All Players/Coaches/Parents/Guardians:

We are bringing back mandatory parent/player/coaches meetings for the 2024-2025 hockey season. The meeting should take no longer than 15-20 minutes. With that being said see the following mandatory meeting times. If you are unable to make it, we plan to have 2 “make up” sessions for parents/players. We are requesting all parents/guardians attend. If you do not attend one session, your child will not be able to play.

See times and dates below:

TUESDAY OCTOBER 15, 2024                

5:15pm- A Bantam

5:30pm- A-Peewee

6:15pm- B Squirt and B Peewee

6:30pm- C Squirt

6:45pm- U10/U12 Girls

7:15pm-B Bantam

7:30pm-A Squirt / C Bantam

SUNDAY OCTOBER 20

11:00am- MAKEUP MEETING

12:00pm- MAKEUP MEETING

Please email abby@leachlawalbertlea.com with questions. If you are unable to make it to either of these meetings you must let us know. Again, if you do not show up, your child will not be able to skate.

Rochester - Eagles Club

Oct 13th (12:00 PM) - BA, BB, BB2/CB, PWA 

Oct 13th (2:30 PM) - PWB, U12A, U12B, PWC

Nov 17th (12:00 PM) - All Squirts & U10

https://gppaustin.chipply.com/alyouthhockey/

Come on out to the Albert Lea City Arena on November 2nd from 11:30 am -12:45 pm and have your child/ren Try Hockey For Free! This free event is designed to provide kids the opportunity to try hockey in a FUN, safe environment with trained coaching staff. No experience is necessary. 

Why try hockey?

Hockey Builds Confidence - Hockey helps develop a positive attitude, self-image and self-esteem. There's nothing like ice to teach kids about standing on their own two feet.

Hockey Builds Mental Agility - Decision-making, strategy, concentration — hockey teaches kids a lot more than how to skate.

Hockey Develops Social Skills - It takes cooperation, teamwork and respect to succeed on and off the ice. Hockey teaches those skills, while also creating new friendships. 

Hockey is For Everyone - USA Hockey has a place for everyone to play. Hockey players come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and creeds.  

Hockey Teaches Persistence - Everyone stumbles on occasion, but hockey players always get back on their feet.

Screening the Goalie is Better Than Screen Time - Hockey gives children an engaging, fast-paced, healthy alternative to sedentary recreation. Hockey develops unique physical literacy. 

Sign your child/ren up today for this free event here: https://tryhockeyforfree.com/event_detail/3109

The Albert Lea Hockey Association (ALHA) is very excited to announce that the Park & Rec Mite 1, 2, 3 Program will now be under the same umbrella as our Traveling Program starting in the 2024 / 2025 season like most Associations these days.

Registration & Equipment w/ ALHA 

Players - USA Hockey Registered

Coaches - USA Hockey Registered, Background Check, Safesport Certified and Required Coaches Classes like our Traveling Coaches. Interested in Coaching at these levels - Go to our Home Page and submit application.

Mites (Boys / Girls) Age Classifications - 06/01/15 and younger.

Mites (Boys / Girls) that the parent / guardian thinks their player is ready to move up to a Squirt or U10 Girls Age Classification are welcomed to participate in the Early Bird Camp & Tryouts Process (Selection Committee).  Camp Fee ($ 150) is the only payment at Registration. If your player makes a Squirt or U10 Girls Team, you will be directed to re-register for Player Fees and Fundraising after Tryouts.  If your player is determined not ready for Squirt / U10 Girls, your player will be sent back to the Mite Level for year of development, and you will be directed to register your player as a Mite. 

Mite Registration Options - Mite 1 (New to Hockey) or Mite 2 /3 - both @$ 100.

Mite Schedule - Will start after MEA (Wk. Beg. 10/21) - Schedules to posted.  We are looking at Wed Nights and Sat Mornings for all 3 Levels and every other Monday Night (All Mite Skills) - 7:00 to 8:00 PM.

In-House Mite Team Pages will be created for communications, rosters and schedules. 

Prior to Thanksgiving and starting (Wk. Beg. 12/02) - the U8 Boys and Girls Traveling Teams will be formed (they will have their own practices / scrimmages on Sunday Night like last season). Home Mite Jamboree w/ other Associations - Feb 1 & 2 (Last Season 16 Teams) and there will be at least one away tournament scheduled. Away scrimmages with other Teams will be scheduled. Note - Players are still required to participate in their normal Wed / Sat Schedule along w/ their every other Monday Ice Sessions. A few Dryland Sessions will be scheduled (TMJ Fitness). 

After the U8 Traveling Teams have been finalized, you will be directed to re-register for the U8 Traveling Fee ($ 200) plus Fundraising (raffle book).

See Registration Tab above for more info.....

By USA Hockey, 01/28/24

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The USA Hockey Congress today approved legislation requiring the use of neck laceration protection for players in all age classifications, other than adults, in games and practices, as well as for on-ice officials under the age of 18, effective August 1, 2024. For clarity, the requirement includes players in the youth, girls and junior age classifications.

USA Hockey has long recommended the use of neck laceration protection, as well as cut-resistant socks, sleeves or undergarments. The USA Hockey Board of Directors asked the organization’s Safety and Protective Equipment Committee in November 2023 to begin the process of recommending potential rule changes related to neck laceration protection.

“Safety is always at the forefront of our conversations and the action of our Congress today reflected that,” said Mike Trimboli, president of USA Hockey. “We appreciate the significant work done by our Safety and Protective Equipment Committee, led by Dr. Mike Stuart, and the many others who were instrumental in the overall evaluation process.”

“I know throughout our organization, the overwhelming opinion was that the time is appropriate to modify our rules related to neck laceration protection,” said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. “We’re also encouraged that the hockey industry is committed to continuing to work to improve the cut resistant products that protect players to help influence the safest possible landscape for the game.”

The legislation passed today also strongly recommends use of neck laceration protection by adult players.

For more information, including frequently asked questions, click here.

1. District 9 has fined our first Association for Abuse of Officials.  This season has been the worst I have experienced.  Please send out a notice to your members asking them to refrain from this poor fan behavior.   It seems like a weekly issue this season.  I have dealt with 4 this week already.   We need this behavior to stop.  Remind all that a 3-game suspension is the 1st penalty, the 2nd time will be a 1-year suspension and a $500 fine, the 3rd time will be a 2-year Suspension and a $1000 fine.  If no improvement is seen, we will move to a 1-year suspension as our first penalty and the person will need to attend a hearing.
2. Going forward, if a team has a video that they would like reviewed, I will only look at it after your Association D9 rep has reviewed and talked through what this video is to accomplish, and it makes sense.   The video must be sent by the D9 Representative to me.  Calls will not be changed from a video; but we may add to a call with a video review.  We do utilize some of these videos for teaching videos with our referee group.  I receive too many videos, some come from MN Hockey that our members send to them.  MN Hockey will not do anything with a video, they will just forward them to me.  Spectators need to remember that their view is different that what a referee sees, the angle is different, and the referees have pucks and players to navigate.  I promise they are doing their best job.

Have a Great Holiday.

Mark Blaisdell

D9 Director

4 Person Best Shot - 11:00 AM Shotgun Start

We have people asking if they can reserve a spot in advanced for our 2025 Tournament (Aug 23rd).  No financial commitment, cancel anytime.  See link below.