Marquette Junior Hockey

To provide instruction and recreation through organized team play in the sport of ice hockey, and help all participants grow socially, physically, and emotionally to their utmost potential both as hockey players and as citizens of our community.

The Marquette Junior Hockey Corporation (MJHC) was organized in 1958 with Harold Alholm elected as its first President. Working in conjunction with the Marquette Department of Parks and Recreation, parents and hockey fans organized to promote and expand junior hockey. By 1961, 225 youths were playing on 19 teams, while only five years prior there were but 4 teams in all of Marquette. Alholm was the principal organizer of the first ever-Bantam National Championship Tournament in the United States.

The MJHC fields teams at the “B”, “A”, and “AA” levels of play as well as the Electricians Midget “AAA” squad. Over 30 players have gone on to play at the collegiate level and many more have competed at the high school and junior levels. Most importantly, thousands of youngsters have learned to love the game of hockey and many of them have remained in the local community and volunteer their time to coach, referee, or take on administrative duties in our junior hockey program. Because of them, hockey continues to be the major recreational sport in the area.

Marquette Junior Hockey is a non-profit Corporation under Article 501 (c) 3, of the United States Internal Revenue Code, and is governed by an elected Board of Directors. The Board of Directors normally meets in regular session the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM at the Lakeview Arena. Special Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time to consider special situations.

The President shall appoint with the consent of the Board of Directors, the Marquette Junior Hockey Director. The Marquette Junior Hockey Director is a full time employee of the Marquette Junior Hockey Corporation and is the active authority of the Corporation at the Lakeview Arena. The Marquette Junior Hockey Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Corporation. The Marquette Junior Hockey Director reports to the Board of Directors, and is immediately supervised by the President.

As with all non-profit corporations, MJHC cannot exist without volunteer assistance. Coaches are the obvious volunteers, but there are many other ways that you can help the MJHC during the season. There are MJHC bulletin boards in the Russell Arena near the MJHC office. There is a list of committees and you may contact the committee chairman if you are willing to serve on a committee in any capacity.

Players are placed in playing divisions according to their age and gender. Girls may play on boy’s teams; boys may not play on girl’s teams.

Skills Development Program – A USA sanctioned hockey program with structured lesson plans designed to be a low intensity, fun oriented program that teaches the youngster the fundamentals of skating: forward, backward, stopping and turning. It is presented in a non-competitive setting with very little emphasis on the actual game of hockey. The age range for this level is up to eight years old, although we will accept a non-skater of any age. With players age two to five years old, there is a possibility that the child may not be physically or emotionally ready for this type of activity. If they do not like it, it is better to stop and try again the next year, rather than forcing them to continue and making it a negative experience. The Skills Development Program is designed as a two-year program with the players moving to the Mite level at the completion of the Skills Development Program.

The President shall appoint individuals to be Division Directors for the Skills Development Program, Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam, Midget and Girls Divisions. These are one-year appointments and are non-voting positions. The Division Directors are responsible for coordinating, in conjunction with the Marquette Junior Hockey Director, the pre-season evaluations and player drafts, monitoring league play for compliance with league rules, assisting with player discipline problems when requested by a coach or parent and being the liaison person between the players, coaches and parents in their division and the Board of Directors. Division Directors may also be asked to help with tournaments involving their Division.

All house teams in MJHC are drafted in accordance with guidelines set up by the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA). The players will skate in "pre-season" evaluation sessions. In these sessions, the players will participate in various hockey drills and scrimmages so that the coaches can become familiar with the players. Teams are drafted to insure the most equal distribution of talent. Players should expect a 14-18 game regular season. The regular season Champions receive individual Championship awards at the year-end Awards Program. There will also be mid-season playoffs (Squirt Division and higher) starting the first weekend in January. These playoffs determine who will represent Marquette Junior Hockey in the Region I Playoffs, which lead to the District 8 Playoffs and ultimately to the State Championship. No awards are presented to mid-season playoff winners. The house league also participates in year-end playoffs to determine the Association Playoff Championship. The winners of the Association Playoff Championship receive individual awards at the year-end Awards Program.

Travel Teams are competitive programs. Squirt, PeeWee, Bantam and Midget Division tryouts are held in late summer or early fall and the coach selects his/her team from the players that try out. Players must be registered with MJHC for the current season and have no outstanding financial obligations to MJHC or any other MJHC Team in order to try out for a Travel Team. There is a try out fee charged to any player trying out for these teams. Not all players that try out are selected for Travel Teams.

The Marquette Electricians Local 1070 "AAA" Midgets is a program offered by MJHC to provide competition at a higher level for our players whose goal it is to move on to play hockey at the Junior "A" and Collegiate levels. The Electricians operate under the auspices of MJHC with their own Board of Directors. Electricians' tryouts are held in the summer. Due to the extremely competitive nature of this program, players from outside of the Marquette area are invited to try out to play on this team. Non-resident players are housed (at their own expense) within the community and attend local high schools.

