Western Province Ice Hockey

Dear Members

We will be hosting the U18 SA Championships here in Cape Town from Thursday 26th July to Sunday 29th July 2007, exact times to be confirmed shortly. The squad will consist of the following players:

Coach Ronnie Wood reserves the right to add players to this squad as he sees fit. The final list of players will be announced closer to the championships. Squad practices will commence on Wed 13th June, and take place on Wednesday and Friday mornings, 5.45am to 6.45am at the Ice Station. Please send apologies to Heather if your son cannot attend.

Due to the fact that the Championships are taking place here in Cape Town, the cost implications are small. WP kit will be provided. Please note WHITE helmets only may be used. You will receive further information closer to the time.

The U20 SA Championships will be away from Cape Town, and the cost implications will be approximately R2 500 all inclusive. The dates being looked at are end August, early September, to be confirmed shortly. The squad will consist of the following players:

Coach Ronnie Wood reserves the right to add players to this squad as he sees fit. The final list of players will be announced closer to the championships. If Ronnie sees fit to take players who are in a growth phase, they must understand that they may not get guaranteed ice time.

Regarding the U14/U16 SA Championships : we submitted a proposal to host this tournament here in Cape Town in July, but due to the fact that the other provinces bore the expense of travelling down to Cape Town in 2006, it has been decided that we will take our teams on tour, probably in September holidays. The cost implications of this will be between R2 000 and R2 500. Squads will be announced closer to the time, as will early morning practices for these players.

There will be a hockey school during the school holidays as follows:

Sunday 1st July 9am – 12midday

Monday 2nd July 6am – 9am

Tuesday 3rd July 6am – 9am

Wednesday 4th July 6am – 9am.

We are arranging for other coaches to join Ronnie in hosting this hockey school. There may be a minimal cost to cover visiting coaches, which will be advised shortly. This hockey school will be open to all, and will be utilized as preparation for the upcoming SA Championships on all levels. (There will be NO contact hockey played)

WIN A CAR RAFFLE

As a minority sport, we get very little funding from external sources – certainly not enough to do anything but cover our most essential costs. If we want any extras like new Western Province kit, training aids, equipment, etc. we have a choice – either raise the fees, or get outside money to help subsidize the extras. WPIHA Exco put forward an initiative for fundraising in terms of raffling a vehicle – a good-sized prize for the very small investment of R100 raffle ticket. There are only 1 000 tickets so the chances are much better than at the casino for a similar sized prize. We have approximately 100 members so if each member sold just 10 tickets, we would achieve our goal! Suggestions for getting these tickets sold are that a booklet of 15 tickets is split between two members; a ticket gets split between two purchasers (they would have to sell the car or do a coin toss!) etc.

We would WELCOME volunteers who would help us, the committee, keep our members motivated to sell the tickets and come in with the money – please contact Marina Louw on 082-886-8304 or Heather Chowles on 083-327-6893 if you have any ideas or are willing to actively help in some way. Thank you to those of you who have already come forward with ideas and practical help!

Heather Chowles, General Secretary, WPIHA