Eighteen weeks of preparation, training, games, booking flights and a whole list of activities is about to come to an end when the U18’s fly out from Dublin airport in an effort to retain their current bronze medal or go one above that and pick up silver or the top gold medal.

Head coach Sean Dooley, assistants Steven Ewen, Vytatus Luckeviocius and off-ice fitness coach Petr Castka have worked tirelessly around the clock preparing this team to the best it can perform to and has achieved the highest potential that each player can produce.

Speaking to Martin Grant this week, the manager of the team Jim Pepper said : ‘I can now see light at the end of the tunnel after working so hard with the team off ice putting all these things together and I cant wait to get on the plane now. The wheels are turning and I can’t stop them now. The last eighteen weeks is now coming to an end when we leave here this Friday and I’m really looking forward to it now.”

As this is Jims first year in the job he is now depending on the experience and guidance from head coach Sean Dooley in final preparations ahead of the tournament in Mexico. The host city has a population of three and a half million which is sure going to be an advantage to Jim Pepper where he can make new ice hockey contacts while over in Mexico.

On arrival at the Mexican airport, the team will be welcomed with a huge ‘Cead Mile Failte’ by Irish Americans who will support the team during the entire tournament.

Busy days ahead
A busy schedule has been organized for the Irish team who will open the tournament on Sunday against host Mexico. On Monday they will take on New Zealand and will have a rest day on Tuesday. On Wednesday they will take on South Africa where the team will be looking for the luck of the Irish as it’s St. Patrick’s Day. Thursday the team will rest and on Friday they play their final match against Israel with the closing ceremony on Saturday. On Sunday they will play a local Mexican team in an exhibition match which Jim organized. And in-between all of the on ice action, tours of places of interest have been organized for the team and parents.

Jim praised the work of his fellow management colleagues by saying ‘The coaches have done a tremendous job. They have put it countless of hours in training this team. Fitness coach Petr Castka is gift to the team and the amount of training and work he puts into the team is unbelievable. One sure think I can say is that we are going a very conditioned team. I’d say this is one of the best conditioned teams that ever left this Island for ice hockey’,

Team bounded together
Pepper commented on how well the team has bounded. ‘ I’m very proud of them’ he said, ‘Their a tight bunch of lads and they have gotten to know each other well. Last year they were players from different parts of Ireland but this year they are now Team Ireland and there is no division or clicks. I saw guys who where hardly not talking to each other and are now supporting each other at every match and training session. It truly is amazing’. Some of these players have played with each other now for more than a year, some for three, and know each other very well both on and off the ice.

Tough competition but Bronze still in sight
When asked about who he thinks is the toughest competition the team will face, Pepper said ‘That is a question I have been asking myself a lot and I try not to think about it that much because I’m concentrating on our team, but I think the southern hemisphere teams don’t travel for the fun. Mexico I don’t know much about because last year they where brought back down a division so this year they could be looking to get one up at home. Israel I don’t really know much about. New Zealand I think is the team to beat because they aren’t travelling to come second.’

Jim reckons that the team is capable of winning a game in what is a tough division. ‘Realistically speaking I don’t want to come last. I really want to win a game’ he said, ‘This is a very tough section and it is far from an easy division. If we win a game we could go on and win a second and then we have a bronze medal. We are looked as the under dogs but we all know the Irish like to be the underdogs in many sports’.

Jim thanks Democrat and all involved
On concluding his interview Jim said that he would like to thank everyone involved who has helped him to prepare for this world championships. ‘I would be here all day if I was to list the people I would like to thank, but I am going to single out my good wife Catherine for all her help and having to put up with hearing about ice hockey every day at the dinner table and I would also like to thank the Dundalk Bulls Ice Hockey Club as a whole for all their input’. He went on to thank the Irish Ice Hockey Association, team sponsors and The Dundalk Democrat for all their publicity and hard work.

To keep up to date with all the action and results from Mexico log onto www.iiha.org starting next week for Jim Peppers blog.

Author: Martin Grant

“Following the 2009 IIHF Hockey Development Camp that was organized for male hockey players and leaders; in 2010 the IIHF is once again offering the Development Camp experience to female participants.

