General Information
2015-2016 NORTH DEVILS HOCKEY SEASON
Welcome to the North Devils Youth Hockey Association. We are thrilled to see many new faces this year and are pleased to see the return of those that played with us in the past. The following document has been designed to inform you of the structure of the North Devils organization and to highlight and educate members on all the aspects of our program that make it special. The North Devils are committed to the best interests of all our players: creating strong teams and even stronger friendships that will grow with the kids up and into their high school years.
Pride in our Organization
We have Board Members, Coaches, Team Administrators and volunteers invested in the success of our program and our players. We have many, many supporters who have helped us grow along the way. It is important for us to provide positive social opportunities so players can grow and mature in a safe and comfortable environment, supported by coaches and adults from their community, who genuinely care about them. Yes, we are a grass roots effort, but passion is what creates great athletes. We believe in the benefits of bonding with teammates, of developing lasting relationships with families in our own communities and in building a sense of community pride for those towns in our program. We believe in the proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child.” These are values you will not find in larger, select programs. This is what Devils Hockey is proud of. We create players who grow to gain confidence as well as skills; players who believe in the strength and support of community.
Our players create lasting friendships and memories that carry with them throughout their life. Most of our players begin as Mites and stay with the organization, skating with their friends up to high school.
Age Divisions for the 2015-2016 Season:
Mite - born 2007 and later
Squirt - born 2005 and 2006
Pee Wee - born 2003 and 2004
Bantam - born 2001 and 2002
Midget – born 2000 and earlier
Middle School - players IN grades 6, 7, 8 (school year 2015-2016)
What’s included?
Our full season tuitions, from Mite B to Bantam age, include approximately 25 games a season, 1 weekly skills session and 1 weekly coach’s practice. The Mite C division and our Mighty Mite House League follow the American Development Model (ADM), created by USA Hockey. This group has approximately 20 cross ice games and 2 practices each week.
Our Middle School teams participate in the Foxboro Sports Center Junior High School league with approximately 23 games a season and coach’s practices.
Please note that all schedules are subject to weekly “bye” and blackout dates as applied by the leagues.
Practice Information:
Practice locations vary and are determined by ice availability. In addition to on-ice practices, North Devils offers sessions at DAJ Skillz, an off-ice facility owned and operated by Olympian and NHL hockey player, David Jensen. Goalies are offered discounted sessions at Stop It Goaltending in Foxboro. Fees are determined by the number of goalies on the team.
The times of practices and the location of practices can change during the season and may change year to year based on ice availability. Schedules are not distributed until the end of August.
DAJ Skills
DAJ Skills is a new and unique opportunity, which we are offering our program members this year. The North Devils have partnered with 1984 US Olympic Hockey player, David Jensen, at his new facility located at the Foxboro Sport Center. Our players will attend on a rotating basis, to be instructed “off ice” focused skills of puck control, stick handling, and shooting. We expect to see a marked improvement in the abilities of our players as the season progresses. Players are expected to attend with their team when scheduled. Mite players at the Mite C and Mighty Mite House level attend DAJ weekly. Parents are asked to remain outside of the DAJ facility and watch from the exterior so that the instructors may have the full attention of the players.
Edge Performance Systems
North Devils Hockey will be providing our Bantams participation in a weekly off-ice conditioning program at
Edge Performance Systems, located at the Foxboro Sport Center. Edge Performance Systems is a comprehensive training program which focuses on enhancing flexibility, strength, explosive power, agility and speed, while decreasing the occurrence of injury. We feel this is a much needed and very important benefit to our Bantam players. Players will attend weekly on Thursday evening as a team.
Tournaments
Each team typically participates in at least one, many times more than one, tournament during their season. The number of tournaments and the tournament selection is determined by the level and commitment of each team. In many cases these tournaments take place over the holiday breaks or during school vacations. The prices of tournaments vary and in some cases, based on location an overnight stay is needed. Tournaments are a great way for teams to bond and enjoy moments off the ice too. Great memories are created.
