| FAQ's |
This section contains the most frequently asked questions about Valpo Hockey.
What is the Valparaiso Hockey Club?
The Valparaiso Hockey Club (VHC) is a non-profit organization operating youth hockey programs for the benefit of male and female players in the greater Valparaiso Community. The purpose of the Club is:
To promote, encourage, and improve the sport of amateur ice hockey consistent with the rules of:
•Northwest Indiana Community Schools
•Michiana High School Hockey League(MHSHL and/or Southlake Region Hockey)
•Indiana State High School Hockey Association
•USA Hockey and any other state or district association of which it is a member;
To associate, communicate and compete with other ice hockey clubs and associations;
To develop character, sportsmanship, and physical fitness among the youth of the community;
To provide players with a healthy, constructive environment in which to develop socially;
To provide assistance and opportunities for the accomplishment of the participant’s educational goals;
To teach and develop the principles of hard work, teamwork, a sense of commitment, and a respect for authority;
To ensure that players at all ages and skill levels have the opportunity to further develop their hockey skills and abilities while having fun in the process;
To seek ways to keep as many players, coaches, parents and volunteers as possible involved in the program;
To perform or participate in other activities that will aid and foster the successful reaching of these objectives.
Who Are the Members of the Club?
The Valparaiso Hockey Club will consist of players, coaches, parents of players and interested individuals and/or clubs for the perpetuation and participation of hockey associated indirectly as a club sport in and around Valparaiso, Indiana.
How Many Players do You Have on the Team?
We typically have a roster of between 15 and 20 players. We are required to have a minimum of 15 players to enter the state tournament each year and we are allowed to dress a maximum of 20 for each game.
What is Their Season?
June – August: Conditioning/ Camps
September: Bi-weekly On-Ice Practice
October – February: Regular Season
March: Play-offs
April – May: Break
Where Do They Play?
Home ice is at the Ice Box in South Bend, Indiana. All of our league games are played there. Tournaments and other games are played at rinks located in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio.
What are The Eligibility Requirements to Play?
To be eligible to play on the Valparaiso Hockey Club a player:
• Must be a regular, bona fide student in good standing attending a fully accredited school in grades 9 through 12 or be home-schooled in a program approved by the Indiana State Department of Education, in grades 9 through 12. Each player shall remain in academic good standing while maintaining a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better. Proof of grade point to be verified by players’ report cards.
• Must not be in a suspension status with their team, school, league or USA Hockey. Students in a suspension status imposed by either their school or USA Hockey are not eligible to practice/play with the VHC.
• Must not have reached his/her 19th birthday prior to or on the scheduled date of the official commencement of the season. Proof of age to be verified by a copy of players’ birth certificate at the time of registration.
• Must not have been enrolled in more than eight (8) semesters beginning with Grade 9, nor have participated at the High School level in the sport of ice hockey for more than four (4) years.
• Must be an amateur hockey player registered with USA Hockey (Form 1-T) and the Michiana High School Hockey League.
• Must have submitted prior to the team’s first practice, a health and medical form, as prescribed by the Board, which is completed and signed by their family physician and by the parents or guardian of the player. The health and medical form must be on file with the member’s team representative or coach and available at team practices and games.
• Must not have been convicted of a felony.
Is This a Contact Sport?
Ice hockey as played through the club is a full contact sport. The players are taught and encouraged to make “checks” that are clean blocks in accordance with the standards of USA Hockey.
Is Hockey a School Sport?
Not in the purest sense of the word. By definition, school sports are funded and organized through the school operating budget. The Valparaiso Hockey Club is not supported in that fashion. Players are self supporting in that they raise and pay for their cost of participation and the club is organized as a private, non-profit venture. Having said that however, the players are only eligible if they are of high school age and if they are attending school in one form or fashion. We like to say that the VHC is a school focused sport.
What is a Club Sport?
The Valparaiso Hockey Club is a private organization promoting high school hockey. As such, the club is independent from support and regulation of the City or Local School System.
We set our own standards for participation, and they are very high. We also answer to USA Hockey and our league, currently the Michiana High School Hockey League. However the VHC works closely with our local school corporation in order to ensure that our players comply with the standards of participation they require. In fact, in many instances, our standards exceed those of other regulating bodies.
What Does It Cost to Play Hockey?
The cost of participation varies each year depending upon the number of games played, the number of practices held and the number of players on the team. For the 2006 – 07 season, the cost to each player is approximately:
Personal Equipment: $700
Uniform: $200
Team Expenses: $2,000
Miscellaneous Travel: $400
What are Your Goals as a Club?
For the 2003 – 2004 season our goals are focused on four key areas:
• Establish the Team (Internal Organizational Issues)
• Achieve a Competitive Reputation
• Achieve Community Integration
• Mitigate Player Costs
Who should we contact for more information?
Club President: Mark Howe @ 219.395.8467
Head Coach: TJ Lyons @ 219.548.1940
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