2008 Registration Closing Soon

Thank you to all of you who have already registered for the upcoming inline hockey season. We have had an unprecedented response to our call for registrations and have only 100 of our total 705 spaces still available as of February 1st. The earlier we wrap up registrations, the sooner we can plan the league's schedule and other important events.

For those of you who haven't yet registered, please do not delay any longer. If you think about those 100 spaces left over and divide them by our eight divisions, you can imagine that it won't take long before we start closing some of them off. To register right now, please go to www.nsihl.com/registration.html.

SELL: We always have a greater demand than supply when it comes to used inline gear. Every year we hear from members who missed the event and they tell us about all of the used inline gear that's been piling up in their basements. We have a solution that will help out your house, shed you of your procrastination, earn you some well-deserved money and provide a needed service to hundreds of kids coming up through the ranks: Sell your unwanted gear at this year's NSIHL Swap Meet!

Check out these two important dates during the week before the Swap Meet to bring your used gear in for assessment and valuation. Please stop by the lower east-end of the Harry Jerome rink with your clean, used gear on Sunday, Feb. 24th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, and Thursday, Feb. 28th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Experienced NSIHL volunteers will be on-hand to accept your equipment and help arrive at its proper value based on its age and condition. The fastest items that sell are girdles, pants and skates.

BUY: Mark your calendar for the league's annual Swap Meet set for Saturday, March 1st, from 1:00pm to 2:30pm in the Esplanade Room (above the rink, east-end) of the Harry Jerome Arena. Benefit from our members' growth by buying outgrown equipment at bargain prices. It's amazing how fast the merchandise sells, so don't be disappointed. Get there early!

The league retains 25% of the selling price of the equipment and the net proceeds generated by the Swap Meet are used to subsidize registration fees for children who might not otherwise be able to afford to play in the league.

The most recent issue of this newsletter told you of last year's story when we failed to get enough 15-17 year old registrants in the Bantam Competitive division and were forced to fold all the players into a super-sized Bantam Recreational division of 16 teams. We're very happy to report that this divison is back in full force with at least five teams ready to roll.

In the older age groups (Squirt, Peewee and Bantam). the league always needs fulltime goalies. If you have the desire to play, and have some expereince, please register as a fulltime goalie. The league provides you with the pads that you need (www.nsihl.com/goalies.html) and will reimburse your registration fees after the season if you play in the nets for at least 80% of your team's games.

Another reminder that full-time goalies playing in the Squirt, Peewee and Bantam divisions will no longer be provided with goalie sticks. If you are playing in the nets this year in the older age groups, you might want to take advantage of the season-ending sales on ice hockey gear at local sports retailers and buy yourself a new goalie stick. The league will continue to provide all of the pads that you'll need to keep playing safely: chest protector, glove, blocker and leg pads.

Although there are many parents who already volunteer their time to coach or help manage their kids' inline teams, we are always in need of coaching help in most divisions. If you would like to give a hand in coaching or assistant-coaching a team, either sign up on your child's online registration form (a new feature introduced this year) or send an email to . One of the benefits of coaching in the NSIHL is the traditional Coaches game that takes place every Sunday evening throughout the season.