1. USA Hockey Special Hockey Classic – PLAYER and VOLUNTEER Registration – Deadline September 20th

Welcome to the 2024 USA Hockey Special Hockey Classic!  This fun filled hockey weekend will have players and volunteers from all over the country and maybe even Canada participating!  Information on this event can be found on the USA Hockey website here (do not register here, this is information only): https://www.usahockey.com/2024specialclassic

This email contains important event information and registration for current MN Special Hockey players and volunteers.  There are two separate registrations - one for players and one for volunteers.  The event will be held in Blaine (Super Rink) on November 15-17, 2024 (Friday- Sunday).  Each team will have at least 4 games over the weekend, 1 on Friday, 2 on Saturday and 1 on Sunday.  Players, volunteers and families are invited to attend a social event at the National Sports Center on Saturday the 16th.  Players will receive swag bags sponsored by the MN Wild.

Cost for MSH players to participate in this event is $35 and is collected during this registration.  MSH will create as many teams as necessary depending on the number of players that complete registration.

Volunteer registration is for On-Ice/Bench Volunteers and Team Managers.  USA Hockey is running this tournament and will be looking for volunteers to fill other roles.  MSH is creating rosters with this registration and will need many volunteers to help make this event special for all MSH players. 

The teams will be created dependent on player abilities, MSH will make the best attempt to keep local teams together dependent on player ability.  For example, all the 'C' level players on the Lakeville team will (hopefully) all be on the same team, along with the 'C' level players from Plymouth and Edina.  This sort of pattern will be continued throughout the creation of all the A, B and C level teams.  This pattern cannot be promised but MSH will work hard to make this successful for all MSH players regardless of ability.  USA Hockey refers to the levels of play as Tier 1 (Cheetah), Tier 2 (Tiger) and Tier 3 (Lion).

Player requirements: In order to attend the Classic, players MUST have ALL their 2024-2025 Season registration completed by October 1st.  There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule.  If a player registers for the classic, but fails to complete their MSH registration, their money will not be refunded and they will not be able to participate in any of the events at the Classic.

Volunteer requirements:  In order to attend the Classic, volunteers MUST have ALL their 2024-2025 Season registration completed by October 1st.  There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule.  This includes USA Hockey registration (if necessary), MSH Registration, SafeSport Training completed (if necessary) and Background Check cleared (if necessary).  Please see the Volunteer Application page on the MSH website.

If a player requires 1-on-1 assistance from a volunteer on the ice, the player must communicate with their volunteer to ensure the volunteer is able to attend, is registered for the event and has completed all volunteer registration requirements.

At all of our events and especially a national event like this, MSH also requires our players to represent the organization proudly.  If a player does not comply with our Player Code of Conduct they will be told to leave the event and may not be eligible to attend other similar events.

MSH does not cover the cost of hotel stays for this event, but is offering a travel stipend of $150 to our out state teams to attend.  USA Hockey blocked rooms with this link, but it is not required that MSH players and volunteers stay there:  https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.24144.html?groupId=4V8DP0S3

The social event (Saturday evening) will be held at the National Sports Center (next to the rink).  All registered players, coaches and managers get in free.  Others will be charged $15 to attend.  There will be a taco bar, music, games, photo booth and the Wild game on the big screen.

Key Date Details:

• September 20th – This registration closes.
• October 1st  – All players and volunteers MUST have all 2024-2025 Season registration completed.
• October 15th – Team breakout will be announced.
• November 1st – 10th – Game times will likely be announced.
• November 15th – 12:00 pm games start.
• November 16th – Evening social event for all players and families - Cost is $15 for family members.
• November 17th - 1:00 pm games end.

With all MSH SportsEngine Registrations you will receive a confirmation email.  If you do not receive it you are not registered!

PLAYERS register here by September 20th:  https://mnspecialhockey.sportngin.com/register/form/085249559

VOLUNTEERS register here by September 20th: https://mnspecialhockey.sportngin.com/register/form/701850645

2. Fall Clinics – St. Louis Park Fall Clinic – Late Registration

There is still time to register for the St. Louis Park pre-season (summer) clinic.  If you have already signed up to attend either the Lakeville or St. Cloud clinics you do not need to register again.  The jerseys are no longer available but can still attend with a $10 fee (to help cover the cost of the ice time).

Players will be notified of their St. Louis Park skating time.  It is usually the case that the lower-level players skate during the first hour.  The dates/times are Sundays October 6th – 27th at 10:30 or 11:30.

With every registration of this type, you will receive a confirmation email once your registration is complete.  If you do NOT receive a confirmation email, you did not complete the registration correctly.

Register here:  https://mnspecialhockey.sportngin.com/register/form/622051933

3. Shattuck-St. Mary’s Pre-Season Training Camp – Register by October 13th

On Sunday, October 27th, Minnesota Special Hockey, in partnership with Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, MN, will host the first annual Minnesota Special Hockey Pre-Season Training Camp!

