WHAM

Important and exciting news about the 2012 WHAM Championship Tournament

With our 2011-2012 WHAM season winding down, it’s time to start preparing for the WHAM Championship Tournament.  Our end of season, intra-league tournament will take place at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, MN March 15-18th, 2012.  For the second year, our end of season tournament will not be sanctioned by and/or run as part of Minnesota Hockey due to WHAM's recreational league status under USA and MN Hockey.

Some important dates to remember and prepare for as we get closer to the tournament:

Important Dates

All stats must be entered into the online stat program by Thursday, March 1, 2012.

Teams qualifying for the WHAM Championship Tournament must commit to playing by Sunday, March 4, 2012. Teams will be notified by Division Commissioners regarding qualification and must respond back with either a commitment to play or a decline. If teams decline the opportunity to play in the tournament, the next eligible team will be extended the opportunity.

The tournament will begin on Thursday, March 15^th, with divisional championship games played on Sunday, March 18^th.

If teams know of potential advertisers for the tournament program—or potential vendors for the Saturday/Sunday Vendor Fair—please contact League Administrator Erika Hockinson-Spande at leagueadmin@whamhockey.org by March 5^th.

Exciting Facts

The WHAM Championship Tournament will continue with exciting improvements —many of which come as the result of listening to the feedback from our membership.

• No gate fees. All spectators will be admitted FREE of charge.
• Lower tournament fees: TBD
  

Tournament Fees due no later than March 8^th, 2012

WHAM

3624 Rhode Island Avenue So.

Saint Louis Park, MN 55426

• All tournament games will be played at the Super Rink.
• A Vendor Fair on Saturday and Sunday during the tournament, where vendors will display and sell a variety of hockey-related items.
• Winning teams will receive commemorative T-shirts to celebrate their success in the tournament.
• Teams will only be required to provide one volunteer per game—for scorekeeping/clock. No additional volunteer hours will be required.

Answers to Questions You May Have Regarding These Changes:

Q:  What measures will be taken to ensure rosters for all teams are valid?

A:  Just like during the regular WHAM season, teams are expected to play only properly rostered players at the tournament. No formal “check-in” process will be conducted to validate rosters. It is incumbent upon participating teams to ensure they have a proper roster on hand—one printed from the WHAM website that lists the official roster for your team—and, that all players have a valid form of identification with them during the tournament. At any point an opposing team can request a team to produce a roster and request that all players show proper identification. Players who are not properly rostered and/or who fail to show proper ID will not be allowed to skate—and the team may be disqualified—per rules in the WHAM Handbook.

Q: When will the tournament schedule be posted?

A: After all qualifying teams have been identified and have committed to playing in the tournament, schedules will be posted on the WHAM website and sent to all participating teams. This should occur during the week of March 5, 2012.

Q: Will there be trophies for winning teams?

A: No trophies will be awarded at the tournament. Feedback from members shows that, other than having a trophy for a photo opportunity at the end of the tournament, most teams don’t really have a place to display a trophy—and most end up in a garage or basement of one of the players. The trophies are expensive and challenging to maintain. In addition, they were funded by Minnesota Hockey, and since this is a WHAM tournament, it seemed like a great time to honor the feedback from our members and to do something different, such as the tournament T-shirts. We will ask that all existing trophies be returned at the Fall Meeting.

Q: Will there be a trainer on site?

A:  Current WHAM games do not require a trainer to be on hand. Since the need for a trainer on site was a Minnesota Hockey requirement, this expense has been eliminated.

Q: Will the same point system be used for the WHAM Championship Tournament as the State Tournament?

A: No, the intent is to simplify the tournament rules. We are currently in the process of finalizing the rules. Once finalized, they will be posted to the website and shared with all qualifying teams.

Q: Will there be a tournament program?

A: Yes, a tournament program will be available. Each participating team will receive 18 copies of the program and the remainder will be available to fans until the supply runs out. Advertising and sponsorship will provide the funds to create and print the programs.

Q: What about rebates/refunds for teams participating?

A: In the past, rebates and refunds were issued if the tournament ended in the black as a result of gate receipts or advertising. Refunds/rebates were not a given. Going forward, the intent is to charge a flat fee for the anticipated costs and to make the tournament self-sustaining, so any “profits” would go back into the tournament fund for the next year. As a result, the entry fee for the tournament may vary from year-to-year.

Q: What about next year’s tournament? Divisions are so big, yet so few teams get to play?

A:  At the end of the tournament, a survey of teams will be done to determine the best option for the 2012-2013 WHAM Championship Tournament. At that time, several options will be posed with associated costs and timing for each. We want to hear from the membership about what you would like to see out of your tournament.