MSWHL – MEETING MINUTES -  DECEMBER 19TH, 2007


Attendee’s :	Board members – Joanne Lukasik, Carrie Sirola, Adrianna Sable (RIC) 
Deb Honsowctz (Iron Maidens), Jodi Sandvik (Phantoms), Sherri Wright (Ice Pack), Cathie Coulter (Ice Pack), Melissa Hedgcock (Lady Wings), Katie Manley (McDonalds), Kerri Kelly (Puckin Chix), Carol Schiscinger (The Other team), Debbie Benedict (Polar Bears)




Treasurer’s Report :  The Treasurer wasn’t in attendance, however, the report from Johnna Rhone, is that the balance is the same as last month.


Old Business :
Ruicci-cup discussion – There were some questions from Carol S. / Kerri K. (representing their respective teams that are hosting the RC), and we clarified the following:
Cost for team entry fee is $350.   Tournament is a 3 game guarantee.
Deadline for teams to enter the RC is Feb. 1st, 2008. 
There is NO ten game requirement for players to participate in the RC this season, however, all players MUST be on their respective team official USA roster by DEC. 31st, 2007, in order to participate in the RC.  
The league standings as of Mar. 1st, 2008 will be used to determine the placement of teams in the RC tournament brackets.
There were a few more questions regarding RC, and Carol S. will get with Lisa Mello for guidance on how things were handled during last years RC.

Missing team USA rosters – Both the McDonalds and Mag-a-ritas have now turned in their USA hockey rosters to Joanne.   All teams have now turned in their rosters.
  


New Business :
Stix (Advanced team) penalty minutes – There was a discussion regarding the Stix team, in that they have averaged over 10 minutes in penalties per game through the end of Nov., which is much higher than the rest of the teams.   Other teams in the advanced division have complained about playing Stix too.  The Adv. Div. statistician will review the individual Stix team players penalty minutes, and the BOD will request that Stix attend the next league meeting for further discussion (since they were not in attendance).

Howell/Kensington Officiating issues – Adrianna (RIC) received an email complaint from a player on the Mich. Devils regarding the officials at Howell.  She requested that this player submit an official referee complaint form, which is posted on the league website, and is still waiting for that.   Carol S. had already filed a complaint with the District 4 RIC (Greg Hames, and Kevin Hall) regarding 2 refs at Kensington, and has not received any response back.  Teams need to be reminded that if they are having issues with a referee or referee scheduler, please contact our league RIC (Adrianna Sable).

Updates from division directors/statisticians – There were no individual updates from directors, however there was a discussion with all divisions with regards to the level of competition, and whether or not there was a need to move any team up or down a division half way through this season.   The BOD explained that at the half way point in the season, team movement is generally only used to move 1 team (up/down), or swap 2 teams from one division to another.   Based on this, and in reviewing the division standings to date, the BOD does not feel that any team movement is necessary at this time.    There were also further discussions about possible movement of teams for next season. In particular, with regards to the REC II division having 9 teams, and the REC I division having only 4 teams, and the BOD will review each division’s team makeup after the season, as they do every summer.  The BOD also recommended that the REC I teams set up exhibition games against teams from both the REC II and INT II divisions.



There was also a brief discussion regarding the INT II division, with regards to some individual players on some teams (and whether they belong in this division).  This was a continuation of the discussion from last months (Nov.) meeting, where it was decided that all of the INT II division managers will need to attend a special meeting before the next league meeting in January (date-TBD).

A question came up regarding weather related cancellations of games - the rule as stated in our league handbook is that there should be a National weather travel advisory report in order to cancel a game.  However, every team needs to use common sense, and if the weather is bad, and both teams agree to cancel the game, then it can be canceled.  Keep in mind that the weather may be worse in some areas of the metro-Detroit area than others.  So if the weather seems okay where the game is scheduled, but the visiting team has to drive too far in bad weather conditions, then the game should be canceled.   And, teams MUST contact the other team in all bad weather situations where a game may/will be canceled.




Next meeting scheduled for Jan. (TBD)