Coaches and Board Members
North Devils is an association where players are provided an organized, well run program with instruction from coaches who are passionate about the sport of hockey. Our coaches come from a range of backgrounds in hockey training, education and experiences. Our coaches are not paid. They are here because of their passion for the game. All coaches are required by USA Hockey to attend Hockey Coaching Clinics and take online modules appropriate to their age group in order to stay up to date on the needs of kids as they age through the program.
We are fortunate to have such an involved and dedicated group of volunteer Board Members, Coaches, Team Administrators and Committee Members. Our staff donates their time and energy to make this program what it is. The board meets once a month to discuss the needs of the program and to resolve any concerns that may have been raised.
For the well-being of our children, all North Devils Board members, Coaches and Assistant Board members are CORI’d by USA Hockey.
Team Administrators
Each of our teams in the North Devils program has a designated Team Administrator. Team admins are your key sources of communication. You will receive weekly updates from your team administrator reminding you of upcoming practices, games and events. The team admin will collect monies for tournaments and social events. They may call on you for support or to assist with various team activities. Please respond quickly to emails and correspondence so that we can stay organized and focused on the players throughout the season. Your team administrator will be looking for assistance with team photos and team publicity.
Participation
Hockey is a team sport and each player has a responsibility to participate in scheduled team activities to insure that their development, conditioning and game preparation is on par with their teammates. Always notify your coach if your child is unable to make a practice, skills session or game.
Commitment
Hockey is a team sport with each player playing a key role in the success and development of the team. By signing up for the North Devils, we feel all players are committing to participate fully in all team activities on and off the ice. Generally the commitment level is highest for “A” teams, with the greatest flexibility on “C” teams. By earning a spot on the roster of an A or B team, a player is displacing another player from that team. There is a higher level of commitment expected at the A level over the B level and at the B level over the C level.
Our tryout process is designed to place players at a level in the program where they will have the opportunity to compete at the appropriate level based upon their skill. However, the tryout process cannot always properly judge a player’s and their family’s commitment to hockey in general and the North Devils specifically. Players and parents at all levels should expect that hockey at each level will require a significant commitment of time. The expectation at all levels is that players attend practices, skills, and games. If parents foresee this to be a concern, they should discuss this with the league president and vice-president at the time of tryouts.
North Devils is proudly a “youth hockey” program. We value, care and spend as much time on “B” and “C” teams as on “A” teams and believe these distinctions are necessary only to the extent they are needed to determine at what level a team plays at in a given league. They do not determine the “real players” nor very often who will be playing 5, 10, or 20 years from now.
Coaching Guidelines for Ice Time
We feel that each player should receive approximately equal ice time during the course of the season provided they participate equally in their own development and that of the team. However, players who do not participate equally in development may find themselves with less playing time than others. It is important to the Board that all players and teams achieve their potential each season. The following are the expectations and guidelines set for players and coaches who participate on each team or level of play:
Mites:
Players are expected to have substantially equal ice time. No unexcused/excused absence policy applies. Coaches may discipline a player for dangerous play, foul language, or impeding another player’s ability to learn by removing them from the ice for a short period of time.
Squirt, Pee Wee & Bantam teams (except those listed below):
Coaches have the discretion to create and use distinct power play/penalty kill units during the 3
rd period of games or during overtime. They can reduce a player’s ice time as a form of discipline if the player displays poor sportsmanship, is disruptive to the team on or off the ice, is purposefully lacking effort/not working hard during practices or games, is not following team rules, or for taking bad penalties. It is expected that all players are
given the opportunity to participate on power play/penalty kill units regularly during games. Coaches should make it a
priority to strive for equal ice time for all skaters during the course of a game and for all goalies during the course of the season.
