UPCOMING GAMES

DATE:	02-10-12
TIME:	7:00 PM
VS:	Dells Ducks
	(Away)
DATE:	02-11-12
TIME:	7:00 PM
VS:	Dells Ducks
	(Away)
DATE:	02-12-12
TIME:	5:45 PM
VS:	Hudson Crusaders
	(Home)

NORTHERN LIGHTS JUNIOR A HOCKEY

"Twin Cities Northern Lights Junior Hockey" is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization based in Bloomington, Minnesota located in the southwest metro suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul. As a USA Hockey Tier III Junior A team, we are members of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League . We have affiliations with the Global Athlete Village and the Rotaract Club of the Athlete Village, but we are distinct nonprofit organizations.

OUR MISSION:
We exist to honor God as we provide our players and staff with an environment that promotes hockey development, personal growth and academic achievement.

We aim to assist each student-athlete on our team to:
*Reach their highest potential in hockey
*Prepare for college, the workplace and life
*Become a positive influence in the community, specifically to challenge others to make smart health choices and to personally serve others

OUR COMMITMENT:
Our board of directors and management are guided by our Christian values which are the source of our strength and the heart of who we are as an organization. Those values guide us to be involved in our community and to affect positive change in the lives of the people we serve.

This is a place where we learn together how to honor the most amazing game on earth by living & playing with discipline, class, sportsmanship and heart, across all faiths and beliefs of those in our team community.

We exist to help each player on our roster to reach their highest potential in hockey, to be better prepared for the next step in life, and become a more positive influence in the community.

Tier III status means that the Northern Lights Team as a member of the MJHL will:
1) Conform to all NCAA rules regarding maintenance of NCAA hockey eligibility and amateur status
2) Ensure proper practice/game balance by meeting the maximum and minimum number of league games
3) Provide system of "billet" host families
4) Provide specified protective equipment to players
5) Provide academic support program
6) Provide MD, ATC or EMT medical services at games

MOTIVES:
Our organization is made up of people who want to make a difference with their lives by investing their time and energies into the young men on our team (who will ultimately have more influence than any of us would have individually). As our veterans move up to the college ranks, many will become the next generation of coaches and hockey dads, we hope that our players will become the role models and heroes they wished to have had.

Although we are a "hockey-first" organization, our board and staff believe that who our players are on the ice is just one part of the man we are trying to develop. We believe that Junior Hockey teams should be about developing players first and then the "product" that the spectators enjoy. We are continually figuring out what that looks like and how to do it better. Ultimately, we hope to create a sport model that other teams can use until no one notices the difference between us and other teams anymore because the culture has changed.

GAME SCHEDULE:
During our season which runs from August to April, we have 50 league games plus we have traditionally had scrimmages against NCAA Division III JV teams. We have taken several international trips, including a trip to Torino during the 2006 Winter Olympics and this past February in Vancouver during the 2010 Games. After the league schedule is set for the upcoming season (mid June), we will make decisions about international travel/other exhibition for the upcoming year.

HOCKEY SKILL DEVELOPMENT:
Game time showcases our players hard work all week long that typically includes eight hours a week of on-ice practice (7-9 AM Tuesday-Friday) with Mondays generally the only day off. On-ice practice includes learning systems, stick handling, passing, and skating and conditioning drills.

OFF ICE STRENGTH & CONDITIONING FACILITY:
The team has access to the elite workout facility from August until the end of the season. Individual players have a membership card which gives them access both Bloomington Activity Centers (located in Jefferson & Kennedy HS) daily after school 3PM-11 PM and on the weekends when we don't have games.

OFF-ICE STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
During the season our players go immediately after on ice practice to the workout facilities for lifting and conditioning. Beginning in Fall 2012, players will spend 1.5 hours together for off ice sports specific training x 4 = 6 hours per week that will be supervised by team staff (unless there are 3 or more games that week). The team's strength and conditioning schedule will be set by the team's Strength & Conditioning (CSCS/ATC) and led by team staff.