The primary purpose of the 2010 IIHF Hockey Development Camp is to operate a leadership program to educate and train the participants. This is done in order that the participating countries can upgrade and operate quality educational programs in their hockey association. Each National Association is encouraged to use the information provided during this camp to improve their development program being operated within their country. Following completion of the camp, participants must return home and share their experiences to improve existing educational programs inside their National Associations.

Further to this, the goals of the camp are to:
•Develop the partnership between the IIHF and the member national associations
•Educate the future leaders of women’s ice hockey throughout the world
•Encourage fair play and respect
•Develop and enhance the skills of women’s hockey leaders of member national associations
•Provide practical experience to representatives from member national associations
•Promote women’s ice hockey internationally
•Provide personal growth and development of all the participants
•Promote international friendships and relations
•Encourage the use of the IIHF Development Program resources by all IIHF member national associations

Ireland is one of 46 countries who has made a commitment to develop women’s ice hockey and participate in the 2010 IIHF Hockey Development Camp.

The camp is open to female players born in 1993 and 1994 selected by participating member national associations. Team coaches, team managers, equipment managers and game officials for the camp will be selected from received applications submitted by national associations.

All participants will be actively involved in the theoretical and practical sessions. There will be daily meetings, seminars and planning sessions for each of the groups, as well as ‘hands on’ participation. The entire program is designed as a comprehensive teaching/learning experience for all participants.

Once participants return to their home country, they are expected to initiate, operate or assist the development of women’s ice hockey within their own national association.

The Development Camp Program has proven to be an excellent method to educate and motivate our members to grow our sport within their boundaries!”

The IIHA would like to offer this camp to all of our members whom have an involvement with women’s ice hockey and we would like to send participants in each of the following categories:
•Players
•Team Coach
•Team Manager
•Team Equipment Manager
•Game Officials
•Women’s Leadership Seminar

The deadline for submitting applications from the IIHA to the IIHF for the categories of Team Coach, Team Manager, Team Equipment Manager, Game Officials and submissions to attend the Women’s Leadership Seminar is Friday 5th March, 2010. Therefore, the IIHA would like for any interested parties to please submit their application to office@iiha.org no later than 7:00 pm on Wednesday, 3rd March, 2010.

Applications should be accompanied by the applicant’s name, age, address, contact details, the reason why you feel you should be selected as well as how you feel you can use the information you acquire at the camp when you return to Ireland to improve women’s ice hockey in Ireland in the future. Applicants should also state what their past and current involvement is with ice hockey in Ireland as well as abroad. Lastly, applicants should state what their future ambitions are within ice hockey.

The IIHF will be responsible for the following:
•All camp arrangements and costs including meals, accommodation, facilities, administration, operations, instructors, materials and program contents of the camp
•Ground transportation between Helsinki and Vierumaki

The IIHA will be responsible for the following:
•Selection of participants to be submitted to the IIHF
•Travel arrangements for the participants to Helsinki from Ireland and back
•The IIHA will only be in a position to fund a portion of the travel arrangements for participants. The remainder will be the responsibility of the participants

Successful applicants whom are chosen by the IIHA and the IIHF to participate in the camp will be responsible for the following:
•Pay for at least 75% of the cost of the travel arrangements to Helsinki from Ireland and back
•Record a daily blog of the activities in which they took part
•Upon return to Ireland, submit a detailed report to the IIHA outlining suggestions to improve the standards of women’s ice hockey in Ireland in that respective area based on their experiences in Vierumaki
•Make themselves available to assist the IIHA in the future to help develop the sport in the respective area when asked to do so by the IIHA
•Ensure that they are free to travel on the necessary dates if selected

If you require any further details on any of the above categories and what exactly is involved, please contact the IIHA at office@iiha.org. Further details about the camp can also be found on www.iihf.com.

More details for participants who would be interested in attending the camp as players will be made available in the next few weeks. Players should not contact the IIHA seeking information until the information has been released on www.iiha.org.

