St. Louis Cyclones & Lady Blues

 On 12 May 2009 it was announced that the Lady Blues have been accepted into the Tier 1 Elite League at the 14U, 16U and 19U levels for the 2009-10 season.  The Lady Blues are looking forward to our 2nd season in this prestigious league

   2009 – 10 Lady Blues Tier 1 AAA

                                                                            Girls Hockey

Dear Potential Tier 1 Elite Lady Blues Hockey Player,

Revision E  14 February 2010

The goal of the Lady Blues club is to provide an opportunity for ALL competitive young women from St. Louis and the surrounding areas to participate in Tier 1 hockey.  The Lady Blues have made tremendous strides the past few seasons in growing both the number of girls playing and the number of teams participating in Tier 1 hockey.  The club continues to work with the traditional boy’s clubs in St. Louis to promote younger girls (ages 4 – 10) to join their neighborhood clubs.  This has enabled the organization to develop a strong core of highly skilled female hockey players that have a passion for ice hockey.  For the 2008-09 season the Lady Blues fielded 12U, 14U, and 19U Tier 1 teams made up of girls from St. Louis along with players from local cities.  The 14U and 19U teams participated in the Tier 1 Elite League (TOEHL).  For the 2009 – 10 season the Lady Blues fielded a 12U, 14U, 16U, and 19U Tier 1 teams.

Having successfully demonstrated this commitment, the Lady Blues Organization has been granted full membership into the 14U, 16U and 19U Tier 1 Elite League divisions for the 2009-10 season.  The Tier 1 Elite League is an Elite/AAA Developmental Hockey (reference www.tier1elitehockeyleague.com) League out of Detroit Michigan with most of the finest female teams in the country.  The Tier 1 Elite League consists of 2 to 4 showcase weekends plus several league games independent from the showcase weekends and a playoff weekend for the top teams.  A showcase weekend consists of four or five competitive 1.5-hour games starting on Friday night and ending Sunday afternoon against the top girl’s teams in the country. 

In addition to the Tier 1 Elite League for the 14U, 16U, & 19U team, all teams will participate in several tournaments along with three or more hi-intensity practice weekends throughout the season.  In mid-March 2010, if the geographic make-up of the rosters meets USA Hockey regulations, the teams will enter the USA Hockey Central District Regional Tournament.

Tier 1 Elite League Showcase Dates

September 11-13, 2009 @ Boston Massachusetts, 19U only

December 18-20, 2009 @ Detroit, 14U, 16U, & 19U Teams

January 15-17, 2010 @ Chicago, 14U, 16U, & 19U Teams

February 5-7, 2010 @ Detroit (Playoffs for the top eight (8) teams in the division)

Note: One or two additional trips to Detroit and/or Chicago will be required for each of the Lady Blues Team to fit in their required Tier 1 Elite games.  The additional trip will be scheduled when it’s convenient for the Lady Blues and local teams. This creates more schedule flexibility.  The Tier 1 Elite League allows tournament games to count as league games (if approved by both coaches prior to the game) for even more flexibility in scheduling the non-showcase league games.

Lady Blues Team Coaches:

The Lady Blues coaches are volunteers; they are not compensated for their time coaching a team.  However, non-parental coaches will be reimbursed for reasonable travel expenses (transportation, hotel, food, etc.).  The reimbursement funds are not incorporated into the baseline player fees, they will be collected from the team as a cash call during the season.

14U, 16U, & 19U Lady Blues Team Fees and Ice Allocation:

“Out-of-town” players (Note 1): $800

“St. Louis area” players (Note 2): $1,700 ($800 plus $900)

Note 1: Includes (1) three “blitz” weekend practices (a minimum of four 60 minute sheets of ice), (2) Tier 1 Elite League games (except playoffs), (3) two tournaments, (4) the USA Hockey Central District Tournament, (5) three 1.5 hour St. Louis area games, (6) Lady Blues practice jerseys, practice socks, and helmet stickers, and (7) Missouri hockey registration fees.

Note 2: All Note 1 items and the core St. Louis group practice and game (practice and league) sessions.

The final program fees/costs for the 2009 10 season:

Notes:

1. All sheets are 60 minutes unless specified otherwise.

2. The number of non-regional tournament and “blitz” practice weekends may increase if the majority of the players and parents would like to increase either or both of them. The fourth (4th) and subsequent “blitz” practice weekends will be a cash call.  Two (2) tournaments plus the USA Hockey District Tournament are included in the baseline fees.  The third (3rd) and subsequent tournaments will be a cash call.  The fees DO NOT include the cost of the Tier 1 Elite League Playoffs.

