Coventry Blaze Junior Ice Hockey Club was formed to give young people in throughout Coventry and Warwickshire the opportunity to play ice hockey. We play in junior and youth leagues administered by the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) . The EIHA age groups are Under 10, Under 12, Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18. For the 2007-2008 season we have one team at U10 and U16 two teams at U12, U14 and U18 (Coventry Blaze and Mercian Menace). In order to play in an age group, a player must be under the age limit on 31 December. For example, for the 2007-2008 season an Under 10 player must be born in 1998 or later.

Coaching
Our Head of Hockey Operations is Andy Henry, who works closely with Reg Wilcox Head of Hockey Development is in charge of all coaches in our system, they both bring enormous experience to the club. The Level 2 head team coaches listed below are supported by an ever growing number of parents and older players who are registered as Level 1 Coaches or Managers.

Our current team coaches/managers are:

U18 Blaze - Steve Walker / Liam Walker
Manager - Carl Smith

U18 Menace - Wayne Burgess / Daniel Burgess
Manager - Chris Bridges / Dave Adey

U16 Blaze - Steve Tyrrell /Steve Henry
Manager - Dennis Hayes

U14 Blaze - Craig Newton/Andy Henry / Oliver Venus
Manager - Gary Gillatt

U14 Menace - Bill Kelly /Ben Toney / Stuart Green
Managers - Bee Bahia

U12 Blaze - Jeff Heape /Nicky Blower
Manager - Jan Heape

U12 Menace - Paul Turnbull /Carol Waite
Managers - Jason Bliss

U10 Blaze - Steve Mulchay / Keiran Papps
Manager - Rob Gilbert

Beginners U10/U12 - Maria Law / Luc Chabot / Neal Martin /Keiran Papps
Manager - Emily Gill

Netminder Coaching - Ken Goss / John Williams

Training September 2007 onwards

We now have over 13 hours of ice time at the Skydome Arena, this has enabled us to give each age group and the beginners group an hour of training a week, and groups are organised to share training sessions when appropriate.

Training Up
A team coach will issue an invitation via his manager to a specific team (younger Blaze or Menace, or same age group Menace) for a number of players to train up. This would normally be a line of three forwards and two defence. Players should be selected for training up on rotation so that everyone who wishes to train up gets the opportunity to do so.

The manager of the invited team will give the names of players proposed for 'training up' to the manager of the team issuing the invitation one week in advance. The coach who has made the invitation will then confirm that he accepts the proposed selection, or not, so that players can have plenty of notice.

The coaches' decision is final. Players' safety should be of prime concern.

(Note: Players normally train up one age group. Girls may also train down one age group at the coaches' discretion.)

Costs
Lets not pull any punches here - ICE HOCKEY IS AN EXPENSIVE SPORT.

Membership costs are as follows (for the 2007-2008 season):

• There is a club membership fee of £30. All players must also have insurance through the EIHA. We are currently recruiting for players for our U10 and U12 age groups. At present we have a waiting list for all other age groups, please note that it is unlikely that places in the older age groups teams will become available in the near future. For more information about joining 'Beginners', U10's and U12's please contact Karen Gill details at the bottom of this page.
  
• From January 1st 2006 there are subscription fees as follows:
  - Monthly 'in advance' payer £30 per month
  - Weekly payers £8.00
  - U10/U12 Beginners £8.00
  

These monthly club membership subscription fees are payable whether you turn up for training or not - the only exceptions are for players who are 'long term' ill or injured and is at managers final and total discretion.

Equipment
To start training, as an absolute beginner, you only need a throat guard, which is around about £10 and can be bought from the Coventry Blaze Hockey Locker in Coventry. The Club has invested a considerable amount of money in "starter" kit and this is used to provide beginners with an easy, cheap, route into the sport. This consists of helmet (with face cage) and stick (skates are available to hire from the Arena).

Beginners that have been attending training for 6 weeks are expected to then provide their own kit. No player will be able to play league games or in house games without a full set of kit:

• Helmet (with face guard*)
  
• Throat guard*
  
• Body Armour
  
• Elbow Pads
  
• Hockey Gloves
  
• Pants
  
• Box/Pelvic Protector
  
• Leg Pads
  
• Socks
• Skates
  
• Stick
  

*Throat guards and face guards are required by the rules of the IIHF and by the insurance company. A player will NOT be allowed to train or play in matches without these.

This is obviously an expensive set of equipment to purchase. Bought new, this can amount to several hundreds of pounds. Frequently, there is second hand equipment for sale from players within the Club, and also the surrounding Clubs (Solihull etc). We will endeavour to put buyers and sellers in touch with each other - so please let us know when you have kit for sale! Also junior club members are entitled to 10% off hockey equipment purchased from the Coventry Blaze Hockey Locker store which is now in new premises at 32 City Arcade - opposite Argos. They are able to source new equipment from manufacturers at competitive prices - come and talk to us first for advice then talk to the Hockey Locker.

Skating Ability
You will need to have achieved level 5 skating skills before you will be able to join U10/U12 beginners. Although our 'Beginners' will help develop basic skating skills you should be attending skating lessons run by Planet Ice to obtain level 5.

Joining
If you wish to join Beginners/U10/U12 then please come down to the Skydome Arena on a Wednesday at 6.30-7.30pm when the beginners training is on and you will be able to ask any questions you may have and also pick up the necessary forms to join the club.

If you are older than 12 years old please contact the chairman via email in the first instance - it may be that there are spaces depending on ability and experience.

Coventry Blaze Junior Ice Hockey Club

Beginners/U10/U12 - Emily Gilbert - skyblue.rob@btinternet.com
Club Chairman - Paul Gill - paul56gill@yahoo.co.uk
Registration Secretary - Jan Heape - janheape@tesco.net