Give the gift of hockey!

by Andy Baird

It’s the season to give, and what better to give than the gift of the greatest sport on earth?

To gift credits to a player, login to your JMS Hockey account and click the following link:

https://jmshockey.com/gift-credits

Player Spotlight: Shane Lanning

by ericmjorgensen

Photo by Brian Jonas

I started playing hockey when I moved back from California, around 6th grade. I played Pee Wee, Bantams and Jr. Gold for Hastings until I graduated in 1998. Fast forward—my 5 and 7 year old wanted to give hockey a try so I volunteered to coach. Being back on the ice gave me the hockey bug to start playing again.

I hadn’t played since 1998, so my gear was a little outdated and I went to Play It Again Sports to gear up. When talking with the guys at the store, they mentioned JMS as a good option for pickup and rec league hockey.
I looked it up on the web and signed up for a Saturday night all-level skate at St Thomas. It was exactly what I was looking for: organized, parity-based for good competition, but laid back enough so you don’t get an overly competitive atmosphere.

My favorite thing about JMS is its organization. You don’t have to worry about games being lopsided, goalies showing up, collecting money at the rink, etc. The website and sign up application is also very impressive, well thought out and again organized.

The best time I’ve had so far was my first league game. It had been a long time since I played an actual game with a clock, refs and a scoreboard! I was pretty excited for sure . . . the two goals that night helped cap a great night!

Whether it is a laid back pick-up game or a more competitive league game, JMS has something for everyone!

JMS Fall 2015 Survey — Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

by ericmjorgensen

JMS wants to know what you think about our program! Fill out this survey and earn a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card: http://goo.gl/forms/Ob61K8cSnB

Hockey Away from Home

by barbaragarn

Have you ever traveled to play hockey, or played hockey when you were traveling for work or pleasure?

About 8 years ago, I spent Christmas and New Year’s in Santa Fe, New Mexico (shout out to the excellent Ten Thousand Waves Spa!!). I planned to play hockey a couple of times when I was in town.

I took the train, so I didn’t have to deal with checking my gear–there were no baggage limits or worries about it being dangerous. It was just a pain to lug around.

I had found two games, one nearby in Los Alamos, and one in Santa Fe. I drove the rental car 40 minutes in the dark to the Los Alamos County rink. I found out later that I had been driving on the edge of a canyon the entire time and that some people get so freaked out by the drive that they can’t do it. Huh, glad it was dark!

The Los Alamos County rink is outside under the stars. It is set against the canyon, so one of the long sides is a very steep hill (that I imagine is just COVERED with pucks under the snow). The local adult team is… wait for it… The Fat Men.

You can see a bit of the rink and players in this video. I really wanted one of those “FAT MEN OF LOS ALAMOS” jerseys, but I didn’t have anything worth trading. The Albuquerque Journal did a story on the group in 2009.

The other game was less nostalgic and lots faster, at the Genoveva Community Center in Santa Fe. I felt every foot of the 6,500 altitude difference between the Twin Cities and Santa Fe! It WAS cool to have people ask where I learned to play. When you’re from Minnesota, everyone assumes you’re a lifelong hockey player (until I actually skated and then burst the bubble). Cred by association!

So . . . have you ever traveled and played hockey?

Cool Hockey Gifts

by barbaragarn

‘Tis the season! Do you have hockey items on your wish list? Here are a few I thought interesting:

• Hockey baby booties
• One-timer practice machine
• Hockey grilling tools
• Jazzy sportswear
• Unique custom hockey socks
• Wild “ugly Christmas sweater” jerseys

JMS also offers gift credits!

You can gift immediately and directly from your account (once you’re logged in, click your balance and the “Gift credits to another player” button is at the top of the page, on the right).

You can also have us add the credits later (like on December 25), and receive a printable card to wrap up for the recipient. Contact support@jmshockey.com if you’d like this option.

 

What’s on your hockey wish list? Besides more goals…

Win a Free JMS Game!

by Andy Baird

Capture the JMS experience… We all know a picture is worth a thousand words, so we’re building a library of photos to show what it’s like to play JMS. Starting now through the end of 2014, each week we’ll be awarding a free game to a random participant who submits photos of their game.

