A while back I won a lovely gift basket during a raffle at a Surrey Minor Hockey game that pretty much made my night – aside from watching the home team win. Raffles are a good way to pay for extra team costs as equipment, ice time, officials, travel, and facility fees soon add up. Donating funds to keep amateur sports going in your town is always an important task, so where do teams look when they’re in need of a little extra support?

One of the first tips I’ve been told is that you should divide your team into smaller teams, this will encourage participation and maybe a little friendly competition – all for the group’s main cause. 50/50 draws are always popular among spectators at games. However, make sure that your association obtains the proper lottery licenses for these. Regulations also apply to raffles and draws so make sure you check with your local hockey association before starting any “lotto-like” activities. Once you have the license and the go-ahead, they are definitely fan (and bank account) favourites.

Gear sales are a good way to clean out the basement and closets while putting your old skates to good use, handing them down to other kids and “spirit items” such as team socks, pens, buttons and stickers can be bought in bulk and sold to friends, family, and fans.

Bake sales, bottle drives, chocolate sales and coupon books are always great ways to raise funds however, you can also host events that may bring in a nice big lump sum all at once instead of having a multi-week campaign. In High River they have a “funny money” casino night – an entire event dedicated to having a good time and supporting the teams in the region. There are also comedy nights, BBQ’s, restaurant nights or Pub Nights (for the adults). Sometimes big league organizations will also lend a hand. Ridge Meadows teams are partnering with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL for their 50/50, where proceeds from funds raised at the Pacific Coliseum will help out the amateur association.

Big or small, everyone can lend a hand to keep these important community activities alive and well. If you have your own success story, feel free to share it in the comments below.

^{Photo by: fsecart
Creative Commons Attribution license}

According to Globe and Mail staffer and hockey blogger, James Mirtle, there are over 100 hockey blogs in North America right now that cover NHL teams. I started to wonder if there were hockey blogs out there that didn’t only cover professionals, but were on a grassroots, community-based, and at the amateur/minor hockey level. After a few quick searches, I was in luck!

Starting in BC, the Whistler Minor Hockey Association’s blog was used recently to post the list of those who made the cut for the Atom Rep Team. Winfield Minor Hockey has their blog in the form of a news page that you can subscribe to. They’ve used this online space to update parents on recent meeting notes. Congratulating players on making jumps to new teams is a highlight of the Williams Lake Minor Hockey news site, and although this website talks about all things hockey in general, they have a great post up about the history of minor hockey in BC.

Moving across the prairies, Saskatchewan Hockey Association has a blog news page and their posts are open for comments. The Flin Flon Bombers, Kindersley Klippers, and Humboldt Broncos all have nice looking websites with news archives, photos and videos available online. The Yorkton Terriers link out to Craig Stein’s blog, where he also covers the Melville Millionaires and the Wayway Wolverines.

The Canadian Hockey Parents have a massive directory of most of the hockey association and team websites across the continent as well.

Being online is a great way to engage an audience, update everyone on upcoming games and tournaments, and also highlight your stars with posts and photos about games won and lost in hard-fought battles. You can start today by creating a player or team profile on Hockey Stars, and if your team has a blog, we’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

There was a neat commercial running last year that showcased young TimBits hockey players and how Sidney Crosby got his start. Many of the NHL greats started young and through thick and thin, their hometowns have rallied behind them and their careers. Looking at some of the top-ranked players in the league last year, I decided to briefly highlight where each of them got their start.

Image © 2008 Tim Hortons

Vincent Lecavalier grew up in Pointe-Claire, Quebec and went to John Rennie High School before heading to Notre Dame in Saskatchewan. He played for Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL before being drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning and was dubbed the “Michael Jordan of hockey”. Upon winning the Stanley Cup in 2004 he returned home to Pointe-Claire and walked the halls of his old high school, holding the cup above his head in victory.

Daniel Briere, now of the Philadelphia Flyers, spent his childhood in Gatineau, Quebec and went to private school at College Stain-Alexandre. He took part in the National Midget Hockey Championship in his hometown (where his jersey number has been retired) and played three seasons with the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL.