Author: IIHA

During the 2010 World Ice Hockey Championships in Germany, the IIHF will be hosting the IIHF International Coaching Symposium in Cologne from the 14 – 16 May 2010. At this year’s Symposium the IIHF will focus their presentations on the integration of the young player into the professional game. The three aspects that will be discussed are: Physical, Mental, and Technical Skills.

In the last few years the game of ice hockey, as well as other team sports, has become much faster. With the new rule interpretation, the importance of skill has become much more important. Not only has the level of skill improved, but also the speed at which it is needed. Players, coaches and conditioning coaches are always looking for ways to improve the athletic development of themselves and their athletes. We will combine scientific research with the experience of top trainers, to find the best ways to train our athlete’s injury free.

We will hear what skills the young players need to “bring with them” or develop in order to be successful at the professional level. These skills will be broken down into “offensive” and “defensive” skills and how they occur in the different areas of the ice surface.

When the young player enters the professional game, he is required to play at a much higher level both physically and mentally; for some, it will be the first time that they will earn money by playing hockey. For others, it may be the first time that they really must compete to earn a position on a team. We will discuss the major challenges for these young players entering the professional game, how we can best prepare them, and techniques to help the young players become successful.

For each subject we will have a presenter from North America and Europe. The game of ice hockey has, over the years, become much more globalized. However, there are still a number of differences between the professional leagues in North America and Europe. Our Presenters will talk about the similarities and differences in ice hockey between these two continents.

On the Friday and Saturday in the foyer of the Sport University, we will be hosting an Exhibitors Trade Fair. This will give the coaches the opportunity to see and experience the latest in technology and products in and around the world of ice hockey. It will also give the coaches a chance to meet coaches from other countries.

We have tried to make this Conference as reasonable as possible. The accommodation will be in the Coaches Academy, which is within 5 minutes walking distance to the lecture hall (Sport University). From the Sport University, there runs of Tram directly to the Ice Hockey Arena. For those who wish to be in the heart of Cologne, we have also reserved rooms at the Hotel Ibis. From the Hotel, you can take a train to the Sport University.

The registration fee includes: 2 nights’ accommodation, breakfast, lunch, tickets to 5 games on Fr./Sa./Su. (game tickets are valid for the tram and subway), presentation materials, binder, T-shirt, hat, carrying case and a DVD from all the presentations during the Conference. All lectures will be held in English.

If you would be interested in attending this conference, you should follow this link http://www.iihf.com/channels10/iihf-world-championship-wc10/home/iihf-events/coaching-conference.html and follow the information that is available. Further details are also available at this link including course details and planned timetable. The deadline for registering and paying for the conference yourself is Sunday, 28th February, 2010.

Author: IIHA

“During the Ice Hockey World Championships in Germany, the IIHF will be hosting the first ever Coaching Conference for youth hockey coaches. Most of the Professional Coaches are quite familiar with the training and game systems around the world. However, the minor hockey coaches don’t often have the opportunity to hear and see the different training methods of other nations. The IIHF will be offering a platform just for the minor hockey coaches. Speakers from some of the leading ice hockey nations will talk about the aspects of how they develop their youth hockey players. These speakers will be experts in the field of training youth ice hockey. After every Topic Session, we will have a question and answer period in order that the coaches can ask particular questions regarding their own situation. We will also have some Speakers who will present information about the science behind the learning skills, and also Speakers from other Sports (ex. Speed skating, Hockey) who will give us an insight into how they train and teach their youth athletes.

On the evening of Friday, May 7, there will a Poster Session at the Olympic Training Centre. Some of the leading ice hockey nations will have booths that show their coaching education system. This will give the coaches the opportunity to see and talk personally to the coaching educator of that country. There will also have the opportunity to purchase DVD’s, CD’s and print material from these countries. There will be also various Exhibitor booths displaying their products. During the Poster Session the participants will have the opportunity to personally meet coaches from the other nations. Food and drink will be provided during the poster session.

In order to make this unique event financially possible for the minor hockey coaches, we will only be charging € 395; - This includes 3 night’s accommodation, breakfast, lunch, transportation to the hockey arena, tickets to the games on Sat and Sun presentation materials, binder, shirt, hat, carrying case, and a DVD from all the presentations during the Conference.”