What kind of photos? Any kind!

What does playing JMS mean to you? What are your favorite parts? You can shoot a great play, or just some friends having fun. Maybe a great shot of the aged and cavernous rink. Don’t worry about a professional camera–your smartphone will be fine.

To submit a photo, just click the “Send photos of the game” link when visiting the site after your game. Here’s a quick gist of the contest rules:

• For every photo you submit, you’ll receive an entry.
• You may submit up to 10 images per game. For every photo you submit, you’ll increase the odds that you’ll win a free game.
• Only photos that are relevant to the game, not redundant, and useable (i.e., not blurry or streaky/out of focus/partially obscured) will be accepted.

* Shots from inside the locker room, or of people changing, will be disqualified.

Each week a random entry will be drawn – if it’s yours, you’ll receive a free game on us! And if we see some really fantastic images that perfectly capture the JMS spirit, we’ll surprise those JMSers with a thank-you gift of a shirt or sweatshirt.

 

Tell your friends–everyone wants their hockey prowess recorded! When you submit your pics, you can use the new tagging feature to let your friends know you captured their great goal, save or assist. And once the photo is uploaded, your pals can even choose to use it as their JMS avatar!

Bring your phone or camera to the bench next time, and snap some shots of the action! You just might win a free game!

If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please contact us at support–we want to be sensitive to your wishes!

Hockey After Baby

by barbaragarn

By Miranda Vogtman

Prior to having a baby, my life revolved around my husband, sports (especially hockey), and friends. These were important aspects of my life and also to be healthy. When I found out I was pregnant, I wasn’t ready to give up my active lifestyle. I was a fit and active, so my doctor allowed me to play during my first trimester but for the safety of both my baby and me, I hung up my skates. I still worked out even though my baby tended to dictate my food cravings. My delivery went well and had a healthy baby girl, who is tough like her mom and I feel that keeping active and fit made her a stong girl too.

Just keeping active even days after my delivery made my recovery quicker and when it came to my 6 week check up, I was cleared and played my first hockey game the next day since the birth. After the game, I felt good and felt like a day hadn’t passed and I had more ENGRGY. I played weekly after delivery until my regular season started up and it helped get me ready for the season but also to lose some of the initial weight and time at the gym. This gave me time to decrompress from home but also time to just focus on me and gave me more energy to five back to my family.  I also breast fed her the first 3 months as well and keeping hydrated was key to aid in that.  It still took time, eating changes and time in the gym to get back into my pre-baby shape but I burned more calories out on the ice.

As a mother of a four year old, working a full time job and wife, I believe it is important for a woman to make sure she doesn’t lose her sense of self and make time for the things you enjoy. I spend a lot of time with my family but I also play weekly hockey, go to the gym 2-3x per week (once she goes to bed) and time for my friends as well.  I love my family but I would go crazy if I didn’t have time with friends and enjoy the activities I love so much. I gave up a lot of my sports but hockey was the one thing I wanted to keep.  I don’t want to look back with any regrets and enjoy life to the fullest. I am happier and I am also setting myself up as a positive role model for my daughter to be active and strong. My daughter will start hockey in one week and both my husband and I will coach her mini-mite team and kick off our regular hockey seasons as well. I love my family and we are enjoying life and the game of hockey.

JMS Hockey 101 debuts

by barbaragarn

For absolute beginners!
The skills sessions will give you a strong foundation and the games will help you learn on-ice techniques with teammates and opponents.

 

JMS Hockey 101 is two six-week programs involving Skills and then Games, all on Sunday nights at Parade Ice Garden in Minneapolis. Just $109 (early bird) per program, participants may choose Skills and/or Games (preference for Games registration given to participants of the Skills program).

Registration is now open for the Skills portion of JMS Hockey 101! Early bird price of $109 good through October 31 (price increases to $125 afterwards).
Coach Rob Little, a longtime adult hockey instructor, will lead six one-hour on-ice sessions and two off-ice “chalk talks.”
Rob will show you proper skating techniques, including balance, body movement and edge control. He will also teach puckwork fundamentals, including passing and carrying, and the most common shots: wrist shot and snap shot.

