Dec 19 Ramblings

Some random thoughts and news....

SMHA had a bad week weekend Dec 8-11.  Some wires got crossed and a bunch of scheduled games didn't have referees scheduled.  We constantly juggle ice blocks with the city on a few days notice and make changes to our schedule and this time not everybody got the edits.  Plus, we don't schedule the refs ourselves - the referees association does that on their own.  For most of the games that weekend we scrambled and found referees.  There were, however, a couple of games that we had to cancel at gametime.  Anyways, our apologies go out to the teams who were affected.  One team in particular, Northside Toyota AA Midgets got stung twice in 4 days.  Sorry guys. And thanks for your support.

Our Steel City Tournament will run from January 6-9 at all six rinks in SSM.  The tournament is full in all 6 divisions - Midget AA, C, and House, and Bantam AA, C, and house.  Good luck to all of our teams.  We definitely have some potential champions in all of our leagues.  I'm setting the betting line at 2 titles and 2 runner-up finishes for SMHA teams.  Any takers?

Let's hope the OHL Greyhounds go on a big run in the second half of the season.  I'm a Hounds fan and want to see them do well - but I am also a 50/50 draw fan and we sell more tickets when the team is winning and the rink is full.  Go Hounds.

Speaking of the Greyhounds, are you aware of how many SMHA alumni are on the team this year? I count 8.  That's gotta be the most ever.  Colin Miller, Brett Findlay, Brett Thompson, Dylan King, David Quesnele, and Chad Thibodeau.  Plus Denny Lambert and Seamus Kotyk on the staff.

I blogged a while back about another alumni, Cody McClelland and his dad Glen, a trainer in SMHA, who gave Cody a kidney.  Well they are back in the Soo and recuperating well.  A happy ending.  Merry Christmas guys.

As you are wrapping up your Xmas shopping, please give some consideration to shopping local.  The businesses of Sault Ste. Marie support the local hockey community generously and really benefit when you spend your dollars in town.  Even if it costs you a couple bucks more, please help support all those businesses you see on the fronts and backs of our hockey jerseys.

I'll finish off by wishing all of our SMHA families a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday season.