number of players. Would require strength of coaches to build skills as well as to sustain interest over season.
  4. JYH had a recreation program in the early years of program in which there were 4 teams. Opportunity to build our numbers and move the travel team members to the morning practice slot. Goals to build skating skills, endurance, and skills in all season. Discussion that it is important to program to build skills as this supports kids remaining in program over time, practice to game time ratio. USHA has models in place.
  5. There is need for a Director of this league and perhaps not a hockey director at this time.
  6. Other issues revolve around the schedule for all groups for practice as well as a game schedule.
  7. Further discussion as to whether or not members of the travel team would also play on rec/house teams.
  8. Need to complete development tp get information out to parents, update website and address fee issues

4) Next meeting in May including the Annual Meeting on May 26.