Important Knights and MIC Announcements - Please read
2010-02-10
Important Knights and MIC Internal communication for existing Knights families
To our families and players:
I hope everyone is having a great weekend playing in the snow and keeping warm.As you enjoy your weekend, I would like to update all of you on certain events and things you might want to plan for.
Spring League 2010
As you might be aware, we took in consideration you many comments about spring league and we incorporated those as much as possible into the new design.We lowered the price, retain the game count, added pond hockey games to the mix as part of the league, offered clinics at a reduced cost for the whole series, and put in place a pay as you go system for clinics and pond hockey games.
The only issue at this point is the limit we are putting in place on the number of teams and players.I want to mention that we are experiencing a disproportionate of players that have signed up from other rinks, the numbers have substantially increased over prior years.This doesn’t even include additional numbers that have verbally indicated they are turning in forms. With that, we want to make sure that all our families here at the MIC have a spot, but we have a limit on the numbers.With this, please make sure you get your player(s) signed up as soon as possible to secure your spot in the spring league games and clinics since there is a limit as posted.We have to do this to make sure we deliver a quality product.We are the only facility to offer clinics of this quality and a program with this much flexibility.
SpringLeagueHigh School / Junior Division
There is some general confusion about the junior / high school division.Many believe the only way to play in this division is to field your own team.This is simply not true.The process is the same as every year, the junior / high school division is based on first come, first serve, with a limit on the number of teams and players.If you want to form your own team, the benefit is cost because a team fee is $3,000 but that is divided by the number of players on that team so the cost can be less that the $300 per player league fee.If you don’t want to wait on forming your own team, simply sign up for the junior division just as you have in the past and teams will be formed based on evaluations.We will also be offering some junior hockey level clinics in this program, with dates to be announced and held in March.We expect the high school division to be filled as we have already been contacted by 5 or 6 high school coaching wanted to put in teams.As I have said, we want to accommodate our loyal customers, but you have to get your forms in.
We are going to running some ideas by you all regarding tryouts this late spring.We have used various systems in the past with various degrees of acceptance.As you may remember, a few years back we offered a unique program whereby returning players could be pre-selected by the coaches in the spring (using spring league an a early evaluation) and be offered spots for fall travel teams well in advance of tryouts.We did this to reduce customer agony and anxiety over tryouts.The program concept offered fall travel spots to nearly 85% of existing players and was well received.It is essentially a system used up north that has worked well. We filled the remaining spots through supplemental tryouts at the traditional time. We could also use the standard tryout process used by the other rinks and that a system based on tryout performance balanced by a customer loyalty concept that we believe in.We will be asking you for your thoughts and opinions.
Facility Upgrades
I suppose you have all noticed our substantial efforts to improve the facility, upgrade the cleanliness, freshen the interior of the rink, and to improve the ice.We promised you this and we will continue to make further improvements.We have setup a system for regular staffing of our skate sharpening area and will be offering MIC discounted sharpening card as well in a few weeks as we staff the area with the hours you have asked for.
We have confirmed our process for this summer of ice reconditioning and other improvements.We have hired a firm from up north to implement an overhaul of our ice this summer, which will involve putting in new ice systems to provide each of you something that has never existed here or at most rinks in the area, and that is a professional level and quality ice surface.We will be down for about 6 weeks this summer, but will continue some programming on Little Blue, and will be reworking that surface as well afterwards.Our planned locker room renovations will be exceptional and we will have the most comfortable and properly designed locker room space in this area.The changes will be enjoyed in the areas that players and coaches spend all their time, on the ice and getting prepared to skate.
Finally, next weekend marks the last set of junior games for the year.We are asking for a strong show of support for the double header games on Saturday and Sunday against rival East Coast.Next weekend marks the end of the junior careers for a number of our players, and exceptional group that will for the most part be participating in NCAA programs next fall.Their accomplishments as group have been exceptional, have put this program on the map nationally, and will have opened doors for each of your players with the attention we are received from NCAA scouts and coaches.The retiring players will be recognized in a ceremony on the ice prior to the game.We would ask that you please come and support the event as it exists for our youth players in reality.All Knights youth player can come for free and proceeds from ticket sales will go to our hockey foundation.
Upcoming Events
Finally, we will be hosting the SYTHL Squirt Season Championship tournament at the end of February and the State of Georgia Championships for Midget Level the following weekend.Please check the website for special public events, like the upcoming teen events, 70’s and 80’s parties, and other exciting programs.
You may have noticed our commitment to more communication and notice to all of you.We are doing this because other programs do not, and we believe this is more of a family here than just a place to play hockey.Things are changing at the MIC, and they are changing for the good for each of you.You deserve the best and we intend to provide it.