Pee Wee A, All Middle School Teams
Coaches have the discretion to create and use distinct power play/penalty kill units during the course of the game. They can reduce a player’s ice time as a form of discipline if the player displays poor sportsmanship, is disruptive to the team on or off the ice, is purposefully lacking effort/not working hard during practices or games, is not following team rules, or for taking bad penalties. It is expected that all players are
given the opportunity in practices or games to earn a position on a power play/penalty kill unit. Coaches should use their best judgment and strive for equal ice time for all skaters during the course of a game and for all goalies during the course the season.
If there are questions or concerns on the above set of expectations or guidelines, please discuss them with your team coach or a member of the grievance committee.
Website – www.northdevilshockey.com
Schedules and important dates are kept current on the North Devils website. For game cancellations, please check the website calendar. Each team has their own webpage to share pictures, game results, team info, etc. You will find a Team Calendar, where your personal team schedule can be found. You can even have this linked to your phone so that all schedules are at your fingertips! Please refer to the website as your central source of information.
Facebook – northdevilshockey
Our Facebook page does not replace our website or regular email communications. It is used as a secondary vehicle for sharing event announcements, league information and photos collected throughout the season. Albums exist for each team to share photos with friends and family.
North Devils Newsletters
Monthly emails are sent to update you on what’s happening in the program. Information is given to help you prepare for important activities such as: social events, tournaments, banquets and tryouts. Please take the time to keep yourself updated and informed so that your child can get the most out of their NORTH DEVILS Hockey experience.
Paypal
The use of PAYPAL for registration was new this season. Although there were a few accounts which encountered challenges, overall it was a tremendous benefit to the program and saves much precious time for those responsible for recordkeeping. We thank you for your patience. We are going to attempt to continue its use for the collection of tournament payments and P-Bruins payments. Please save your access code for easy access!
North Devils Events & Activities
The North Devils is truly a family oriented program. We provide activities and events which bring the players and their families together both on and off the ice. Teams are offered the chance each year to play hockey games down in Providence, either prior to or following a P-Bruins game. The North Devils are fortunate enough to have a long time partnership with the Boston Bruins! Each year mite and squirt age players are offered the chance to participate in the Boston Bruins 3 Minutes of Fame!
Parents have joined their children on the ice at the Family Winter Skate at Patriots Place and have watched in the stands at many college hockey family nights. Emphasizing the importance of community, Devils are represented at local town events like the North Attleboro Santa Parade and the Foxboro Founders Day Parade. At the end of our season, each team is celebrated at an end of year banquet.
Uniforms
The North Devils are proud of the look and quality of our team uniforms. Each shirt is personalized for the children with their name and a unique number for their age group. Uniform sets consist of personalized home and away game jerseys and matching socks. Those new to the program will need to purchase a complete set. You will be contacted for sizing information. North Hockey requires a BLACK helmet and BLACK pants as part of their uniform. Helmet decals will be provided. Practice jerseys are also provided by the association at the start of the season. Please refrain from adding names to practice jerseys, to keep all teams uniform in appearance. Players are required to wear a mouth guard and neck guard at all games and practices. Players are expected to be in the proper and complete North Devils uniform for all games and practices. Please wear appropriate socks.
Apparel
T-shirts, sweatshirts, warm ups, jackets, hats and more with the North Devils logo will be available for purchase through Mannys Hockey Shop located on Mendon Road, In Cumberland RI. (Exit 10 off of 295 South). NEW this year, North Devils is offering an ONLINE APPAREL STORE! Orders totalling $75.00 or more ship for free. For orders under $75.00, the shipping cost is just 4.99. To access the online store, please see the tab to the left on our North Devils Website homepage.
Financial Support
We understand that hockey is an expensive sport and at times financial challenges may arise to make the cost of the sport prohibitive. The Devils organization is aware of programs that offer limited financial assistance to youth hockey families. If your family is going through a financial hardship, please contact us for information. We want to see as many children as possible stay with our organization and enjoy the sport of hockey.
Parent Responsibilities
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and reach out for assistance. We are all here to help you and welcome you into this crazy sport of hockey and the Devils Hockey family. You can always ask questions of your team administrator, coaches or members of the board.