3. This ice allocation does NOT include the Tier 1 Elite League ice.

4. This ice allocation does NOT include tournament ice.

5. “Out-of-town” Player Fees apply to ALL players on the team.

6. St. Louis Player Fees apply to the St. Louis based players on the team and include each player's equal share of the core St. Louis group practice and practice game sessions.  Example: 14U St. Louis based Lady Blues players pay the "Out-of-town" Player Fees and the St. Louis Player Fees for a total of $1,700

12U Lady Blues Team Fees and Ice Allocation:

 “Out-of-town” players (Note 1): $650

“St. Louis area” players (Note 2): $1,550 ($650 plus $900)

Note 1: Includes (1) three “blitz” weekend practices (a minimum of four 60 minute sheets of ice), (2) five tournaments, (3) the USA Hockey Central District Tournament, (4) three 1.5 hour St. Louis area games, (5) Lady Blues practice jerseys, practice socks, and helmet stickers, and (6) Missouri hockey registration fees.

Note 2: All Note 1 items and the core St. Louis group practice and game (practice and league) sessions.

The final program fees/costs for the 2009 – 10 season:

Notes:

1. All sheets are 60 minutes unless specified otherwise.

2. The number of non-regional tournament and “blitz” practice weekends may increase if the majority of the players and parents would like to increase either or both of them. The fourth (4th) and subsequent “blitz” practice weekends will be a cash call.  Five (5) tournaments plus the USA Hockey District Tournament are included in the baseline fees.  The sixth (6th) and subsequent tournaments will be a cash call. 

3. This ice allocation does NOT include tournament ice.

4. “Out-of-town” Player Fees apply to ALL players on the team.

5. St. Louis Player Fees apply to the St. Louis based players on the team and include each player's equal share of the core St. Louis group practice and practice game sessions.  Example: 12U St. Louis based Lady Blues players pay the "Out-of-town" Player Fees and the St. Louis Player Fees for a total of $1,550

Lady Blues Jerseys, Socks, & Pant Shells:

The Lady Blues Team players will wear the Bluenote colors with pride during their games.  Lady Blues home and away jerseys and pant shells will be provided on a “rental” basis for the season.  They must be cleaned and returned in good condition (repaired if necessary) no later than 1 May 2010.  A nominal “rental” fee of $85 will be assessed for the jerseys, pant shells, and game socks.  In addition, a deposit check of $210 will be required to cover the cost of replacement if the jerseys and/or pant shells are not returned or returned in unacceptable condition.  A player that decides to purchase their jersey (before the end of August) is only required to submit a check for $210 (the $85 deposit check is not required).  A player that decides to keep the jerseys after August will forfeit their deposit check (both the $85 and $210 checks are kept by the club).  All players (even those players purchasing their jerseys) must return their pant shells.  Lady Blues game home and away socks are included for the rental fee (or purchase option) and are for the players to keep.  The club has also approached the NHL Blues and several local companies about providing sponsorship money for Bluenote color hockey equipment bags, helmets, gloves, etc. for the 2009-10 season, but it’s not clear how much sponsorship money will be obtained, if any.  Details will be provided as we learn of our success in gathering funding.  The cost of Lady Blues practice jerseys, practice socks, and helmet stickers are included in the base fees and are for the players to keep.

Will 10U Lady Blues players be allowed to participate on the 12U team?  Will 12U Lady Blues players be allowed to participate on the 14U team?  Will 14U Lady Blues players be allowed to participate on the 16U team?  Will 16U Lady Blues players be allowed to participate on the 19U team?

Policy: A Lady Blues player will only be allowed to participate at a higher level (play up one birth year (note 2)) if:

Both the player and parents are interested AND

- The player was rostered at a higher level the prior season OR

- The player is placed in the top 33% or the higher age level during tryouts:

  - Placed 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, or 4^th as a forward OR placed 1^st or 2^nd as a defensemen OR placed 1^st as a goalie

  - Note: If player is a junior in high school and is able to make (top 9 forward, top 6 defensemen, etc.) the U19AAA team regardless of their placement in tryouts, then the club will allow them to ‘move up’ automatically as there is a potential for more attention from college recruiters/scouts in 19U games.

Note:

1. This “play at a higher level (play up in age group)” criteria does not apply if there are insufficient numbers at an age group.  If the number of players is insufficient at a given age group, then those younger players do not have to meet the criteria outlined above.  They only have to make the team.  For example, if there are insufficient 10U Tier 1 players at tryouts to form a 10UAAA Lady Blues team then the 10U players only have to make the roster (top 9 forwards, etc.) of the 12U Lady Blues team and they DO NOT have to meet the criteria outlined above.

