The season has begun, the soreness is just starting to subside from those first games, and our sleep patterns are rapidly changing. Things are going as expected for the beginning of fall!

A few thank you’s, reminders, and housekeeping items will complete the season kickoff, so here we go:

• SPONSORS: A huge thank you to all the businesses who have sponsored JAHA jerseys! Using sponsored jerseys helps JAHA keep registration fees low by avoiding costs associated with buying, maintaining, laundering, and storing jerseys. Big shout outs to – in no particular order – ISLAND PUB, ALASKA AIRLINES, LOUIE’S, SEARHC, KENSINGTON, CARPENTERS LOCAL 1281, SHAW DENTAL, COUER ALASKA, HECLA GREENS CREEK, JOE GELDHOF (10th MOUNTAIN DIVISION), RICK DRISCOLL (DRISCOLL’S DUGOUT), BILL CAMPBELL (DOUGLAS WHALERS). Thanks to these businesses and individuals, Tiers A and B are completely sponsored and we are working our way toward fully sponsoring all other tiers. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SPONSORING A TEAM OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE? Before buying a set of jerseys, shoot us an email and we’ll work with you on colors, recommended quantities and sizes, and custom jersey sources.

• GIVE US A PIECE OF YOUR MIND: We can take it, I promise. We need to know how we can improve your experience because if we don’t know, we simply can’t fix it. Please take a few minutes to take a very brief survey here so we can make JAHA better for YOU: http://j.mp/jahasurvey

• DON’T FREAK OUT, YO: Your tier representatives spend a lot of their personal time trying to create teams that balance competitive parity with honoring player requests. Most of the time, everything works out great, but we’re all human and sometimes there needs to be an adjustment here and there. Within the first two weeks of the season, tier representatives and team representatives will meet to discuss potential player moves to try to balance out teams if things look off. They will work to ensure players don’t miss out on games that they would have gotten to play if they hadn’t been moved. If you are identified as a player who may be moved, your tier or team representative will get in touch with you to let you know.

• R-E-S-P-E-C-T THE R-E-F-E-R-E-E’S: They are there to officiate the game according to JAHA and USA Hockey rules, maintain order, and ensure everyone’s safety. If a penalty is called on you, head directly to the penalty box. If you disagree with a call, wait until immediately after the game and calmly bring it up with the ref or ask your team rep to do so. If you cannot do this and/or still disagree, please contact JAHA and we can get in touch with the Juneau Hockey Officials (JHO) board on your behalf. Any abuse of officials, including swearing – even if not directed at a specific person – can result in at least a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and can escalate to a game misconduct, which carries an automatic one game suspension imposed by USA Hockey.

• INTRO/TIER D: If you know someone who is interested in hockey, JAHA waives the late fee for those new to the association, so encourage them to join. There is plenty of room and their registration fee will be prorated for the number of games left in the season. If they sign up for both Intro and Tier D, they will get a $20 discount on top of everything else – help us get more people on the ice!

• YOU CAN STINK AT THE RINK, BUT PLEASE DON’T DRINK AT THE RINK: We can’t stress it enough – the rule against possession/consumption of alcohol inside the rink is a City & Borough of Juneau rule, not a JAHA rule. Savikko Park, the park that Treadwell Arena is located in, does allow for open alcohol containers. So if you would like to enjoy an adult beverage after a game, you may legally do so in the park area immediately outside the rink as long as you are not in a roadway.

• JAHA RULES: You should already be familiar with USA Hockey rules , but you also need to know that JAHA has its own supplemental rules and be familiar with them as well. If a JAHA rule calls for a suspension or ban, this is in addition to any penalties assessed under the USA Hockey rules.

• WANT TO KNOW MORE?: Check out our Frequently Asked Questions and if you’re still skating in the dark, please contact us !

Thank you all for being a part of JAHA and contributing to the awesome community of adult hockey players here in the capital city! We appreciate each and every one of you skating with us. See you on the ice!

