Welcome to Seattle Junior Hockey Association and the Rink Rat Program.  We hope that you and your player enjoy your experience!  Ice hockey is a fast growing sport in our region.  Seattle Junior Hockey Association has been developing players at all levels since 1974.  We currently have 35 teams covering ages from 4 to 18 years of age.

If you are new to the sport of ice hockey, you probably have a lot of questions and wonder what is in store for you and your player.  We hope that this informational handout will answer your questions and help you understand this great game!!

Now that you have registered for the Rink Rats, the next step is to obtain equipment for your player.  Seattle Junior Hockey Association offers a great rental program where you can rent an entire set of gear for the season for only $90.  This includes a bag, skates, shin guards, elbow guards, shoulder pads, pants, gloves and a bag.  You are responsible for an athletic supporter, mouth guard, hockey socks and a practice jersey.  You will receive a hockey stick November and game jersey in December as part of the program fees.

Hockey socks are like leg warmers in that they cover the shin guards and go under the hockey pants.  They can be held up in several ways.  You can use a garter belt, which is available in your equipment rental if you request it, a pair of shorts with Velcro tabs on the front and back of the shorts that will hold up your socks or a pair of snug fitting spandex shorts with the Velcro tabs.  Both the shorts and spandex shorts have an athletic cup inside of them.  For the girls, there is a pelvic protector called a Jill.  This is available at the Olympicview Pro Shop, located in the Olympicview Ice Arena.

The practice jersey can be purchased for a nominal fee from Seattle Junior Hockey Association when you rent your gear or you can purchase it in the Pro Shop at Olympicview Ice Arena.

The Rink Rat program is broken up into blocks of instruction.  The first 8 weeks are spent on learning how to skate like a hockey player!!  The players are broken up into 3 different groups, based on level of ability , and taught the fundamentals of power skating.  We do not give players sticks until week 5 so they learn to skate properly without the aid of the stick.

At the end of November, after 8 weeks of pure learn to skate, we break the players in well balanced teams. You will receive a team jersey at that time.  This is yours to keep.  You can personalize the jersey with name and a number if you wish. These teams will stay intact for the remainder of the season. Each player will have a head coach, hopefully 1 or 2 assistant coaches, and several on ice helpers. These helpers are usually parents or other older players from our association. All staff is carefully screened prior to placement on the ice.

Cross ice games will begin in January.  The main ice arena at Lynnwood is divided in thirds with big black rubber bumper boards.  Their coaches will be on the ice with them, offering instruction where needed so they can learn the game.  

Throughout the season, the teams will have the opportunity to participate in mini games during an Everett Silvertip games.  The teams will skate during the first intermission.  More information will be given to you as the time gets closer.  Each association provides a limited amount of tickets for free and the remainder of the needed tickets will be purchased. 

Each team will need parent volunteers to make this season an enjoyable for your player.  There is usually a Snack parent, a team parent, and an events parent.  Jerry Weir, Beginner Program Coordinator, will be giving you more information during the parent orientation.

We are here to be of assistance to you.  The Directors of Seattle Junior Hockey Association can be reached via phone or email.  Michell Urbanski is the program registrar and administrator and is available to answer any questions that you may have.  We are proud of our website, www.Sjha.com, and encourage you to look there for information regarding ice schedules, updates on practices and game schedules.

The hockey season runs from October to the end of March, culminating with a big party at the end of the season where the children receive trophies, turn in equipment, and register for the upcoming year.  There are bouncy games, food and lots of activities.

Jerry Weir will provide frequent parent meetings throughout the season to update you on the upcoming events and either email the notes of the meetings to you all or post on the website.  USA Hockey has an informational website, www.usahockey.com, that has a lot of useful information regarding ice hockey.

2011/2012 Player Registration - Register Online
The 2011/2012 SJHA Beginner Hockey Season will begin October 1st, 2011. 

What a Typical Season Looks like;

Practice ~ 1st Weekend in October - Middle of March
Saturdays, 11:05pm - 12:05pm @ OlympicView Arena
There will be a few Saturdays during the season that SJHA hosts Tournaments; we will do our best to reschedule the practice some time during the weekend, but it is not always possible. You will be notified a few weeks in advance if your practice is cancelled or rescheduled

Games ~ January - March
4:35 – 5:55pm (10 minutes) – This is optional – Games begin at 4:55pm
"Edges of Excellence" with coach Jerry
*Initial Edge work and skating begins promptly at 4:35pm for all interested players.
 
Games 4:55-5:45pm
*Games will start promptly at 4:55pm and ice time will run thru 5:45pm