This fantastic one-day event, to be held the week before our regular season begins, will provide our special hockey players an opportunity to participate in an adapted and modified hockey camp in one of the most prestigious hockey settings in the United States. The day will include both on and off-ice sessions, and lunch will be provided in the middle of the day. Skaters and coaches from both the boys and girls Shattuck hockey teams and coaches from Minnesota Special Hockey will be on the ice to provide individualized and small group instruction throughout the day. Players from our teams throughout the state of all ages, ability levels, and years of experience are encouraged to sign up and attend! Groups will be split up based on skill level, and corresponding instruction and activities will be provided to challenge the skaters at their level. Multiple ice rinks will be utilized for the various groups. Small-group goalie instruction will also be made available.

Schedule for the day:

Off-ice sessions include a variety of organized activities: shooting stations, activities in the dome (or outdoor turf if it's nice weather) including soccer, relays, agility, weight training room activities, and basketball/gym games. All activities will be organized and modified to ensure everyone can participate. Please bring appropriate clothing and shoes for this activity.

The afternoon ice time will incorporate Shattuck players skating alongside our Minnesota Special Hockey players in a fun team-building scrimmage. Please try to bring both your green and white jerseys in preparation for this scrimmage.

Following the scrimmage, we will have snacks and drinks to fuel everyone before they hit the road!

Our goal with this camp is to allow our players to experience what it is like to participate in a traditional hockey camp. Partnering with the Shattuck-St. Mary's hockey programs will allow us to provide the individualized and small-group instruction and attention needed to ensure all players are challenged at whatever skating level they may be at.  We understand that a day-long activity may be a challenge for some players, and we encourage you to sign up even if you can only make it through part of the day's activities. 

Shattuck-St. Mary's has donated all of the ice time and facility rentals at no cost to our program, so our players can participate in this preseason training camp at no cost! Parents and families will have access to a lounge area throughout the day if they wish/need to stay on-site. 

To participate in this activity, MN Special Hockey players must have completed the 2024/25 MN Special Hockey registration process. First-year players are also encouraged to attend if they have completed the registration process. 

Check out the following video link to see what some of the day's activities will include: MN Special Hockey & Shattuck St. Mary’s Pre-Season Training Camp  

The deadline to sign up is Sunday, October 13th.

MSH realizes that this camp conflicts with the last clinic in St. Louis Park and recommends that players choose only one event to attend that day.

With all MSH Registrations, look for an email confirmation to confirm completed registration.

Questions?
Colin Thomas  :  MSHRochester@gmail.com   (Rochester Special Hockey Coach)
Steve Coonan  : steve@coachcoonan.com  (Edina Special Hockey Coach

Register here:  https://mnspecialhockey.sportngin.com/register/form/896467879

4. Strauss Neck Laceration Protection Shirt - Order by September 23

Strauss has another order opportunity for its Neck Laceration Protection Shirt.  The deadline to order is September 23rd with delivery in time so players will have the shirts in time for the start of the MSH season.  Here is the link to order:   https://specialhockeyneckprotect.itemorder.com/

Remember that USA Hockey now requires all players aged 17 and under to wear neck laceration protection (neck guards or shirts).  Neck guards are strongly recommended for players aged 18 and over.  Exemptions must be for medical reasons and recommended by a medical provider. 

5. MSH 2024-25 Season Player and Volunteer Registration Open

Player and volunteer registration is open for the MN Special Hockey 2024-25 season!   Follow all the steps in the registration pages to complete your registration.  Please read the registration page carefully, it contains a lot of important information.

Player registration:  https://www.mnspecialhockey.org/playerregistration

Volunteer registration:  https://www.mnspecialhockey.org/coachesapply

Important items:

-  If you are a NEW player, or if you are a RETURNING player and need to order a new jersey, the deadline to register to get your jersey in time for the first game has passed.  You can still order new jerseys in your registration but you will receive them after the first game.  Replacement jersey costs are $65.

-  Replacement sock costs are $14 – includes purchase of a white pair.

-  If you are a player born in or before 2007 you must have your SafeSport Training or Accommodation completed by October 15th in order to participate in the first practice!

-  All coach and volunteer requirements (including SafeSport training and background checks) must be completed by October 15th in order to participate in the first practice!

6.  FYI - MSH 2024-2025 General Season Schedule

The MSH specific dates/times for each team will be published in the middle of October.  Below is the general MSH season schedule.

• Sunday, November 3rd – First team practices
• Sunday, November 10th – Practices
• Friday, November 15th – Sunday, November 17th – USA Hockey Special Hockey Classic in Blaine – Player and Volunteer registration (by September 20th) is required to attend, see separate newsletter item for information.
• Sunday, November 24th – Games
• Sunday, December 1st – Practices
• Sunday, December 8th – Practices
• Sunday, December 15th – Jamborees
• Sunday, December 22nd – Holiday Break
• Sunday, December 29th – Practice
• Sunday, January 5th – Practices
• Sunday, January 12th – Games
• Sunday, January 19th – Practices
• Sunday, January 26th – Games
• Sunday, February 2nd – Practices
• Saturday, February 8th – Sunday, February 9th – Alexandria Jamboree
• Sunday, February 16th – Games
• Sunday, February 23rd – Practices
• Sunday, March 2nd - Jamborees