Want to meet Rob before Hockey 101 begins? Just sign up for one of the Thursday night clinic sessions at Parade! Rob will also be the “instructional referee” for the tutorial Games portion (which begin in January; early bird registration will open in November).

Goalies: we will need occasional netminders for certain Skills sessions–send an e-mail to support@jmshockey.com if you are interested in filling in!

JMS Hockey 101 is co-rec and for adults over age 18. Participants will need to have their own hockey gear including: helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, breezers, shin pads, skates and stick. We have a discounted gear kit package with our wonderful partners, Strauss Skates and Bikes (e-mail us for info). White and black JMS jerseys will be provided to all JMS Hockey 101 participants!

Come learn hockey with other brand-new beginners! Click the Hockey 101 tab above, or here for info, schedule and registration.

Hockey Season 14-15 Schedule

by barbaragarn

Hooray! I have scheduled the majority of the hockey season ice and can announce additions and changes as we transition from the slow season to the hockey season.

A reminder: adult hockey in Minnesota always comes after youth hockey. We always ask for the earliest ice available… which unfortunately is sometimes late.

 

Nearly all our current games will continue in some form or another. I’ve listed by day of the week, hope these games work for you!

 

Mondays

STIA Elite: continues

VMCC/Wakota LL: Wakota is closed for construction until around October 1; we’ll keep booking at VMCC in the interim, as long as sufficient players continue to sign up.

Central 3/4 game: Was at Breck over the summer but moves to Parade/NEA for the season. This game not scheduled for September, but will be booked if we have sufficient signups.

Tuesdays

Eden Prairie UL: continues

Apple Valley LL: continues

St. Louis Park: Changes back to L4-only starting with September 23 game.

Polar LL: New game! Starts September 9 and moves to Wednesday nights in November.

Maple Grove L3: Game returns on September 2 after summer hiatus!

Wednesdays

VMCC/Wakota L3: Wakota is closed for construction until around October 1; we’ll keep booking at VMCC in the interim, as long as sufficient players continue to sign up.

Maple Grove UL: continues

Polar LL: New game! Starts on Tuesdays but moves to Wednesdays starting with November games.

Thursdays

Apple Valley UL: Game returns on October 2 after off-season hiatus!

Moose (Monticello) all-level: Two games in September, but no ice for hockey season due to youth association. Finalizing replacement ice now with nearby rink.

STIA all-level: continues

Bielenberg LL: Game returns! We have five fall games for now and hopefully can get more for the hockey season–in talks now; schedule pending youth association needs.

Skills clinic at Parade with Coach Rob Little: Session returns starting September 25!

Maple Grove LL: Game starts after January 1 (no ice available before that)

Fridays

Roseville LL: continues

Eden Prairie Int (2/3/4): continues

Schwann’s all-level: continues

St. Louis Park UL+ (3/4/5/6): continues

Parade Novice (1/2): Relocates after losing Roseville ice; games start October 3, possibly earlier.

Wakota Int (2/3/4): Game returns when Wakota re-opens!

Saturday

STIA all-level: continues

Sunday

Minnehaha all-level: Starts on October 19

 

I’m working on one final location not mentioned above: the NE quadrant, White Bear or Vadnais area. I’ve been in talks with the rinks and hope to have something finalized soon. I’ll announce it as soon as I know something.

 

Whew! This is always a huge job and I’m relieved to get it finally sorted out after months of finagling. I really hope these times will work for you!

 

What stick do you use and why?

by Andy Baird

I’m retiring my last Easton SE16 tonight after a crack through the blade so I’m back on the market for a new stick.

This got me thinking: why do you use the stick you do?

I’ve played with folks who are effective with an old sherwood wooden stick all the way to players who geek out on custom tailored built sticks. What’s your preference?

Respond here: http://jmshockey.com/thread/view/thread-53ec5063f221d