Minnesota Hockey District 15

I wanted to give our district an updated report on the spring and Summer meetings that Minnesota Hockey held.

I am completing my first year as your director and learning more with each meeting.  I am now very comfortable at meetings and enjoy the discussions. 

At our summer meeting this past weekend we finally decided on the new residency policy.  Effective this season players are to participate where they attend school instead of where you live.  An example would be in Brainerd if someone from Pequot Lakes wanted to play in Brainerd the only requirement would be for the Pequot Lakes player to go to school in Brainerd, he would not have to live in the Brainerd area. 

It really shouldn’t effect us like it will in the cities. 

Other items we covered were tournaments.  This year Minnesota host cities that held a State or Regional ended up losing money with very few exceptions.  Morris actually made some money but both Pequot and Park Rapids lost money.  It was worse around the state.  Minnesota hockey is very concerned about this.  At the meeting we voted to discontinue banquets at State tourneys, banquets lost money at every tourney this year.  We also decided to charge each team going to a state tourney $400.  I voted against this but it was passed.

Last year we changed the team rest periods from 4 hours to 3 and only 10 hours rest required from one day to the next.  We voted this weekend to include that in regional and state tourneys.

One concern Minnesota Hockey has is that in a study conducted by USA Hockey they found that 43% of all players between the ages of 4-8 quit hockey before they turn 9.  In Minnesota that number is 41%.  That is a very alarming figure and we need to address it.  Retention is very important and we as a district have to work on making hockey a fun experience for our young players.  We need good consistent coaching that are teaching fundamentals and keeping fun in the practices and games.  We sometimes get so carried away on winning.  The kids forget all about how they did as squirts after one season.  The saying we should all adapt is “Kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” 

Teaching players fundamentals and repeat-repeat-repeat is much more important then wasting ice time on power plays and systems.  If you must do that, a parking lot or a gym would be as effective.

We will be hearing much more on retention in the next year.

Finally now that the residency policy is established we will focus on redistricting and regional tournaments.  Some talk is to eliminate regionals and just send the district champ to State.  As of now I am against that because Moorhead has been our district champ 9 out of 10 years.  I would prefer to have regionals and allow more of our district teams a chance to advance to state.  I like the idea of sending 2 or 3 teams to regions.  One never knows what can happen then.  

I will keep you informed on this and please send me your ideas. 

All these decisions are tough to make.   We debated the residency policy for days and hours.  Trying to please everyone is impossible.  When I cast my vote I think first and foremost how the vote will affect our district.  I keep in mind our smallest association along with the larger ones.

I didn’t cover all the topics that came out at the meeting.  Please check the Minnesota Hockey website as the minutes of the meeting will be posted. 

If you have any questions please contact me.   I will always listen and take your ideas with me to the meetings.

Yours in hockey

Denny Bushy 

This report is intended to inform all district 15 members of all changes, additions, or any other incidents affecting our district.

I would like to start with saying Thank you for electing me as the new District Director.  I will do my best to inform and be available when any of our members have questions or concerns.  Please always remember to call me anytime if you have any questions.  I will do my best to answer them.

I attended my first State meeting in Rochester.  It was interesting to see the State of Hockey in motion.  The Board of Directors works hard to keep our players first and foremost.   We discussed the survey that was conducted this summer.  The results will be public in the next few months.   Much talk was centered on waivers and residency requirements.  The city directors have many more issues then outstate when it comes to waivers and residency.  I think you will be hearing a lot more about that subject in the years to come.

Discussion was held about the one site state tourney format at the Excel Center.  You may remember the board approved having all youth tournaments at the Excel Center this past summer and then decided against it after a conflict was found with the Excel Center for this coming season.  The issue is not dead yet and probably will come up again in the future.  My position on this, off course, would be what’s best for our district.   When the issue comes up again I will inform you first of the proposals and let you members decide as a district before I cast our vote.

 Reminders to all our association presidents.  Make sure all screening forms are sent to me asap.  I am only missing two associations.  

At our fall meeting we decided not to have a sign-in day for rosters, but because we did not have our election before directors names were submitted to USA Hockey for signing off on rosters, my name was left off, so we will have our registrar sign this year’s roster.  This will require having sign in day.

  Our registrar will be sending out a letter to your association for time and location.

My policy on rosters will be:  all rosters must be final by Dec 31^st.  It will be your responsibility to have them signed at the sign-in day or send them to me and I will have our registrar sign them.  If after your roster is signed and you need to make changes you must send the roster to me for signing by our registrar.   I will permit players to play on teams without a signed roster providing I am aware of it and the correct roster has been submitted.  Any changes on rosters must be approved by myself before I will allow it to be signed.

Keep in mind that if you attend tournaments outside of our district, an up to date signed roster must be in your possession.  Tournaments or games within our district should have an up to date roster or have my approval to play.  All rosters are final after Dec 31^st. 

I hope to run these rosters through smoothly.  I realize that outstate communities have many changes and special circumstances compared to larger associations.  I will work with you providing we are within the rules. 

I need two associations to volunteer for the Wild Program Sales night.  The payback has increased to $2000.00.  If your community is interested please contact by phone or e-mail.

Park Rapids and Morris-Benson will be hosting sites for Regional’s this year.  I have some new information on the clothing sales at the tournament.  I will have the info for you at our next meeting.

Remember to get your coaches certified and all screening forms submitted.

Good luck during your tryouts and start up.

Any questions write  bushy@moorheadyouthhockey.com

Or call me at 218 236 6650  day time   

Cell phone  701 361 7984

It’s always a great day for hockey

Dennis Bushy, District 15 Director