Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/77643
NEW BOARDS HELP SHRINK THE RINK IN STYLE their son or daughter playing cross-ice hockey. While most P WERE GOING TO MANDATE THIS, IT WAS A QUESTION OF WHEN. ... IT'S SOMETHING THAT USA HOCKEY FIRMLY BELIEVES." "WE ALWAYS KNEW THAT WE JIM SMITH, USA HOCKEY PLAYER DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE however they want to phrase it, it's going to help us out along with other border Affiliates because peo- ple will then not leave my Affiliate to go somewhere else in order to play at a different level because each Affiliate is a little different with what they do. This puts everybody together on the same ice rink." As part of the mandate, USA Hockey will create a special sub- committee consisting of Affiliate presidents Player Development Committee to consider requests to play a very limited number of full-ice games, particularly at the end of the season. and members of the played in the United States in the future," said Ken Martel, director of the ADM who views the move as the next logistical step in the program that is now entering its fourth full season. "We want to provide the best experience and challenge our elite players to become even better. All we have done is change the size of the playing surface that our kids are playing on. It's about fitting the playing surface to match the size of our kids, fitting the game to them and giving them the oppor- tunity to have success." N "This is just how hockey will be acknowledge the benefits of fitting the ice surface to the size of their young player, some still get turned off by the use of fire hoses, pylons or foam rubber dividers to separate the rink into thirds. USA Hockey is looking to change that perception by providing its Affiliates with an affordable solution that divides the ice while keeping the look and feel of a real rink. The American Development Model has teamed up with Rink Systems, a member vendor of Serving The American Rink, to provide USA Hockey Affiliates with an opportunity to purchase cross-ice hard dividers for their local rinks at a discounted price. The hard dividers are easy to install and have the look and feel of erception is reality, especially when mom and dad are watching real boards with curved corners and doors. "It really gives the look and feel of an ice rink, even though it's a smaller version. Parents believe their kids are playing on a regular ice surface," said Joe Baudo, president of New York State Amateur Hockey Association, who has seen the boards used at the Northtown Center in Amherst, N.Y. While the program was only recently unveiled to Affiliates at the Annual Congress in June, a number have already pledged to earmark a portion of their latest USA Hockey block grant to help local associations and rinks to defray the cost of these hard dividers. The $7,000 reduced price tag includes shipping. Rinks are encouraged to purchase two sets of dividers to create a true cross-ice experience. Affiliates were given an Aug. 1 deadline to place their orders to ensure that dividers arrive at rinks in time of the start of the youth hockey season. USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM MONTHHERE.2012 21