If you would be interested in attending this conference, you should follow this link http://www.iihf.com/channels10/iihf-world-championship-wc10/home/side-events/youth-coaching-conf.html and follow the information that is available. Further details are also available at this link including course details and planned timetable. The deadline for registering and paying for the conference yourself is Sunday, 28th February, 2010.

The IIHF are offering the IIHA the opportunity to send two applicants to this conference and subsidise the conference’s registration fee. As a result, the IIHA would like to offer this out to anyone that is interested in attending the conference and would like to avail of the subsidy. All the applicants need to do is email office@iiha.org, state their interest, leave their name, address, age, current involvement with ice hockey in Ireland and what they would like to learn from this conference by Tuesday, 9th March 2010. Certain criteria from the IIHF apply in order for someone to avail of this subsidy so there will be a selection process by the IIHA to select its two candidates.

Successful applicants will be required and responsible for the following:
•Ensuring that they are free and available to travel to and from Germany for the conference on the above dates
•Paying for up 75% of their travel arrangements to and from Germany
•Required to keep a blog of their daily activities at the conference for possible release on www.iiha.org
•Return to Ireland and provide a detailed report making suggestions to improve youth ice hockey in Ireland based on experiences at the conference.

If you require any further information, please contact the IIHA on office@iiha.org.

PLEASE NOTE: The deadline for registering and paying for the conference yourself is Sunday, 28th February, 2010. We acknowledge that this is short notice but please feel free to apply to register for the conference with the IIHF after this deadline as your application may still be considered depending on spaces being available.

Applying for the subsidy from the IIHF through the IIHA is not a guarantee that you will be able to attend the conference and if you register for the conference yourself and pay your fee, you will not be in a position to avail of the subsidy. The deadline for applying for the subsidy from the IIHF through the IIHA is Tuesday, 9th March 2010.

Author: IIHA

This Saturday night, the Dundalk Ice Dome plays host to an exhibition game between the Senior Irish National Team and the U18 Irish National Team in advance of their upcoming trips to Luxembourg and Mexico respectively.

Starting at 6:30 pm, there will be a pre-match reception in the “Ice Bar & Bistro” upstairs in the Dundalk Ice Dome. Following this, the kids will get things started on the ice with a game between the Dundalk Bulls and the Belfast Junior Giants at 7:15 pm as part of the Peace 111 Cross Border Iniative.

At 8:00 pm, the big game between the Irish National Teams will face off in what should be an intriguing encounter. Following the game, there will be light refreshments while the players of each team are introduced to everyone.

This should be a thrilling encounter and this may be the last time that we get to see the U18 Irish National Team in action before the head to Mexico in March. This will be a fun night with all proceeds going towards supporting of the U18 Irish National Team.

Author: IIHA

The change only affects two teams that were due to play on this date and representatives for each team have been notified of the change.

The schedule for Sunday 21st February 2010 is as follows:

@ 9:45 pm: Whalers v Hawks B (Dundalk Ice Dome)
@ 11:00 pm: Drogheda Icebreakers v Blackhawks (Dundalk Ice Dome)

The other game that was due to take place on this take has been rescheduled to Wednesday 24th February 2010 as follows:

@ TBC: Blackrock Whalers v Dundalk Bulls (Dundalk Ice Dome)

This also affects the scheduled Senior Irish National Team training session which was due to take place from 7:15 pm to 8:15 pm. This training session will now take place from 8:15 pm to 9:15 pm.

Author: IIHA

If a team would like to sign or transfer a player or a player would like to transfer teams then they should contact Wayne Hopkins via waynehopkins@iiha.org immediately for the transfer to be approved in time.

*Please Note: Any new players who require an ITC cannot be signed for a team in the IIHL as the ITC deadline of 01 February 2010 has passed.

**Please Note: The signing and transfer deadline for the IIHL Recreational Division & IIHL Development Division was on Thursday, 28th January 2010.

Author: IIHA

Author: Jim Pepper

Author: Dean Kelly

Author: Dean Kelly