All coaches in the MJHC must be approved by a vote of the Board of Directors and must submit to a background check of his/her criminal record by the Michigan State Police. This is to provide as many safeguards as possible when selecting the people that will be interacting with our children. Parents also have an opportunity to complete a written evaluation of their child's coach(es) at the end of each season. These evaluations are used in the coaching selection process for the next season.

Together with players and coaches, referees are the third element that is necessary to play the game of hockey. All referees must attend an annual USA Hockey Officiating Seminar, must complete a test corresponding to their certification level, and must be registered and insured through USA Hockey. Referees are independently contracted and paid by MJHC. MJHC also employs timekeepers to keep score and run the penalty box during MJHC scheduled games. In order to be contracted by MJHC, an individual should be at least 14 years of age, must have attended the USA Hockey Officiating Seminar, and must be registered and insured through USA Hockey. It is also recommended that anyone that is employed as a timekeeper also attend the Officiating Seminar, but it is not required that timekeepers register with USA Hockey.

The MJHC ascribes to and supports the following policies set out by USA Hockey and the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association.

In an effort to make hockey a more desirable and rewarding experience for all participants, the USA Hockey Youth, Junior and Adult Councils have instructed the Officiating Program to adhere to certain points of emphasis relating to sportsmanship. This campaign is designed to require all players, coaches, officials, team officials and administrators and parents/spectators to maintain a sportsmanlike and educational atmosphere before, during and after all USA Hockey-sanctioned games.

Thus, the following points of emphasis must be implemented by all On-Ice Referees and Linesmen:

A minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct (Zero Tolerance) shall be assessed whenever a player:

A minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct (Zero Tolerance) shall be assessed whenever a coach:

Officials are required to conduct themselves in a businesslike, sportsmanlike, impartial and constructive manner at all times. The actions of an official must be above reproach. Actions such as “baiting” or inciting players or coaches are strictly prohibited. On-ice officials are ambassadors of the game and must always conduct themselves with this responsibility in mind.

The game will be stopped by on-ice officials when the parents/spectators displaying inappropriate and disruptive behavior interfere with other spectators or the game. The on-ice officials will identify violators to the coaches for the purpose of removing parents/spectators from the spectators viewing and game area. Once removed, play will resume. Lost time will not be replaced and violators may be subject to further disciplinary action by the local governing body. This inappropriate and disruptive behavior shall include:

Use of obscene or vulgar language in a boisterous manner to anyone at any time.

It is the policy of USA Hockey that there shall be no sexual abuse of any minor participant involved in any of its sanctioned programs, its Training Camps, Hockey Clinics, Coaches Clinics, Referee Clinics, Regional and National Tournaments or other USA Hockey events by an employee, volunteer or independent contractor. Sexual abuse of a minor participant occurs when an employee, volunteer or independent contractor touches a minor participant for the purpose of causing the sexual arousal or gratification of either the minor participant or the employee, volunteer or independent contractor. Sexual abuse of a minor participant also occurs when a minor player touches an employee, volunteer or independent contractor for the sexual arousal or sexual gratification of either the minor participant or the employee, volunteer or independent contractor, if the touching occurs at the request or with the consent of the employee, volunteer or independent contractor.

It is the Policy of USA Hockey that there shall be no physical abuse of any participant involved in any of its sanctioned programs, its Training Camps, Hockey Clinics, Coaches Clinics, Referees Clinics, Regional and National Tournaments or other USA Hockey events by any employee, volunteer or independent contractor. Physical abuse means physical contact with a participant that intentionally causes the participant to sustain bodily harm or personal injury.

It is the policy of M.A.H.A. that it will not allow participation in its programs any volunteer or employee who has routine access to children (anyone under the age of majority) who refuses to consent to be screened by M.A.H.A. before he/she is allowed to have routine access to children in M.A.H.A.’s programs. This policy includes coaches, referees, M.A.H.A. personnel, Association personnel, League personnel; any age of majority participant that comes in contact with minors within M.A.H.A.’s programs and those persons who billet on a continuing basis.

It is the considered judgment of the board of directors of USA Hockey that the consumption/use/abuse of mood altering substances is detrimental to a healthy state of mind, body and spirit in an athletic participant. This is especially true for those participants aspiring to develop their talents in the furtherance of their playing, coaching or officiating careers in the sport of ice hockey. Therefore, with the best interests of its participants in mind, USA Hockey prohibits use by any participant of mood altering substances during active participation in its programs, and, upon discovery of any violation, shall take action to remove the participant from participation in its programs for a reasonable period of time. Further, USA Hockey recommends that each and all of its teams, associations, programs, and affiliates adopt reasonable regulations concerning the prohibition of consumption/use/abuse of mood altering substances, and a reasonable enforcement procedure thereafter, in order to maintain the health of our athlete participants, the integrity of our programs, and the eligibility of all of our competitors for national, international and collegiate competition.