2. BY99 players can tryout for the 12U team (assuming there are sufficient numbers for a 10U team), BY97 players can tryout for the 14U team, BY95 players can tryout for the 16U team, etc.  The club will not allow players to “play up” two birth years as this is not in the best long-term interest of the organization or the player.  The club needs to continue to build this organization to compete both today and tomorrow so moving players up an entire age bracket thereby completely skipping their age-based bracket is not in line with those objectives and will not be allowed.

3. If the number of competitive (Elite or Tier 1 AAA level) players is insufficient at a given position than, to ensure there are sufficient players at each position (and avoid having to eliminate a team), the tryout evaluators and coaching staff have the authority to move a player up one age group even if the player was not placed in the top 33%.  For example, if there are insufficient competitive goalies (or defensemen or forward) at tryouts for a given team than the evaluators and coaching staff have the authority to move a younger goalie (or defensemen or forward) up one age group.

Short Term/Temporary Lady Blues Player Promotions:

To promote development of the younger players and reward hard work a small number of Lady Blues players will be given the opportunity to play in a small number of games on a higher level Lady Blues team.  For example, one or more younger Lady Blues player(s) may be asked to attend an early season showcase weekend or tournament with the 19U Lady Blues.  The coaching staff will choose the players given the opportunity to play at a higher level.  The decision will be based on the player’s demonstrated passion for the game, skill level, team play, hockey sense/intelligence, and attendance.  These younger players will not be a permanent addition to the older team’s roster.  The temporary promotions will be fully coordinated among the Lady Blues coaches (both upper and lower age group teams).

“Out-of-town” (non St. Louis area) players:

Female players from local cities surrounding St. Louis are encouraged to tryout as the organization has the goal to provide opportunities for girls that live in cities with a limited number of female youth hockey player’s opportunities to participate on highly competitive girls teams.  These “out-of-town” or “part time” players participate in the hi-intensity “blitz” practice weekends, Tier 1 Elite League games (14U, 16U, & 19U only), and Tournament weekends.  The “blitz” practice weekends would be held in St. Louis, Missouri and consist of four or five hours of ice for practices and practice game(s)/scrimmage(s) starting at about noon on a Saturday and ending about noon on Sunday.  Dryland training time and classroom training may also be included in the “blitz” practice weekends.  The “out-of-town” players will be encouraged to participate on ice hockey teams in their hometown for skill development and conditioning.  As a minimum, these players need to find a hometown team to practice with during the week and off weekends. 

Fees for the “out-of-town” players will include their equal share of the following items:
 

(1) Three “blitz” weekend practices (a minimum of four 60 minute sheets of ice), (2) Tier 1 Elite League games (except playoffs) (14U, 16U, & 19U only), (3) two tournaments (14U, 16U, & 19U) or five (12U) tournaments, (4) the USA Hockey Central District Tournament, (5) three 1.5 hour St. Louis area games, (6) Lady Blues practice jerseys, practice socks, and helmet stickers, and (7) Missouri hockey registration fees.

All players are responsible for their own travel expenses.

There are no restrictions on the number of out of town players for the Lady Blues teams.  However, there is a Missouri Hockey rule, which prohibits any team with four or more out-of-district players (players from outside the Central District) on their roster to participate in USA Hockey Central District Tournament.  Depending on the turnout at tryouts the club may decide to field a team that will not be Central District eligible and non-national bound. 

Rule Clarification and the Impact on Lady Blues Players:

Starting with the 2009-10 season, Missouri Hockey plans to enforce the existing youth division rule, which prohibits a female player from being on two all girls team rosters within Missouri hockey.  Therefore, girls under the Missouri Hockey jurisdiction will not be allowed to be on a Lady Blues (or Cyclones) roster and a second girls team roster.  As a result of this rule, if a player under the Missouri Hockey jurisdiction chooses to play for another all girls team, then she will not be allowed to practice or participate as a rostered player on any Lady Blues (or Cyclones) team at any age level.

“St. Louis area Players”:

In addition to the “blitz” practice, Tier 1 Elite League games (12U, 14U, &19U only), and tournament weekend sessions the core group of the players on the Lady Blues team from the St. Louis area will also practice together throughout the season and participate in games (practice and league) in the St. Louis area.  On average, the teams will be on the ice three or four times a week.

