Aug 29, 2023 | Jenny Moyse | 93 views
Welcome to U7-1
Welcome to 2023-2024 U7 1!
This article contains important information to kick off the West Lorne Comets 2023-2024 season.
West Lorne Minor Hockey Association (WLMHA) is very excited to welcome you all to the new season!
My name is Jenny Moyse and I am the team manager lead for all U7 teams this year. I will be looking after communication that impacts all teams, as well as scheduling of games with other centers. Please reach out to me at any time if you have any questions.
IMPORTANT: If you would like an additional email contact added to our communication list, please let me know. This list will be used for all communications from WLMHA and will be shared with the team coaching staff. It will also be used for our Sportzhead App [more info below].
Start Dates & Regular Weekly Times
I know everyone is eagerly waiting on practice dates. As soon as I get that information, I will pass it along. Any upcoming games for the U7 kids will be scheduled as the season progresses.
Team calendars online will be updated. Schedules may need to be altered to have games outside of the regular weekly times depending on away games and skill sessions. Communication will come directly from the coaches. Games are exhibition games, and played usually with Southwest, East Lambton, Port Stanley and other available teams.
Required Hockey Equipment
For your first practice, please ensure your child has all their equipment. Jerseys and socks are provided by WLMHA as they become available. You should purchase a practice jersey to start, however a Comets jersey will be provided to your child to for the season as well. Here is a link to the OMHA required equipment list: https://www.omha.net/page/show/2796144-equipment
Used equipment can be purchased at Herms Sport Exchange in London. As well, Canadian Tire offers Hockey Starter kids that some have found very affordable.
When you come into the West Elgin Arena, check the dressing room board to your right. Dressing rooms will be specified on the white board to the right inside the arena by listing the Team Name and the Dressing Room. You should arrive at least 20 minutes before your scheduled ice time. Some parents dress their children at home with everything except their skates and helmet, to make it a quicker time in the dressing room.
Hockey/Equipment Bags
Please make sure your child’s equipment is in a bag, with name, and phone number. We did have a few bags left behind last year in other centres, and they never turned up because there was no way to identify who the bag belonged to. You can get a luggage tag from the dollar store and use that.
Helmets
Please ensure your child has a full hockey helmet, with the face protector, as well as the helmet must be CSA approved and not expired. Please put a piece of tape with your child’s name on the front of their helmet, as this is a huge help to the coaching staff.
Water Bottles
Please make sure your child has a water bottle they can drink from with their helmet on, without assistance. Please label your child’s water bottle with their first and last name. Water bottles can be filled in the warm room at the filling station.
Walking with Skates On
You will notice there is a rubber mat in the area between the player benches and the change rooms. This is safe to walk on with skates. This does extend into the warm room, but only into the doorway, so once your child has skates on they will not be able to walk much further than the door. Walking on concrete will require them to need to be sharpened and it is not recommended.
Skate Sharpening
West Elgin Arena does offer skate sharpening for $10 cash, however it is usually only available on weekends and when staff are available.
Respect in Sport - Parent Course
One parent of each NEW (first year) registrant must complete the Hockey Canada Respect in Sport Course. Please ensure at least one (1) parent has completed this course prior to September 24. This is at your own expense. Once you have completed it, you will not need to complete it again. https://westlornecomets.com/Pages/2184/Respect_In_Sport/ Website & Social Media
Please be sure to follow us on Facebook @westlornecometshockey and browse our website on an ongoing basis.
The website is a great resource for all information about WLMHA and the upcoming season.
SportsHeadz App - Mobile Team Management
SportsHeadz App is an app managed by WLMHA website interface. It is a team management app that allows coaches to communicate via a chat function with players/parents, allows schedules and team activities to be set up, and allows players to respond to their availability for practices and games. All players will be added to the app with their email. Players under the age of 13 will be added as a parent/guardian managing their player. You will be added via the email you used when you registered yourself/child. If you would like a second player/guardian added for your child, please let us know.
In the coming days, you will receive an invitation to download the app and you will be added to a team. Please see the attached “How to” guide to learn about the app. Subscribe to Your Team’s CalendarTeam Calendars and all Team News is available on westlornecomets.com under “Team Finder” and select your team name. If you use your electronic calendar on your Apple/Android device, make sure you subscribe to your team calendar. The calendar updates continuously, so if a game or practice is scheduled/canceled, this will show up in your electronic mobile device calendar. Visit: https://westlornecomets.com/Teams/1248/Webcal/ for instructions on how to Subscribe directly to the Team’s calendar.
Questions about the Upcoming Season
If you have any questions, please reach out to me, Jenny or your Team Manager - Allie Gosnell. Throughout the season, any concerns can be sent directly to the WLMHA Board.
Board Comments/Question The Director of Coaching is Rob Tait. If you have any coach related concerns, please contact Rob at [email protected].
On behalf of the West Lorne Minor Hockey Association, thank you all for joining the West Lorne Comets hockey family!
Let’s get a great season going.