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BY HARRY THOMPSON Teamwork & Commitment At The Core Of USA Hockey T with USA Hockey. They're the driving force that rousts them out of bed for early Saturday morning practices and keeps them at the rink until late at night after a long day of work. versary, it's the daily effort and selfless sacri- fices of everyone involved in the organization, from the grassroots to the U.S. Olympic teams, that epitomizes what teamwork and commitment are all about. As USA Hockey celebrates its 75th anni- eamwork and commitment. They're more than just words to the more than 600,000 play- ers, coaches, referees, adminis- trators and volunteers associated Inside USA Hockey headquarters in Colorado Springs, a dedicated staff goes about the business of charting the course of the game at all levels. They are the architects of a vision, but the builders are the repre- sentatives from the 12 Districts around the country who turn the dream into a reality for their registered members. At the center of any successful USA Hockey program is a dedicated core of vol- unteers. They are the heart and soul of any non-profit organization. There's something about hockey volunteers that sets them apart from others. Maybe it's the time spent in frigid rinks or the countless hours they log before sunrise or after sundown to organize a team, a league or a tournament. The teamwork and commitment demon- strated at all levels of youth hockey is enough to make any corporation envious. From the hockey moms who handle a myriad of details in their roles as team managers to the league administrators who juggle large blocks of ice time for games and practices for all teams, the puck doesn't get dropped without everyone working together for the good of the sport. "I love their love of the game and their Success on the international stage is directly attributable to the hard work being done on a daily basis at the grassroots level. passion for the game at every level," Brian Burke, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team, said of USA Hockey's volunteer base. "This body is very important to me. I'm the poster boy for USA Hockey. I didn't start playing hockey until I was 13, and American volunteer coaches – Bob O'Connor, Bart Larson and John Brower – showed me what to do. Every time I asked what do I have to do to get better someone was there to say 'you provide the sweat and we'll show you what to do.' And it got me as far as the American League as a player, and obviously it's led to a career for me in profes- sional hockey." Countless volunteers came to the sport because of their kids, but have stayed because of the friendships they made along the way. Many of those who tried the sport as bright-eyed youngsters are now coaching their own sons and daughters. Rogness, Pacific District Registrar. "But a large part of it is the people you work with. I remember a speaker at Annual Congress a few years ago that said that hockey people are different from other sports people. They just seem to be more dedicated to their sport. I'm not so sure he was off the mark." Rogness should know. He became involved with hockey more than 30 years ago, and is still going strong. His first job was shoveling the snow off an outdoor rink in Anchorage. Through the years he has held every position from team manager to assistant coach to president of Anchorage Youth Hockey. "Part of the reason people get involved is because they like hockey and they like seeing the enjoyment kids get out of it," said Dan 50 USA Hockey 75TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM These days Rogness is the registrar for a District that spans from Alaska to Hawaii and includes California, Oregon, Nevada and Washington. With more than 2,500 teams under its banner, it's a huge job, but one that is made manageable by the dedica- tion of associate registrars in each state. They're in constant contact throughout the season, but during the peak times they PHOTOS BY USA HOCKEY