September 11th, 2009.

Check out Ravi’s newest blog below…

“I got a feelin’…” starts the Black Eyed Peas song currently heard across national airwaves.

I got a feelin’… that this is going to be the most exciting season for hockey in Houston, especially for the amateurs. Josh has spent the entire offseason, from May ’til today developing a brand-new hockey league for Houston’s adult hockey players. All games for the Houston Hockey Series will be played at the Toyota Center on Aeros gamedays.

This adds a whole new dimension to the hockey scene in Houston. HHS will give hockey fans a chance to see extra hockey after almost every Aeros home game, including weekdays. The league gives an added meaning to these games, with all four teams playing for the chamionship every single time.

The way you know you’ve got something special is when every roster spot on four teams is filled before the season starts. You know it’s special when other AHL teams are calling and asking you how you came up with the idea and looking for tips on how they can execute a game plan like yours.

The HHS schedule is set. The logo looks great. The jerseys look great.

The HHS is here. The ISHL is back. The Aeros are back. And amateur hockey is back at the Toyota Center.

It’ll be more hockey than the Toyota Center has ever seen before. If you can’t make all of the 50+ games, including tournaments, check back here for updates. I’ll try to highlight the exceptional players each weekend. Looking forward to… all of it.

“I got a feelin’…”

January 26th, 2009.

Q: What has been the greatest event on the ice so far?

A: 2008’s King of the Rinks was the most fun event to be a part of. I’m sure the players feel the same way. The contest was open to any entrant at any skill level and contestants were grouped by age. The contestants who signed up were all very good. It was interesting to see the competition within each age group, from the effort and fun in the youngest bracket to the precision and focus of the most experienced players. Some players showed such personality that they received their own theme music when they skated their turns. It was a lot of fun to be a part of that event.

Another event that stands out was the inaugural Toyota Center Tournament with adult hockey players from the Houston area. The adults had a lot of fun on the ice, and a two-day tournament was great to watch. I think more tournaments at the Toyota Center, with other leagues and teams would be a great addition to Houston’s hockey landscape.

Q: What is your favorite level of hockey to work with?

A: Each level has traits that make their events fun to work with. The one I have the most fun with is the adults because they are out there just to have fun. They include nicknames in their rosters and the fans really get into it. Any hockey event is more fun when the fans get into it. It’s also more exciting when the players are having as much fun as the fans.

Q: What is your favorite part of being “the voice” at the game?

A: I like doing the starting line-ups. There were games last season when the amateur players didn’t get their names announced at all, and I think that the players really enjoy skating onto the Toyota Center ice with their names boomed over the arena’s multi-million dollar sound system. Plus, just getting to announce the lineups at the Toyota Center is something that only three people in Houston have the chance to do, and it’s great to be one of them.

Q: What are the similarities between Play Like the Pros and Aeros Games?

A: There are a lot of elements that help participants in the Play Like the Pros program get the feel of what it’s like to play in a professional game. The teams start the game entering through a staff entrance and bringing their equipment into locker-rooms where each player gets a chair and an ITZ-sponsored water bottle for them to use at the game and take home with them. Some teams even get to dress in the locker-room designated for visiting NBA teams.

Of course, the game takes place on the same ice as the Aeros games. Every player has their name announced and they play the anthem before the puck drops. Breaks in the action are colored with classic rock and sponsor-style drop-ins through the arena’s sound system, just like at an Aeros game. Even the power play at a Play Like the Pros game is sponsored, similar to the Aeros game. After the game, players can shower in the dressing rooms used by Nickelback and AC/DC or the locker-room used by visiting NBA teams.

The fact that these events take place at the Toyota Center definitely adds a lot to the experience.

Q: Besides organized hockey leagues, how can other athletes play like pros?

A: There are far more hockey players than there are teams. Although some players would love to get on the ice as often as possible, they can’t commit to being a regular part of a team. These athletes can still have their chance to play on the Aeros’ ice at Toyota Center. There have already been several events at the Toyota Center this season in which groups of current and former hockey players have gotten together to play a game at the Toyota Center, despite the fact that they’ve never played together before. Some haven’t played hockey for years preceding that one game. They just call the Aeros office and arrange a fun game for their group of friends.

Some parents have organized hockey birthday parties for their kids at the Toyota Center. Rather than buying a thousand tokens at a muppet-themed fun-zone, parents can get their kids and friends on the ice at Toyota Center to play a hockey game (with all the play like the pros elements) or broom-ball or just skate around on the ice. It’s a very unique way to celebrate a birthday for kids or adults.

Q: Why do you think it is better for smaller children to start out on a roller hockey team before getting on the ice?

A: I’m not exactly sure that roller is a “better” way to start out in hockey, as much as it is an “easier” way to start. If a parent has a kid wanting to play hockey in Texas, it is much less of an investment (time and money) to pick up a pair of used roller-blades and send them out in the driveway. I think this is why many have the perception that roller hockey is the “better” way to start. I would say that whether you choose to start on ice, or roller, the important thing is to get involved with one of the many organizations in the area to be sure your player is learning the fundamentals right from the start.

Q: What kind of fund-raisers have the leagues participated in?

A: One thing I have noticed is that leagues as a whole do not do as much fundraising as individual teams do within a given league. Golf tournaments, skate-a-thons, and even Aeros ticket fund-raisers are things I have seen this year. Hockey, especially in Texas, can be an expensive sport. This is why it is imperative that teams take part in different fund-raising activities to help curb the cost and make hockey affordable for every family.

Q: How do you think Aeros players make a name for themselves?

A: Well, first of all, you have to be an exceptional hockey player. Let’s face it, almost every Aeros player is contracted through the NHL. So, their skills certainly help them in being recognized on the ice. However, to really make a name for yourself, you have to have the total package. You can see it when we have players visit local youth practices. The players who are charismatic and talk and laugh with the kids and parents… These are the guys who are going to gather fan-fare.

Q: How far do amateur hockey leagues travel during the season?

A: We have youth travel teams in Houston that go to tournaments all over the country. Mostly the travel leagues consist of Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana destinations. However, it is not uncommon to have a team travel across the country to participate in tournaments. As far as adult leagues are concerned, there can be travel involved as well. For instance, the new league (Golden Triangle) out of Space City has players traveling 1-2 hours just to come play once a week. We even had a player come in from Colorado during the Toyota Center Shootout which was organized by David Seto. It just goes to show that once you fall in love with hockey, there is nothing that will keep you away!

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