2007/2008 Hidden Valley Hockey

Dear Parents and Players, Current and Future!

And there goes another great outdoor Hidden Valley Hockey season!  For the first time ever we did not lose a single Saturday to warm weather.  But we sure know what 29 below at 7:30 am feels like.

And the Hidden Valley Cup for 2007-2008 goes to..............TA DAA.........The Blue Team and Todd Hunchak as Coach.  This team had the stamina, speed and spirit to play “all out” all the time.  They also had every player show up almost all the time.  Way to go Team Blue.  I think that this year the best team did win Hidden Valley Hockey Immortality!!

The 6-8s that showed up for the Finale were brave little souls out in the cold.  When the sun came out for them it seemed to warm them up and they just had a ball and got their pics taken with the Cup. 

It was an agonizing decision to go ahead with the Wind-up with such a cool forecast however, our thoughts were, "When are we going to get another chance"?  As it turned out everyone there had fun despite the cold.  We had the Hut temperature cranked and the Hot Dog Vendor stayed close to the grill.  And he did have a good variety, too.  We'll do that again.  Randy and Lyse Boras, you deserve our eternal gratitude for buying out the city of personal hand and foot warmers.  These sure came in handy!!!

I'd like to thank all the coaches and parents that came out and shoveled the ice at all hours.  You know who you are.  Thank you!!! 

Mike Gratton deserves a great round of applause for doing the same and for keeping the snow machines well tuned, running and full of gas.

Now if you please, and if you would do this today rather than tomorrow, and tomorrow rather than next week, please contact your coach at the number listed below if you have not handed in a hockey jersey and still have it around somewhere. It is important that we get these back in soon. Thanks for this.

Lloyd    Black Team            274-3161

Todd    Blue Team              730-6459

Frank   Green Team           592-1335

Gord    Red Team              274-3232

6-8s

Ken    369-9631

Bob   bheise@shaw.ca

Next year my son will be 14 and it will be my last year running Hidden Valley Hockey.  So we will need a new Convenor to put the league together and keep it running.  It's not a big deal really.  Just be as unorganized as I was this year and you'll be fine.   :)  

Now, for futures--If there are enough players 15 and over I would like to start play for two mid-weeknights at 7:00 pm, say Monday and Thursday.   There might not be enough players 15 years and over this next season but for sure, looking at the ages, 09/10 there will be enough.  I would think that Dads could play, too.    We don't really seem to have enough numbers to break into three age groups.  You have to have at least 4 teams for league play so that means about 110 to 120 registrants from 9 to 16.  It's possible, so let’s hope for that.

In any case, a Big Congratulations to Team Blue and the Hunchak football er..., hockey team.   You played well and deserved to win the Hidden Valley Cup.

For me this was a very rewarding season to see all the players develop their positive and competitive skills.  And it is even more rewarding to see them grow into fine young people.  Makes me glad I live in Hidden ValleyJ.

See you next year - at Center Ice.

Lloyd Sotas

Convenor, Hidden Valley Hockey.