12U, 16U, & 19U “St. Louis area Players”:

St. Louis area 12U, 16U, and 19U players will be allowed to participate as “out of town players”.  The first preference is for all 12U, 16U, & 19U “St. Louis area players” to join the Lady Blues team’s full time.  However, because of the low number of players at these age groups the club accepts that some of these players would like to participate on boy’s teams.  If a St. Louis based player insists on participating on Lady Blues Tier 1 team as an “out of town” player because they have a strong desire to participate on local boys team the club will allow this as long as the Lady Blues Tier 1 team is the first priority for all Lady Blues weekends.  A St. Louis based player participating as an “out of town” player only would be charged the same lower fees as the “out of town” players from other local cities.

14U “St. Louis area Players”:

St. Louis area 14U Lady Blues players will NOT be allowed to participate as “out of town players”.  In addition, the club requires that the 14U Lady Blues team will be the highest priority over all other hockey teams.  The players are expected to participate in all Lady Blues sessions.

Lady Blues Player Priorities:

The expectation of the coaching staff is that the Lady Blues team will be the first priority over all other hockey teams.  For example, St. Louis area players on other hockey teams are expected to make the Lady Blues team their 1st priority for all sessions.  Exceptions need to be worked out early in the season with the Lady Blues coaching staff.

St. Louis Cyclones Tier II Girl’s Teams (for St. Louis area players):

Starting with the 2009-10 season there will be a Tier II Girl’s USA Hockey National Tournament in addition to the Tier 1 Girl’s USA Hockey National Tournament.  The St. Louis Cyclones organization will field local St. Louis based Tier II AA, A, B and/or recreational level team’s.  These teams will participate in the St. Louis Missouri Hockey Leagues and/or the Mid West Girls Hockey League (MWGHL, www.midwestgirlshockey.com) and/or the Tier II Girl’s USA Hockey National Tournament (except recreational level team’s).  Tryouts, if needed, for the St. Louis based Tier II teams (there are no tryouts for the recreational teams) are held in August 2009.  St. Louis area players that do not make a Lady Blues team are encouraged to tryout for these teams.

Cyclones and Lady Blues Alumni

Alumni players returning from college during breaks (Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, spring break, etc.) are welcome to skate with the appropriate Lady Blues or Cyclones team at no charge.  Some fees may apply for alumni players returning from college during the summer break.  All players must be registered with USA Hockey.

Tier 1 or AAA Hockey Background

Tier 1 AAA hockey is for highly skilled serious hockey players.  It’s the highest level a player can participate and the TOEHL is the most competitive league in the United States and the maximum level of exposure to the scouts.  Sorting through the many levels of youth hockey can be confusing, even more so for players and/or parents that do not have a background in the sport.  Many players thrive on Tier I hockey because they are challenged and forced to play better every time they are on the ice.  Some don’t thrive in the Tier 1 environment because they are no longer the star player (one of the best player on the ice).  It’s important for all parents and players to understand the commitment level for participating in Tier I hockey and make sure it’s the proper environment for a given player.  Also, it’s important for the parents and players to understand the Tier I hockey is not an environment where ice time will be equal.  There will be times when the Lady Blues coaching staff will give extra ice time to the players that demonstrated a high level of passion for the game, are team players, and show a high level of hockey sense/intelligence.

We have worked hard to put together a program that is attractive to the serious female hockey players.  Tier 1 AAA hockey is a special reward and opportunity for the best players to showcase their skills at the highest level; however, Tier 1 hockey requires a serious commitment of money, time, skill and mentality.  Tier 1 players must have a higher level of physical ability and a strong commitment to hockey.

Tryouts:

While no tryout process is perfect, every effort will be made so the tryouts are fair, without politics, and produce credible results.  All positions are open.  Each player’s hockey skills, team play, and passion for the game will be evaluated at the tryout.  The players that the independent evaluators and coaching staff feel can compete at a higher level and contribute to the team will be the only players to make the team.  Players offered a contract following the tryouts have a maximum of seven days to sign the player contracts and provide a non-refundable deposit towards the fees.

If there are any questions about the Lady Blues Teams please visit our web site at  www.stlcyclones.org  or contact a board member.

Steve Sherman

President

stssl@juno.com

Notes:

1. The club policy is that players are NOT allowed to participate in tryouts until their prior year dues are 100% paid.  Also, players must have their prior year dues 100% paid and their deposit paid before they can be included on the roster of a team.  The board will review financial hardship cases on a case-by-case basis.

2. For the 2009-10 season: 10Us = BY99 and younger; 12Us = BY97 & BY98; 14Us = BY96 & BY95; 16Us – BY94 & BY93; 19Us – BY90, BY91, & BY92