To: Selected Players and Parents

Hello and welcome to the Polar Ice Squirt Select Team. You or your child has been selected to participate on this team. This team was picked through an evaluation process and represents what we feel are the best players from the Polar Ice Squirt House League. Congratulations on being selected. I am very happy to be your coach.

As a brief introduction for those of you who do not know me, I played hockey for 16 years at a very high level in Massachusetts, New England and Canada and over the course of those years I remember all of my coaches and I feel that I bring the best of what I have learned from each of them. I would like to share with you my basic coaching philosophy: Discipline, hard work, strong hockey basics and team play are the cornerstones of a good team. I am here so that I can teach this type of ice hockey to each player. I am also here to try to make sure that it is an enjoyable and exciting experience for all the players. I am open and available to players and parents and encourage all of you to communicate with me on a regular basis. If you see or hear something that you feel is wrong, please come and talk to me.

The focus and the approach of the team differs only slightly from the house teams that you were selected from. The house league is considered a teaching and learning league with quite varied talent levels. The house league has the goals of teaching, having fun and guaranteed equal ice time.

This Select Team will be playing in tournaments and against the other leagues in the area who have also picked select teams. Our focus will still be learning, having fun and competing at this level. The only difference is that there will be more of an emphasis on winning the games and being competitive. Also, there is not a guarantee of equal ice time for all the players.

We have selected players to accommodate three forward lines, three sets of defensemen and two goaltenders. It is planned that we will split the time between the goalies (alternating games, unless an injury or other problem comes up). We also plan to “roll out” three lines after approximately a 60 – 90 seconds of ice time. We will have specialized power play units, penalty killing units and special circumstance units. This will from time to time interrupt what may be considered balanced ice time. Players for these special units will be selected from those players I feel work the hardest during practices and games and also those players who “get” the team concept. This is considered to be the reward given for hard work and attentiveness.

Be assured, we did not select any player to have them sit on the bench. I feel that each of the players that have been selected are league all-stars and I will treat them with that respect.

The only other reason that a player may not receive equal ice is that I intend to have a disciplined team with a few team rules.

Team Rules

All players are expected to be at all league games and practices for the season. If a problem comes up where you cannot make a practice or a game, the player or parent needs to contact the coach.
It is expected that each player arrive at least 30 minutes before each scheduled practice time.
It is expected that each player arrive 45 minutes before game times.
Players are also expected to do the following:

Be attentive and follow direction during practices.
Skate hard during drills at practices and during each shift of a game.
Play “cleanly” during the games
Be supportive and not critical toward their teammates at practices and during games
Wear the correct uniform during games.

Violations to the rules will be handled on a gradient basis. Penalties to players for a rule violation will be decided upon by the head coach and may affect playing time. Generally, players will be expected to play the game in a professional and “clean” manner and practice in a professional and attentive manner. Goofing around during games, meetings or practices will not be tolerated and may result in reduced playing time.

Technically, I believe in drilling the basics of the game so that they are strengthened. Practices are planned to drill the following areas: skating, body control, puck and stick control, passing, shooting and player position.

This is considered a Travel “B” team. The Polar Ice office has informed me of some tournaments that are upcoming that this team would qualify for. As you know, the base price for this league is $285.00. That covers the practices (8 - ½ Sheet / 2 Full Sheet) and Metro League games (12). Since this is a Travel “B” Team, we will also be considered for other tournaments at additional costs above the base. Whether we participate in these is something we as parents and coaches need to discuss as they come up. In advance, I would like to let you know that I am committed to this team for as many hours as is necessary to insure that the team does well and the players have fun. This includes setting aside the time to participate in these tournaments as they come up. I am in favor of participating in as many that we as a group can agree to.

To a fun and enjoyable season!

Your Head Coach,

Jim Baudanza