Morning --- Now afternoon!

Tons of great KNIGHTS news – Please read the entire email so we have everyone up to date. I’ve been having issues with my computer so I hope the message is getting out.

The coaches have finalized their Knights Hockey Team for the exciting 2007-2008 season. We have 37 players, 10 Seniors, 9 Juniors, 16 Sophomores and 2 Freshmen. We’re 8 days, 2 hours away from our first game against Hopkins. 

SATURDAY AT HUTCHINSON –

The boys had a good showing at their first scrimmage on Saturday. It was great to see all the parents follow the team to Hutchinson. The restaurant the team stopped at after the game was very impressed with our players. They told us it was one of the best groups they’ve ever had. The players were polite, helpful and fun to be with  -- please give you’re son an “Atta Boy” for being great representatives of KNIGHTS HOCKEY.

FRIDAY’S SCRIMMAGE – ST. PAUL JOHNSON –

A reminder that the Varsity team will scrimmage St. Paul Johnson Friday morning November 23^rd at 8am at Johnson High School (Phalen – Gustavson Arena) – The rink is behind Johnson High School – 1349 Arcade St. St. Paul MN 55106. There will be NO bus for this scrimmage. Players are on there own. Coach Martin will let the players know who he would like to have there.

TEAM PICTURES –

Team, individual, buddy and Team Poster photos will be taken next Tuesday November 20^th at practice. Envelopes were passed out at the Drug awareness meeting. Please have everything filled out including a check ready to go on Tuesday. Tony Golden, Steve Collins, Shane Morris, Zack Iverson and Drew Erickson must come in a shirt and tie. We need pictures for our program book. Coach Horton please bring your smile we need an updated photo as well.

TIME TO GET ACQUAINTED –

We have about a dozen new players on the team this year – along with new players are new parents that need to meet everyone. So, the Batcha’s are having a little get together for the parents and coaches (very informal as always) at our place this Saturday November 24^th at 7. We’re asking everyone to bring something to share (hors d’ oeuvre, munchies, food). We’ll provide beer, pop and water if that doesn’t do it for you please bring whatever you would like. Please try to make it if you can, it’s a nice way to get to know everyone.

Coach Fitzel handed out ice/bus schedules to the players for the season on Saturday after the team arrived back at Irondale. A few players were in the Big Apple and didn’t receive a schedule. We’ll try to get schedules to those players today. If you would like one sent to you electronically please let me know. Keep watching your email because changes sometimes occur. 

THE BLUE LINE CLUB SHOULD BE PROUD –

The players will be receiving equipment today – due to the hard work of our Blue Line Club, players will be receiving a new jersey, new equipment bags, hopefully new socks and each player will have their own water bottle (we’re going to try to keep everyone well over the hockey season). Along with this we have provided the teams with pullover practice jerseys, and bags to carry them in. Each of you should feel good about what we have been able to accomplish to keep the team going. Over the past couple of years we have purchased or assisted in purchasing jersey’s, breezers, gloves, helmets and socks. If you’re brave enough, open they’re bag and see what we have all been working for. Thanks again to everyone who has helped make the Blue Line Club a success! Without your help Knights Hockey would be in rough shape.

YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS – RANGE HOCKEY –

Now that the team has been chosen, – a reminder that the KNIGHTS will be heading North to take on Virginia December 14^th and Eveleth on Saturday afternoon the 15^th. The Varsity team will also be traveling to Virginia December 26^th -28^th to play in “The Home of Hockey” tournament in Eveleth. I did reserve rooms for the parents, but I don’t know if these rooms are still available. The reserved rooms are under “Irondale Parents”. There weren’t many choices left when I made the reservations in June I took all the rooms that they had left  – some of the rooms are smoking rooms. We are staying at:

The Coates Plaza Hotel
502 Chestnut St.
Virginia MN 55792
Reservation Line – 1-800-772-4699

The players and parents had great fun last year – Hopefully you can join us this year and cheer on the KNIGHTS!

THANKS FOR YOUR LETTING ME KNOW –

There are days when I wonder if anybody receives or reads any of these emails. I asked for your thoughts on raising money by volunteering to help out at our home games and using the money to reduce the cost of the players apparel, and I received a positive response that Blue Line members are willing to help out and get this done. We would like all players to get the apparel so they look like a team, and by reducing the price it should be more affordable for everyone. In the next day or so we will be sending out sign up sheets so people can volunteer.

MOE’S IN JANUARY –

Our second Pancake Breakfast is January 19^th at Moe’s in Mounds View. We have started to receive items for our silent auction, but we can certainly use more. If you or your company can help us out please let us know. If you have access to sporting event tickets, gift certificates, electronics, sporting goods, gift baskets or anything that we can make few bucks would be helpful, if you can help us please let Judy Marchiafava, Deb Kordiak or myself know.

IT’S THAT UGLY TIME IN MY EMAIL – MONEY –

We still have a couple of you that have not paid for the Pancake Breakfast tickets, please get this done; we just don’t have the time to chase after people. If you did not reach $250 in ads it’s time to square up, every player is responsible for this. If you are unsure of your total or amount owing please contact Dawn Stimmler, shortage payments can be given to Dawn Stimmler, Kathy Jereczek or myself, and finally, in lieu of additional fundraising each family is responsible for an additional $100. If you have not paid this yet, it’s time. If you have any questions regarding this please let me know.

TEAM APPAREL –

It’s close – real close – stay tuned.

SMILE! –

Take pictures and video – we hopefully will be doing a season DVD. We’ll be getting people together probably next week to start making plans.

Congratulations to your son for making the KNIGHTS HOCKEY Team – It’s time to support the teams, scream for the KNIGHTS, make new friends, get reacquainted with old friends, and have a few laughs. It should be an exciting season – get involved, it all comes to an end sooner than you think.

Any questions, concerns, thoughts or ideas please let me know.

Happy Thanksgiving

GO KNIGHTS!

Regards,

Jerry