Exciting news for the Houston Hockey Community. The Houston Aeros will release their schedule for the 2010 – 2011. That means that local hockey players can begin to pencil in annual events that they are able to participate in during the season. Here is a list of scheduled events that will allow local hockey players the opportunity to play at Toyota Center…

-Sat, Oct. 16th – 36 Hours of Hockey at Toyota Center (all night 3-on-3 tournament)

-Fri, Nov. 26th – 3rd Annual Novice Round-up

-Sun, Dec. 26th – 3rd Annual King of the Rink Shootout Competition

-Sat, Jan. 15th – 3rd Annual Toyota Center Shootout (Seto Invitational)

Also taking place at Toyota Center all season will be High School Hockey “Game of The Week” on Sundays. The Houston Hockey Series will also play 24 dates at Toyota Center and all Aeros Fans are invited to attend with their game ticket for that evening. Call Josh Young for additional details at 713-361-7937.

The ISHL Prep League (junior varsity) has a team in Sugarland with room for one or two assistant coaches during the coming season. If you are looking for a way to stay in the game and would like to assist in the development of young players in Houston, please contact Kim Belknap at kbkbbb@aol.com or head coach Steve Santini at ssantini34@att.net.

ISHL Hockey is Houston’s High School hockey league. The Prep division helps prepare young players for the physical and technical play of Varsity hockey. For more information on ISHL Hockey, click the ISHL link on the right of page.

Grab your hockey gear and get ready to learn some new moves on the ice! Space City Ice Station is holding a new class beginning this week by Russian-born player / instructor Max Larin. Classes begin on 8/6 at 6:30 pm. The cost is only $15 per session. Max has trained under the same coaches as NHL star, Alex Ovechkin. Give this class a try and gain insight on how to become a better skater and Hockey player!

For questions, contact Space City Ice Station at 281-486-7979. Payment is due at the front desk upon arrival.

The Sharpstown School of Skating is expanding their rapidly growing “Learn To Skate” program to include a “Learn To Play Hockey” class. The school is seeking a motivated and qualified individual with a coaching or playing background to run the school’s Hockey Development program. Individuals seeking to fill the position should e-mail the Skating School Director, Hanna Burnett at gg32967@gmail.com. You may also call 832-381-7724 for additional details.  

Space City Ice Station is hosting an Adult A-Level Tourney on their fresh sheet of ice on August 20th – 22nd. Skating resumed last week after a complete teardown and rebuild of the rink surface. Teams registering early will recieve an ”early bird discount” for only $1300 (deposit required). Food will be catered to participants and there will be drink specials in the bar. Teams can get more information and register early with Bob Puim at Puim@att.net.

The HERricanes Hockey Club, Houston’s only girls hockey club, is hosting a camp this weekend for beginner and experienced female hockey players. The camp is being hosted at Sugarland Ice and Sports Center (the official training facility of the Houston Aeros) and will be led by the HERricane coaching staff. Girls will participate in drills that cater to their skill level including basic hockey and skating development. This is the perfect opportunity for beginner girls to learn the game in a fun and relaxed environment. Experienced girls will participate in more advanced drills and skills training. The cost is only $75 and includes both Saturday, July 24th and Sunday, July 25th. Please register with Cheryl Mason at hockeymom1342@gmail.com or bring cash or check at sign in on Saturday at 11:00.

*There will be an equipment prep and tutorial for new skaters at 11:00 am on Saturday.

The Hounds have a few available roster spots available for the Fall Season. Therfore, they will be holding additional tryouts on Saturday, July 31st and Sunday, August 8th at Space City Ice Station. Squirts and Bantams will try out on the 31st while PeeWees and Midgets will try out on the 8th. For more details on the tryout, please click the Hounds link uner Travel Hockey or contact Susan Stone at houstones@earthlink.net.

The Sugarland Novice League is now accepting early registration for the Summer/Fall season. The pro shop is now set up to accept your payment. Registration is $240 and will also include a jersey for only $20 extra. Sugarland will also offer to “buy back” the jersey at the end of the season depending on condition. Please contact Shawn Feltus at 281-265-7433 with any questions. He can also be reached at shawn@sugarlandice.com. Also contact Barry Price at baprice@tceq.state.tx.us for additional details on Sugarland’s Novice League as well as the team they field in the Houston Hockey Series.

The HERricanes, Houston’s only girls hockey club, have a lot to be excited about this summer. That is because Sugarland Ice and Sports Center has made a commitment to helping their players better develop their skills as well as encourage the growth of their organization through next season. To begin their new summer program, the HERricanes will be holding practices every Tuesday at 7:30 pm for all of their members. These practices are open to any girl under 19 years old and are only $5 per session! Then be sure to join the HERricanes for a hockey camp on Saturday, July 24th.

There will also be a great opportunity for girls in the Houston area to try hockey for FREE on Sunday, August 1st at 7:00 am. This will be a fun and introductory way to get your daughter and her friends on the ice. For details about HERricanes hockey, please contact Cheryl Mason at hockeymom1342@gmail.com. Stay tuned to Houston Hockey Insider for more news to come about HERricanes Hockey!

Coming off a successful inaugural season, the Houston Hockey Series players and organizers have some additional celebrating to do. The Houston Hockey Series was recognized last week at the AHL Team Awards ceremony as the league’s most Unique Ticket Promotion. Josh Young, Youth and Amateur Hockey Coordinator for the Houston Aeros, was on hand to accept the award and relayed his excitement.

“This is really just the icing on the cake,” he said. “What started as a long-shot idea just over a year ago, has really turned into something spectacular. When we first announced we were starting this league, I was hopeful we would fill at least 2 of our 4 rosters. We ended up having to turn away players last season. This year we have added two teams to the league and we are already close to having filled our rosters! This award is something that was earned by all of our players and team captains. They are the ones who made it so much fun and invested in making it such a success.

When asked his thoughts on why so many players were excited to be involved he responded, “The Houston Hockey Series, by design, is the most unique experience in professional sports. It gives the hockey enthusiast the closest possible feeling of what it is like to be a pro. We realized that we were able to offer elements (season tickets, credentials, apparell) that would make it unlike any other recreational experience in the country. As of today, we are the only professional sports team that we know of in the United States that offers anything even close to this kind of involvement.”

What does the future hold for the Houston Hockey Series? “We have added two teams which means we will be able to include a few off-site games at local rinks. We will also be taking an active approach in creating a equal level of talent on each team to make sure the games are exciting and competitive for all of our players. Basically we are taking what we learned from last season and doing everything we can to make it even better.”

For Adult Novice and C-level players who are interested in filling any remaining roster spots, contact Josh Young directly at 713-361-7937. You can also e-mail jyoung@aeros.com. Other league organizers include Dan Pata – Willowbrook Aerodrome, Barry Price – Sugarland Ice and Sports, Jeff Stone – Space City Ice Station, and Ryan Jones – Golden Triangle Ice Hockey.