11/14/2008

Parents....after the games on Friday v. Dimond ... I will be handing out the paperwork for team and individual pictures. Pictures will be taken next Wednesday at practice and each family can decide if they would like to purchase a team and or individual player picture for themselves.

Please make sure the checks are for the proper amount and written to the photographer...not South or its booster club. We do not make any money on this but do use a simple "mug shot" picture for our fundraising poster. Each player will be photographed for the poster regardless of your desire to purchase a package. We will be dressed in our whites for the team pictures.

Coach Ashley

11/12/2008
 
Parents please help me in getting your kids to the next level by reinforcing a few ideals I believe in.
 
First...an athlete must be athletic. Some kids are just showing up and going through the motions. Many of our players work out on their own or the various athletic clubs in town. We can only do so much for a kid in a one hour practice.
 
Secondly...an athlete must have desire to become a better hockey player every time they touch the ice in an organized situation. Practice at the high school level is not "shinney" hockey. We have many kids not listening to directions and making no effort to understand what we are trying to accomplish in many of our team and individual drills.
 
Third...smarts or "rink awareness" can take an average player a long way in the game of hockey. Learning situational awareness does not take athletic ability. Following directions ... does not take athletic ability....desire does not take athletic ability and finally putting forth ones best effort does not take athletic ability.
 
I have high hopes for this year. Those goals can only be reached if we all are on the same page and working towards those goals.
 
Coach Ashley


11/6/2008

Zach Aregood is the lucky winner of this weeks trivia question. Phil Verchota came to Alaska post 1980 Olympics and spent some time living with the legendary Dempsey Anderson. He later finished his degree at the University of Minnesota and went into banking. I had the pleasure of spending some time with him up here and he was a great guy. Coach Vassen should be posting the next trivia question on our site. Zach now gets to pick the music for our website.
 
Parents....please remember at the Varsity level we will have as many as five "healthy scratches" every night until I and the other coaches decide to trim the roster a bit or carry extra players. Decisions regarding who plays and in what game are up to the coaching staff and in the short term we are still allowing kids to try to set the "pecking oder" under real game conditions.  Spencer Brodt will hopefully be returning from injury soon and that will add another element to the equation. I am already receiving emails from teachers in regards to classroom behavior and discipline problems....this makes decision making a lot easier for me. Wednesday's JV game also had some surprises so don't be alarmed if other kids get a shot at varsity also.
 
Coach Ashley


11/2/2008

A big round of applause for all those parents, boosters, fans, players, cheerleaders, and volunteers for putting on a wonderful benefit for the Benton Clan last night at Guido's. A special thanks to those players and cheerleaders from Dimond who helped make last night a memorable one...and a big kudo to Coach Sorenson and Guido's for their involvement. The hockey community really comes forward and helps one of their own in a time of need.

Some players and parents may notice their kids name on both the Varsity and JV rosters. This means I am not sure at this time where they belong and I will need to see them in real game action . As the season plays out...we can and will make adjustments to the lineups accordingly. Players on the JV roster only...still have a chance for varsity ice...they must simply show me in the JV games how wrong I am. Also, unless you are a senior, you may find yourself playing JV at any time if you are not playing as well as I think you can or I thought you would. I do make adjustments to the rosters whenever I feel they are needed.

We are starting a new hockey trivia contest on our website and the weekly winner will get to pick the music for the following week. Please think about the lyrics and keep things above board if you would. The contest is open to all South Players, parents, boosters, alumni and cheerleaders. Question number one is already up.
 
Coach Ashley