— Commissioner Soza

It might be too early to think about playing hockey, but it’s not too late to register!

We’re trying something a little different this year and keeping registration open all summer so you can register, pay, and be all set to go when the fall season starts on September 4th.

This is especially helpful if you find yourself constantly scrambling to get your registration in at the last minute and/or usually end up paying late fees.

For the fall season, the fee is $230 per player, per tier from now until August 20th. After that, the registration climbs to $305 and space on a team with your friends is not guaranteed.

Click here and follow the instructions to get going.

See you in September!

JAHA PLAYERS!

Be sure to head over to the rink this weekend to catch some great exciting action between teams from Southeast Alaska, Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Whitehorse!

Games kick off TOMORROW (February 25) with the Sister Cities game between Juneau and Whitehorse at 8pm.

This game is sponsored by the Prospector Hotel with support from the Juneau Sister Cities Committee.

The remaining Rainforest games begin at 5:15pm on Friday and concluded on Sunday with championship games beginning at 9:00am. The full schedule is attached to this post.

There will be a beer garden and concessions at the rink.

SEE YOU THERE!

The Juneau Adult Hockey Association (JAHA) invites you, your friends, and your family to come participate in the inaugural JAHA Douglas Island Cup hockey tourney. Our goal is to bring great people together to play a great sport and have fun!

The tournament is scheduled for April 15 – 16, 2016.

We have one spot open for registration – register now by visiting:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K6LSB68

TOURNAMENT AND ENTRY DETAILS

• Team Entry Fee is $1,100, and is first come, first served based on JAHA’s receipt of a non-refundable $550 deposit.
• Teams must have at least 11 players and a maximum of 16 players, including goalie.
• Players may only play on one team. Exceptions may be made in extenuating circumstances.
• All tournament participants will receive welcome gifts and swag.
• First place cash prizes will be awarded to each division championship team.
• All players must be registered with USA Hockey by April 1, 2016. The membership fee is $40 per player and can be done online at www.usahockeyregistration.com.
• All players must be 18 years of age or older by the start date of the tournament. Age exceptions may be made only for goaltenders in extenuating circumstances.
• Each team is guaranteed three games. All playoff and championship games will be played on Sunday.
• The game schedule will be posted at www.juneauhockey.org and will be sent via e-mail to the team contact/captain no later than one week prior to the event.
• No schedule requests will be accepted. Games begin at 7:45pm on Friday, April 15th and end on Saturday evening, April 16th, at 7:15pm or later depending on overtime and/or shootouts. Please make travel plans accordingly.
• Entry deadline is April 1, 2016, however the event is first come, first served and either division could be closed earlier based on ice time availability and number of teams registered overall.
• A team that withdraws from the tournament after April 8, 2016, will not be refunded.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

• A minimum of four teams is required to run a division. There is a 10 team maximum for the overall event.
• Each game will consist of three 12 minute stop time periods with a five minute warm-up.
• Three preliminary games will be played by each team within their division that will determine which teams will advance from each division to the playoff round. Standings and tie-breaker information will be provided to each team captain and will be posted throughout the weekend.
• All playoff and championship games will be played on Sunday.
• If a preliminary game ends in a tie, a best of three player shootout will be used to determine a winner. If still tied, a sudden death shootout will take place with each team getting a shot until there is a winner. Each team will get the same number of shots.
• If a playoff round game ends in a tie, a five minute 4 on 4 sudden death overtime period will be played prior to the shootout described above. During overtime, player substitutions may only be made on the fly and may not be made during play stoppages.
• Visiting teams shoot first in shootouts. Once the team with the least amount of players runs out, both teams may start over.

To help you all start planning around your potential playoff games, please see attached for the JAHA Winter 2016 playoff schedule!

Championship games will be held on Sunday, April 3rd and we are looking at Friday, April 22nd for the end-of-season banquet.