METRO SKATERS HOCKEY LEAGUE

Monthly Meeting Minutes for February, 2000.
Location:  Farmington Hills Arena
Date and Time: February 22, 2000, 6:30 p.m.

Next Meeting: Tuesday,  March 14th, 2000, 6:30 p.m., at Farmington Hills Arena.

Attendees:
Ann Dobija		Ice Dogs/President
Jan BenDor		Secretary
Sandy Young		Capital Crush
Shelly Crundwell	Iron Maidens
Sheila Van Baalen	Phantoms
Marlene Lindenberg	Cheap Skates
Shannon Walsh	Jets
Stephanie Henkel	Nighthawks
Jillian Wallace		Predators
Torri Crummel	Devils
George Tilli		Ice Breakers/Team Xtreme
Dawn Letwin		Ice Dogs
Michele Monson	Polar Bears/Treasurer
Tammy Callahan	Polar Bears/ Vice President
Terry Mathews	Arctic Storm/ Vice President
Michelle Dastagir	Freeze
Kristen Miller		Freeze
Patty Formosa		Ice Pack
Sam Johnson		TM Tornados
Julie Miller		TM Tornados
Donna Hansen		Team Xtreme
Sue McDowell		MAHA
Joanne Wiklund	Flash

The meeting came to order at 6:40 p.m.

Acceptance of minutes from the January Meeting:
Michele Monson moved approval, George Tilli seconded, and the minutes were approved 
unanimously.

Announcements:
MANDATORY:  With the Ruicci Cup Tournament  scheduled to begin on Thursday, 
March 23rd, all league games must be completed by Monday, 03/20.   Any teams playing 
games from 03/16 through 03/19 must contact their appropriate statistician by phone the 
day of or the day after the game with the score so the Ruicci Cup standings can be 
finalized.  The teams will still be responsible to mail or fax the score sheets as well.
The Goal Line stats will be updated on the web site for games completed as of 2/21.

Ruicci Cup Checks must be mailed ASAP to Michele Monson with the team name 
clearly noted.   Several teams still have not turned in their checks to Michele for the 
Tournament.  Theses teams are required to turn in the money ASAP so a spending budget 
for the trophies and prizes can be determined.  A list of teams not yet paid will be put on 
the web site, and calls will be made to round up the stragglers.  The tournament cannot 
proceed without funds to pay for the upfront costs.

Financial News (Michele):
A decision was made to defer tax-exempt status discussions until the April meeting.  No 
further financial report was given.

Ruicci Cup (further discussion):
The tournament program will cost $50.00 for a full page and $25.00 for a half page. 
Program page size is 6" X 9". Camera ready art work is preferred! There is good progress 
in getting corporate sponsors.

Team rosters and ads MUST BE submitted by February 28th, 2000.  Please contact 
Sheila VanBaalen to turn in your rosters ASAP - 248/623-0366. 

All League games should be completed by March 20th in order to finalize the Ruicci Cup 
Tournament game schedules.  Ann reiterated that due to the playoff format, teams will not 
know their actual first game schedule in the tournament until March 21.  The brackets and 
game times were distributed but team names cannot be filled in yet.

The following tasks need to be accomplished for the tournament to be successful!

1)  Coordinate Formats/Schedules/Rules - Marlene Lindenberg (Cheap Skates)
Marlene distributed packets for each team present and expected to participate so far (19 of 
27 received their packets.)  Marlene explained that she started with a bloc of ice times, and 
the minimum requirement to provide three games for all teams.  Red Line and Blue Line 
are playing double elimination format until the finals, which will be determined with one 
win.  Regular season standings determine seeding for the initial games.  Two losses will 
take a team out of competition for the championship.  The third game is consolation only.  
Goal Line is playing round robin with two pools.  No personal requests can be 
accommodated for time changes.  Marlene has requested immediate feedback about 
problems with the schedule, which was made complicated by some tiers not having 8 
teams.  (8 is the easiest number for this tournament format.)

Rules will be distributed later, and will be finalized at the March 14 MSHL meeting.  Rules 
will also be posted on the web site, and so will the special standings prior to the Cup, as 
the season standings apply specifically to the participating Cup teams. 


2)  Coordinate Game Boards -  Terry Mathews (Arctic Storm)
Requires boards to be created following the play-off format style now that Marlene has 
produced the schedule.  Terry offered to make all the signs for the Tournament, including 
silent auction and souvenir table.

3)  Coordinate Ice - Sally Thomas (Metro Blades)
Requires contact with DSC to secure ice. DSC wants to have resurfacing instructions, 
national anthem instructions.  Ann will contact them at 248/332-3000 X 122 to confirm 
these plans, along with plans for audio equipment and showcase availability.