Jarome Iginla is from St. Albert, Alberta, near Edmonton. He played with the Bantam AAA Sabres and the Midget AAA Raiders where he soon led the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey league (AMHL) in scoring. The now-Captain of the Calgary Flames stayed in St. Albert throughout his entire minor hockey career and then played in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers.

No matter where players get their start, however big or small it was. Whether it began on a backyard rink, in a local arena, or by simply being a fan of the sport, the possibilities are endless for those who have passion and determination.

When it comes to hockey team jerseys I once heard that the Everett Silvertips of the WHL had the most popular sweaters when it came to retail purchases – and this is including NHL teams.

Surrey Minor Hockey Helmet

Let’s face it, there is no better way to show your support for your hometown team than to wear <a its gear; hats, scarves, jerseys, t-shirt, socks or even coffee mugs and mouse pads. Growing up in Surrey there were so many minor hockey teams to which one could pledge allegiance however at heart I was always a fan of the Surrey Minor Hockey logo. At the time, they didn’t sell any gear and I knew some players who always wanted to keep their jerseys after the season because it meant so much to them to have that logo on their chest.

Sometimes it’s hard to find the right logo. Just look at the heat the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL received when they switched to what some call the “Buffa-slug” look (although it always looked like a form of hamster to me as well). However in the middle of the 2007 season they were selling 6 of the top 10 jerseys in the league, from Briere to Drury (source: Kukla’sKorner)

In BC we have approximately 150 associations with unique names like the Salmon Kings, Bull Dogs, Smoke Eaters, and the Clippers, all with players that are just as distinct in their own right. Check out your team store today and if you don’t have one already, it may be a great idea to get one going. Wearing your favourite team’s logo with pride is a great way to show support and also it helps bond fans with a sense of camaraderie and unity.

Also, be sure to upload your team photo to HockeyStars since you never know, maybe the Nelson Nippers will lead off the next big fashion trend.

When the weather starts to cool off, leaves lose their green, and a sunny day becomes a rare occasion I actually get excited because I know hockey season is on the way. Next to purchasing binders, pens, and notebooks for students in the fall, it’s pads, helmets and tape that top of the list for hockey kids.

So what’s new – what are the trends for gear in Fall 2008?

Smelly pads and pants have always been a part of hockey (no matter how unfortunate that sounds) but it seems the odor-free or odor-reducing gear is all the rage this season. Lately, clever TV commercials have caught my eye with their promises of “stink proof” gear, which almost seems too good to be true. It could be that they offer great protection and comfort, but combine that with promise of less nose-holding and fewer air fresheners and parents are probably rejoicing just as much as the players.

The technology behind this innovative gear has many names; from the “enzymatic odor management system” for the Winwell brand, Fury’s Croslite, which is “anti-microbial and odor resistant” or even the Power Dry equipment bag with the ability to deodorize and dry wet gear with its “carbon filter discharge vent and exhaust system”.

Aside from shelling out some extra dollars for the smell-free technology here are some other ways to get your favourite gear (from the same trusted brands you’re used to) smelling like spring.

• When you get your gear home, make sure to wash whatever gear you can (socks, jersey) in the washing machine.
• I found a source online that said a no-tear shampoo with a sponge and water is a great way to clean a helmet.
• Some rinks offer dryers for gear that can’t normally go in the wash like gloves and pads. Costs may vary so it would be worth inquiring about.
• Keys to keeping your gear clean are to get it out of the bag and hung up to dry. You can buy inexpensive racks at your local sports store that will allow you to air everything out.
• Once it’s dry you can apply fabric scents and cleaners.

When it comes to hockey, having the right gear is just as important as having the tools and supplies you need for learning in school throughout the year. Skill and knowledge of the game can only take you so far if you don’t have the proper gloves to hold your stick and shoot the puck. Having clean hockey gear will not only keep you safe and less distracted, it can also keep you healthy by not irritating cuts, bumps, or leading to colds and infections.