Please make every effort to have your child attend all scheduled practices and skills sessions. Hockey is a team sport and relies on the attendance of all to be able to work on game play, improvement and team cohesiveness.
Be sure your child is prepared prior to games and practices. Do they have all of their equipment? Have they remembered to bring both of their game jerseys? Do they have the right socks? Have they had a healthy meal prior to burning all of that energy? Are the properly hydrated? These are the ways that you can assist your children to be happier and healthier athletes, prepared to take the ice to learn from their coaches and teammates.
Support your child no matter how skilled or competitive they may be. Leave the coaching to our coaches on the ice. We rely on the parents to be role models for their children by encouraging positive attitudes, showing respect for coaching staff/adults, promptness in attending scheduled practices and games, showing respect and admiration for all team members and families. And last, showing respect for the opponent.
Be communicative and prompt in any collection of monies for tournaments, events, etc. So much effort goes into organizing events and collecting for them. It can be uncomfortable for team admins when it comes to collecting money, so help them by being prompt.
And finally, have FUN and encourage your child to ENJOY the great sport of HOCKEY!
Zero Tolerance Policy
In an effort to make ice hockey a more desirable and rewarding experience for all participants, USA Hockey instituted a zero tolerance policy beginning with the 1992-93 season. This policy requires all players, coaches, officials, team officials and administrators and parents/spectators to maintain a sportsmanlike and educational atmosphere before, during and after all USA Hockey-sanctioned games.
Thus, the following points of emphasis must be implemented by all referees and linesmen:
Players
A minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct (zero tolerance) shall be assessed whenever a player:
1) Openly disputes or argues any decision by an official.
2) Uses obscene or vulgar language at any time, including any swearing, even if it is not directed at a particular person.
3) Visually demonstrates any sign of dissatisfaction with an official’s decision. Any time that a player persists in any of these actions, they shall be assessed a misconduct penalty. A game misconduct shall result if the player continues such action.
Coaches
A minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct (zero tolerance) shall be assessed whenever a coach:
1) Openly disputes or argues any decision by an official.
2) Uses obscene or vulgar language in a boisterous manner to anyone at any time.
3) Visually displays any sign of dissatisfaction with an official’s decision including standing on the boards or standing in the bench doorway with the intent of inciting the officials, players or spectators.
Any time that a coach persists in any of these actions, he/she shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty.
Officials
Officials are required to conduct themselves in a businesslike, sportsmanlike, impartial and constructive manner at all times. The actions of an official must be above reproach. Actions such as “baiting” or inciting players or coaches are strictly prohibited. Officials are ambassadors of the game and must always conduct themselves with this responsibility in mind.
Parents/Spectators
The game will be stopped by game officials when parents/spectators displaying inappropriate and disruptive behavior interfere with other spectators or the game. The game officials will identify violators to the coaches for the purpose of removing parents/spectators from the spectator’s viewing and game area. Once removed, play will resume. Lost time will not be replaced and violators may be subject to further disciplinary action by the local governing body.
This inappropriate and disruptive behavior shall include:
1) Use of obscene or vulgar language in a boisterous manner to anyone at any time.
2) Taunting of players, coaches, officials or other spectators by means of baiting, ridiculing, threat of physical violence or physical violence.
3) Throwing of any object in the spectators viewing area, players bench, penalty box or on ice surface, directed in any manner as to create a safety hazard.
Please note than any parent who displays disruptive, disrespectful or inappropriate behavior may be asked to leave the game or rink, by any present North Devils Board Member or North Devils Hockey Coach. A follow up discussion with the North Devils President or Vice President will be required for return to any North Devils activity.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this document. If you have any further questions or need clarification on points in the document, please don’t hesitate to contact me. We hope you have a successful and fun hockey season and thank you for your participation.
Now let the season begin! GO DEVILS!
Patti McTernan
North Devils Hockey President
508-507-1952
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