OUR LOCATION
The MJHL footprint of member teams is pretty compact (within about 3 hour drive) and we are right in the middle of that footprint. This keeps all our travel to day trips except for our trips to the WI Dells. Compared to most other junior leagues which are spread over several states and require regular bus trips of five to fifteen hours or more and lots overnight stays, we have a schedule that allows players to have a part time job, attend classes and have a life outside of the team.

One of the biggest perks to operating a team in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area in Bloomington, Minnesota is the proximity to so many Division III NCAA schools; this enables scrimmages against their JV teams, campus visits and convenient accessibility for scouts and coaches. College scouts from out of town can also easily visit our games while they are here locally for the NAHL Showcase, the Minnesota State High School Tournament or when they are visiting some of the top prep schools in the area. Other leagues and teams are located so far away from transportation hubs and other scouting opportunities that they are lucky to get someone into their building. Operating in the metro area is part of our strategic plan to have our players accessible to scouts and to allow players the opportunity spend time studying or working rather than traveling all the time.

EDUCATION COORDINATION:
Our staff has always been well versed in the NCAA Clearing House procedures, school application/registration process. Additionally, beginning for Fall 2012, we will be appointing a designated Education Coordinator who will assist them through the NCAA eligibility process. Any students who still in high school will meet with the EC to ensure a smooth transition to the local high school and to handle guardianship issues and is available for individual consultation.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
The team requires that players who have high school eligibility remaining must attend the required full slate of high school courses towards graduation. Players who have graduated from high school have the option to either attend college (maximum 6 credit hours of college courses) or gain employment.

MORE INFORMATION: See 'About Us' and 'Tryouts'

WHAT IS THE ROTARY CONNECTION WITH YOUR TEAM?

As an organization we are committed to sharpening the mental, physical, social and life skills of our players by providing an environment conducive to personal growth. Since our inception our players have been actively involved in serving the community. During the season our players do service projects during the year on Monday evenings. Players and staff are part of the Rotaract Club of the Athlete Village which is part of the Rotary International family. This is a good fit because our Board was looking for ways for our team to serve and Rotary has a heartbeat for what is needed in the community.

WHAT IS THE "CHURCH CONNECTION" WITH YOUR TEAM?
We get asked that a lot because our team is also supported by several churches. We are so pleased that these groups have traditionally provided meals and volunteers to help our team. We simply ask that our players show politeness and gratitude to our sponsors.
Your personal faith or religion is not something that is factored into the decision-making process when our staff selects our roster or into any decision once you are on the team. We pick our team based on skill, performance, and potential. Your religious affiliation (or lack thereof) will not help you make the team, nor will it hurt you in the tryout process. Our Board has aimed to create a faith-friendly environment within our team and a family-friendly environment at our home games. That doesn't mean that we always meet our goals or that we are completely above reproach, but we intentionally are trying to improve. Our veterans have consistently reported that they strongly felt that their teammates showed respect for each others' beliefs and individual differences. For those who are looking for answers to life and faith questions, our staff aims to be available to players as we mentor them on and off the ice.
Regarding church: Our Board believes that there is value in meeting with others of your faith for instruction, accountability, encouragement and corporate worship. But to clarify: there are NO mandatory religious education times nor team mandatory Bible studies/services. Our staff will not endorse any specific church, nor are we into the business of requiring church or taking attendance. We have Sunday evening games in an attempt to ensure that our team is not on the road on Sunday mornings thus allowing staff and team members to attend religious services should they choose to go.
To sum up what we tell prospective players
"Our Boards desires that this team have a positive influence in the lives of our athletes and into the community. We believe that personal faith and hockey can co-exist. If you're looking to grow in your faith within a supportive atmosphere to live out your convictions, the Northern Lights will be a good fit. Likewise, if you are completely disinterested in anything religious, you will find that we will respect your borders. Our team policies are designed to help our young men develop their sense of personal ethic, their character and discipline rather than to force any religious views."