4)  Coordinate Scorekeepers/Timekeepers and Refs - Michele Monson (Polar Bears) 
After contacting DSC, Michele reports that our refs and scorekeepers are better and 
cheaper, so we will not be using personnel from DSC.  Michele will follow up and will be 
seeking qualified individuals to do this.

5)  Coordinate Check-In Process - Patty Formosa (Ice Pack)
Requires Team Sign In Sheets to be created for each game.  Also, need to create a work 
schedule for teams helping with this process.  Patty will coordinate with Marlene 
(schedules) and Sheila (rosters). It will work best if each team is responsible for a two 
hour bloc of time, so there is continuity and standard procedures.

6)  Coordinate Trophies - Deb Osborne (Flames)
More input was sought from the three divisions as to what they want as trophies (Red 
Line - t-shirts, sweatshirts or hats; Blue Line  long sleeve t-shirts, Goal Line - pins).  Sue 
McDowell proposed practice jerseys that say Ruicci Cup Champs, 2000, for each of the 
five tiers.  The estimated budget for this should be $1000.  George Tilli advocated 
pullovers that would be worn off ice and provide more publicity for the League.  MVPs 
from each team in a Final game will be selected by the opposing team, and possibly 
awarded a t-shirt.

7)  Coordinate Souvenirs - Sherri Wright (Ice Pack)
Requires research to determine which company can offer the most for our money. 
Michele Monson reported that Perani's has offered t-shirts for the table.

8)  Coordinate Tournament Programs - 	Sheila VanBaalen (Phantoms - rosters)
Gil Ruicci (Polar Bears - program printing)
Requires rosters to be collected and turned over to Gil for printing.

9)  Coordinate Silent Auction - Lisa Chiodo (Fury - Bid Sheets), Ann Dobija (Ice Dogs 
- distribution)
Requires the collection of items to bid.  Bid Sheets to be created for each auction item.  
The Auction will be closed either late Sat. or early Sun. in order to simplify administration 
of the Sunday finals, and collection of bid payments.



10)  Coordinate Medical Personnel - Michele Parker, Christy Back (Phantoms)
Christy reported that EMS standby at the rink is $30 an hour.  Instead, with the close 
proximity of the local EMS station, the League decided to simply call for emergency 
services.

11)  Coordinate Women's Shelter Collection - Lisa Chiodo (Fury)
Requires the women's shelter to be contacted to determine what items are needed.  
Collection boxes need to be set up and put away each night of the tournament.  	Items 
collected need to be taken to the Shelter.  Lisa will coordinate with Joanne Wiklund.

12)  Bring Cup to Tournament - Darlene Darville  
The Cup is now polished and on display at the DSC rink.

13)  Print Business Cards with MSHL website - Dave Chow These will be printed and 
given out to everyone.  Ruicci Cup water bottles from last year will be given to teams.

14)  Sell Fundraiser T-Shirts for $4 or $5 (Dawn Letwin will contact Sherri Wright)

All Teams will be required to help with the check-in process, silent auction and 
souvenirs during the tournament.

Items of Interest:

Girls'/Womens USA Hockey 2000 National Championships April 4-9, 2000.
Sue McDowell, MAHA, needs help at the Nationals.  Games start at 7 a.m., Wednesday, 
April 4, and there is more of interest than just hockey competition.  Wednesday at 7 p.m. 
is the Opening Ceremony with Mary Turco, author of Crashing the Net (who will sign 
books later) and all the players will be introduced.  Thursday April 6th from 7-9:30 p.m. is 
the Easton skills competition for all the girls.  Need 9 on-ice volunteers to help, in your 
skates.  Need to be hockey-savvy.  Friday, from 7 to 9 p.m., college coaches will present a 
panel on how girls can make the transition from high school to college hockey.  Please 
encourage lots of local girls to come.

Girls' States are at Troy Sports Center on March 1-5.
Four adults are needed to help in each game (score, time, penalty boxes).
On Sunday, March 5, Sue is looking for 4 folks for each of the games at:
        7:30 a.m. Semi
        8:00 a.m. Semi
        9:15 a.m. Semi
        9:45 a.m. Semi
        9:00 a.m. Championship
        11:00 a.m.Championship
        7:00 p.m. Final (12U, Tier II)"

To volunteer, please contact Sue at gocoach@umich.edu or call 734/615-0100.
Next  Meeting:  Tuesday, March 14th, 2000, 6:30 p.m.

Motion to adjourn by Stephanie Henkel, supported by Sheila VanBaalen, approved 
and adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jan BenDor
Recording Secretary
Metro Skaters Hockey League Meeting Minutes, Februry 22,, 2000	Page 5

