SANTA FE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

UPDATES FROM YOUR BOARD

JULY 26, 2024

CHAVEZ CENTER ICE RINK UPDATE-

As many of our Members are aware, the Chavez Center has been working diligently to resolve several issues that resulted in the closure of the rink. These issues have included compressor failures, HVAC issues and roof leaks. Center management and staff have been working diligently to resolve the issues. Resolution has been compounded by parts and qualified labor availability, short-term budget constraints and unseasonably warm, wet weather. Chavez Center Management is providing regular updates to its User Group members. At this time, the situation is evolving on a daily basis and there is no firm reopening date. Updates will be posted on the SFHA web site as we get closer to the start of our Fall season.

SEASON REGISTRATION-

Registration for the 2024-25 season was scheduled to open on July 15th, however several items remained open resulting in a temporary delay. We now expect registration to be available by August 1st. Notice will be sent to all Association members and posted on our SFHA web site. Registration fees will remain the same as last year and early registration discounts will apply. We are planning on an official season start in mid-October.

Important changes in ordering jerseys, socks and Association branded merchandise are in the works and will be announced shortly. New this year, Players will have the option to add their names to their jerseys and limited jersey number selection will be available. Costs will be comparable to last season. Importantly, Players will have the option to retain and use their jerseys from last year.

BOARD CHANGES -

Alyssia Francisco has joined the Board as Treasurer, replacing Liz Alfaro who will remain on the Board as a voting member. Many thanks to Liz for her contributions over the past season. . Please join me in welcoming Alyssia and wishing her every success in her new role.

COACHING -

The Board is finalizing coaching assignments for the upcoming season. The full coach roster will be announced shortly. Stay tuned for details.....

Looking forward to another great season!

Bearclaw Shipe

President

ANNUAL MEETING NOTES

I am pleased to announce the seating of three new Board Members at our Annual Meeting on June 11th.

Please join me in welcoming and congratulating Cat Petersen, Deirdre Ryan and Svenja Strieker on their new roles in Santa Fe Hockey.

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The Board also established July 1st as the starting date for registration for the 2024-25 Season. Registration fees will remain the same as last season, including early registration discounts. Watch for more details in the coming weeks.

As a reminder, neck guards will be mandatory for all players beginning August 1st. This new mandate from USA Hockey will be strictly enforced. Guards will be required for all games and practices.

SFHA is tentatively planning an official season start in mid-October. We are working with the Chavez Center on ice scheduling and will have more details as schedules are developed.

At its Annual Meeting in May, Land of Enchantment (LOEAHA) addressed the topic of high school teams and the utilization of JV and Varsity designations for teams. There has not been an operational high school hockey league in New Mexico for several years. As a USA Hockey affiliate, LOEAHA is dropping the use of these designations and high school age teams will be designated as U16 and U18 teams consistent with USA Hockey rules. This change applies to all USA Hockey sanctioned programs in New Mexico.

There is some inaccurate information being spread about girls' participation on U16 and U18 teams around the hockey community. SFHA has always promoted inclusiveness on all of our teams. Girls are welcome and encouraged to register and play on our U16 and U18 teams. We are firmly committed to ensuring that girls have the same opportunities to participate in hockey as their male counterparts.

Bearclaw Shipe - President

News From the Rink

END OF SEASON MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT

By Bearclaw Shipe 04/21/2024, 8:15pm MDT

April 18, 2024

Santa Fe Hockey realized another successful season with our 2023-2024 program. Player enrollment was up thirty percent over the previous season and we fielded competitive teams in all age groups. We maintained a dedicated and hard-working group of volunteer Coaches, Team Managers and Parent Volunteers. Our Board made substantial progress on the Association Goals that were laid out at the start of the season. Under the leadership of Sarah (Japa) Wrenn-Weaver, a successful fundraising program was launched that will provide funding for scholarships, team supplies and allow our program to maintain competitive participation fees for all of our players. Katy Fitzgerald once again did an outstanding job in scheduling ice and games for all of our teams under frequently challenging circumstances. Slack was adopted as the primary communications tool for Association officials and the Association received unlimited free Google Drive storage through the efforts of John Utsey. Our community outreach efforts and social media presence were significantly enhanced thanks to the work of Dawn Kaufman. Policies and Procedures were updated to ensure compliance with USA Hockey requirements. All of these accomplishments could not have occurred without the selfless dedication, commitment and hard-work of all of our Board members and volunteers.

As we reflect on our previous accomplishments, it is important to recognize areas for continued improvement. The Board is already actively engaged in planning for the upcoming season and developing revised goals for the Association. The amount of work to successfully launch a new season is significant. Our efforts will focus on player and coach recruitment and development, continuing to enhance internal and external communications, expanding our fundraising efforts, growing our volunteer base and maintaining compliance with the increasingly complex myriad of rules and regulations that we are required to follow.

Santa Fe Hockey cannot continue to thrive and grow without a dedicated group of volunteers at all levels. As an all volunteer organization, volunteers are our lifeblood. Over the past several years, a core group of volunteer board members and coaches have worked tirelessly to maintain our program.

To ensure the long-term success of Santa Fe Hockey, it is absolutely vital that we expand our volunteer base, particularly from the younger age groups. Volunteers are needed to serve on our board and as board committee members. Several of our most dedicated and hard-working board members are approaching the end of their service to Santa Fe Hockey as their children age out of our program. It is vital that we expand our volunteer base, fill open board and committee seats and groom the future leadership of our Association. Please consider joining our volunteer ranks. The rewards and personal satisfaction obtained from supporting our program are worth the effort!

The Volunteer Interest Form is located on our website under the Forms section which can be accessed from the Association Home Page.

On behalf of the entire Board, a heartfelt thanks for your interest in participation in Santa Fe Hockey.

Bearclaw Shipe

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Forms and Documents

SFHA Policies, Procedures and Forms are located here.

GROW WITH US!

Welcome to the Santa Fe Hockey Association, the home of the Santa Fe Capitals, where we continue to support the mission to grow hockey in the Southwest by providing opportunities for girls and boys of the Santa Fe community to succeed both on and off the ice. Here at Santa Fe Hockey Association, we are committed to fulfilling the three promises of youth hockey:

Promise of Fun
Promise of Guidance
Promise of Achievement

Do you want to maximize your ice time, improve your game, and help us make a difference? We are here to help you achieve your goals. We are introducing Life Skills Development, a pilot initiative with a promise to develop life skills that build a foundation for a child's confidence, pride, focus, and responsibility. Learn more here.

Ready to elevate your game with private and semi-private instruction? SFHA is pleased to introduce "on-demand" coaching sessions with coach Lisa and coach Sage. Learn more here.

Go Capitals!

The following Spread sheet is the GCCC schedule. You can find Stick and Puck times as well as open skate sessions.

IN THE NEWS

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – After COVID dwindled the number of youth hockey players in Santa Fe, coaches are trying new methods to build the youth programs back up. Blades on fresh ice and the puck gliding away as kids chase after it was much-awaited sights in the rink for coaches and families, alike. Watch the full story here.

Welcome to Santa Fe Hockey Association, the home to the Santa Fe Capitals