Official Team Launch Party was a great start to wild ride...

The Winnipeg Ice, along with all of their families, gathered at the Winnipeg Convention Centre on Friday night for a little taste of what promises to be an exciting experience. The day began with a mad rush to get the players to Notre Dame Arena by 4pm for team athletic wear sizing, followed by another spirited practice at 5pm.

Another rush followed practice, as coaches, players, and parents rushed to the Winnipeg Convention Centre for the start of the event by 6:30. Parents were directed into a meeting room set up for a multimedia presentation and the players all entered a VIP lounge, full of leather couches and glass tables. After a quick meet & greet, players join the staff, and their parents, in the meeting room as the coaching staff laid out the season plan.

The meeting was interrupted halfway through with a very healthy dinner for everyone...well, tasty dinner, perhaps not healthy! Everyone had a bite and chatted until the second half of the meeting began. The players and parents were an excellent audience, as the presentation did seem to take a little longer than expected.

Around 8:15 the parents departed, leaving the team and its staff to begin the activities of the evening. What actually went on will remain between the players and coaches, but in a nutshell what happened was the beginning of strong bond between teammates, the early stages of outright trust emerging, and above all else a lot of smiling and laughing.

It wasn't your "normal" first team meeting, no, it was far from it. But after all, this isn't just a "normal" team...get ready for a crazy wild ride, it begins now!

~Coach

First practice was smooth as ICE...

You know that feeling you get when you meet someone for the first time and it seems like you've known them your whole life? That was the feeling inside the dressing room, and on the ice, as the Winnipeg Ice met for the first time as a team. There was excitement in the air, as new teammates introduced themselves to one another, and the energy spilled onto the ice, as the team skated for the first time as a unit.

The first practice of any hockey season yields some level of excitement and energy, but this felt different. The coaches pushed the pace and the players responded. The smiles and laughter on the ice disappeared only momentarily, as the players flew up and down the ice, striding hard and pushing their limits.

A tired bunch met with the coaches after practice, but the energy and excitement remained on everyone's face. They picked numbers and shared nicknames, and laughed even more. A long journey awaits this team, tough times are surely ahead. But, if Day #1 was any indication, this team will stand strong together..TEAM (Together.Everyone.Achieves.More).

Here's to a great start to an amazing season! Go Ice Go!

Oh, and did I mention there were Winnipeg Ice cupcakes? Yes, there were cupcakes...

~Coach

Long week of tryouts ends, long journey together begins...

It took a long week of tough tryouts, but the Winnipeg Ice Female Midget Hockey team selected their roster today. The players left it all on the ice, and tough decisions were made today. It felt like the evaluation process was never ending, but today the journey begins for real. 17 players will gather for the first time as the 2012-2013 Winnipeg Ice on Wednesday, marking the beginning of a 8 month-long journey towards a provincial title. The road to the winning it all will certainly be winding and treacherous at times, but the accomplishments we will make as a team will make it all worth it in the end. There will undoubtedly be stunning victories, but also painful defeats. There will smiles and laughter, but also pain and tears. The selection process for this year has ended, let the fun begin! 17 players came to the rink today as prospects, but even though they didn't know it yet, they left as a team...

The roster will be officially announced by Tuesday September 11th. Stay tuned...

~Coach