All players, who were registered with MJHC in the previous season, will receive registration materials in the mail at the end of July or the beginning of August. Parents may fill out the registration materials and return them by mail.

The Board of Directors may approve refunds subject to current policy.

Funds have been made available through a grant from the Kaufman Foundation for players who would otherwise be unable to participate. These funds are available for registration fees and equipment only. This grant is requested annually by MJHC. The custodian of Kaufman Foundation funding is the President of MJHC, who may designate that authority to another member of the Board of Directors.

MJHC posts budget information on the MJHC bulletin board located in the Russell Arena near the MJHC office. The MJHC operates on an annual budget in excess of $300,000. Some of the major expenses for the MJHC are ice time, referees, and registration expenses. The largest sources of income for the MJHC are through registration fees, sponsorship income and tournament income.

Teams may have up to two fund-raisers. The MJHC board of directors must approve all fund-raisers in advance. Money from fund-raising and parent fees will be placed in the team account for expenses. Fund raising money is not to be credited to individual players, coaches or managers.

MJHC has several opportunities for those wishing to support youth hockey through financial contributions. Area businesses and individuals sponsor teams and tournaments and lower the cost of hockey throughout the program. Look for our sponsors names on our jerseys, banners and tournament programs and be sure to thank them for their support.

All MJHC players with the exception of Skills Development Players must wear full equipment at all times. That equipment includes: a HECC certified helmet with a HECC certified facemask, an attached mouthguard (bantam and above), shoulder pads, an athletic supporter with cup (or corresponding female protection), hockey pants, shin guards and hockey skates. Players in the Skills Development Program should have a good fitting pair of skates, a helmet with a facemask, optional knee pads and elbow pads, a heavy pair of mittens, and a hockey stick that is cut to the player’s size. All of this equipment is available from local sporting goods stores. MJHC provides a game jersey for Tier I Mites and above, and game socks for Squirt and above. Game jerseys are to be worn for games only. They shall not be used for practices, spring hockey, street hockey, post season “3 on 3’s” etc.

The playing season begins in late summer/early fall with Travel Team tryouts. Travel Team games can begin as early as the middle of September. The house league teams begin in October. Schedules will be available at coupon book pick-up and on the MJHC Web Site (www.mqthockey.org).

The MJHC sponsors several Tournaments at various levels throughout the season. The annual "Marquette Electricians Fall Classic" is an "AAA" Midget Tournament and is run by the Electricians Hockey Team as a fundraiser to offset costs for operating the team through the season. For all other tournaments, the proceeds go into the General Fund of MJHC.

On the last weekend in March, the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association conducts the U.P. Bantam/Midget Festival for players having their 15^th, 16^th, or 17^th birthday during that year. Players selected from that Festival would advance to either the USA Hockey Regional Bantam Camp (15 year olds) or the Michigan Junior Olympic 16/17 Festival (16 and 17 year olds). From these programs are selected "Team Michigan-15, 16, and 17". These players advance to the National 15, 16 and 17 Festivals.

The MJHC does not conduct any summer programs. Private individuals operate all other post-season programs. Parents should check with the individual operators to determine as to whether or not you will be covered under the USA Hockey insurance programs.

House league awards are presented at the annual year end program. Midget, Bantam, Peewee, and Squirt players on teams that have won the League or Playoff Championship receive individual awards. Mite players from the League Championship team receive awards (Mites do not have playoffs).

The League Top Playmaker (player with most assists) and the League Top Scorer in each division is recognized.

Other individual and team achievements are recognized in the annual yearbook.

There are several other awards presented at the awards program. They recognize individuals or groups for certain accomplishments and are selected by committee. Included are:

The Kathi Sommers Scholarships are awarded annually at the MJHC awards night to house league players. This scholarship was created in memory of Kathi Sommers a supporter and volunteer in our hockey program. The funding of this scholarship is provided by the selling of MJHC programs at MJHC sponsored tournaments. The scholarships are provided for hockey camps in the Marquette area only. The scholarship applicants must fill out and mail the application by April 1^st to the address provided. The application forms are available in the MJHC office and/or on the web site www.mqthockey.org.

MJHC maintains a web site at the following address www.mqthockey.org. Information is updated on a regular basis.

There are MJHC bulletin boards located in the Russell Arena near the MJHC office. On the board you can find league standings, schedules, notices, etc.

You will also find locker room assignments on the bulletin boards before each practice and game. It is an excellent place to check for information and any late breaking schedule changes. Locker rooms at the Berry Events Center will not be assigned. Please keep your team confined to one locker room at the Berry Events Center.

The Board of Directors would like to thank all those who have participated in the past and for those who will participate in the future. Remember, a kid on ice is seldom in hot water!

Web site: www.mqthockey.org
Address: 401 E. Fair Ave. Suite 103 Marquette, MI 49855
Phone: 906-228-9193