Great Turn-Out for Skate with the Colts!

Thanks to all the parents and players who showed up for our Meet the Coach and Skate with the Colts event.

If you were there, we hope you were as impressed with Coach Dennis Hall as our hiring committee was when they met him. The returning Colts members had nothing but good things to say about the way the coach ran the practice and how much fun it was to be back together again.

It was especially great to have our former coach Marty Winn out on the ice. It was the perfect way to transition the team as we prepare for our 2009/10 season.

Many of the players on the ice Sunday, July 19 are former players who have graduated or who are moving on to play travel hockey. Our hope is that all eligible former Colts will consider returning to our team, and the board is committed to doing what we can to make it affordable for those who wish to play with us, as well as play with their travel organizations.

Everyone at the event on Sunday was particularly happy to get a glimpse at the future of the Colts. We had more than a dozen new skaters in 8th and 9th grade who we hope will consider joining the team. These players are the future of our organization and the talent and potential was definitely promising.

More information on our 2009/10 Colts Conditioning Camp, which will focus on strength and endurance training, will be provided to all players and prospects in the next couple of days. Thanks to Darrin Watkins, Mike Hanson, Curt Benson and Coach Hall for their efforts in securing weight training facilities and making plays for this important part of our pre0season training.

Additional information on fundraising opportunities, particularly immediate programs to generate down payment funds to pay for league fees and initial ice time, will be provided to the players at the first dryland practice or via email to parents in advance of that date.

Any questions or concerns about anything related to the Colts are welcome at 903 880 8217 (Connie) any time.

Thanks again for turning out, and if you were unable to attend this event but are interested in finding out more about joining the Mesquite Colts High School Hockey Club, please give us a call or email connie@outreachpr.com

Get Fired Up for the Coolest Team on Ice! The Colts are Recruiting for the 2009/10 Season!

The Mesquite Colts High School Hockey Club is home to the proud legacy of the Mesquite Colts. Our roster is full of talent, fueled by hard work. The Colts love hockey, and when they hit the ice, there's just nothing cooler. Click on the video below to get fired up about joining us in the stands -- or on the ice -- for the upcoming 2009/10 season in the AT&T Metroplex High School Hockey League!

FAQ

Q: Is ice hockey an “official” high school sport?
A: Although this is a high school sport and the ATT league is made up of teams from high schools throughout the DFW area, ice hockey is not sanctioned by the UIL.

Q: How is it funded?
A: Players and their families are responsible for all fees and costs associated with playing ice hockey. However, the Mesquite Colts offer a variety of fundraising opportunities to help defray the cost of playing hockey. The team also actively solicits corporate sponsorships to cover expenses wherever possible.

Q: Is there travel involved?
A: All games are held in the DFW metropolitan area.

Q: When are games held?
A: JV teams play on Sunday nights. Varsity teams play on Thursday nights. (Subject to change.) There is typically one game per week. The Colts also participate in one or two tournaments each year.

Q: When are practices?
A: Practices are held after school or on the weekends. For 2009/10, we anticipate one practice on Saturdays and a possible second practice on a weekday evening.

Q: What about equipment?
A: The Colts Team Manager (Paul Nessman, nessman5@sbcglobal.net) can provide you with a list of equipment each player needs. The team also can assist in locating used equipment and is available to direct parents to stores where equipment can be purchased. Team discounts may be available, and some equipment may be supplied by the club.

Q: Do you offer fundraising opportunities?
A: A variety of different fundraisers are available to team members and their families. More information will be provided to parents as the season approaches.

Q: How does the club work?
A: A board of directors organizes the club activities and finances, handles communications, arranges for ice time, hires the coaching staff, organizes camps and training, as serves to assist players and their families with any needs associated with club membership.

Hockey Season Coming Soon!

The Mesquite Colts hockey season begins in October and runs through March. Play-offs are typically in early April.

Team practices will begin in late July with Colts Conditioning Camp, which is open to both current team members and those interested in joining the team.

The Colts will also hold a Colts Mini-Camp in early August to give players a chance to work with the Colts Coaching Staff and team members in on-ice drills and scrimmages prior to Tryouts.

Team practices are one to two times each week. Games are held throughout the Metroplex at area Dr. Pepper Star Centers. Colts home games are played at the Dr. Pepper Star Center in Duncanville.

Varsity teams play on Thursdays. Junior Varsity Teams play on Sundays. (Schedule is subject to change.)

Become a Colt!

The Mesquite Colts are actively recruiting athletes who want to play ice hockey in a fun, competitive environment that involves both teens and their families in the hottest sport on ice!

Is travel hockey wearing you out or not giving you all the hockey you want?

Are you a Bantam player ready for the next level of competition?

Do you play roller hockey and want to switch to ice?

Do you just love hockey and want to know how you can play?

Are you home schooled without a high school team to call your own?

Do you live outside Mesquite in Seagoville, Forney, Crandall, Kaufman, Mabank, or other towns east of Dallas where your high school doesn’t have a team?

If so, the Mesquite Colts want you!

Contact the Colts Team Manager for more information!

Colts Recruiting: Free Skate with the Colts on July 19th

The Mesquite Colts High School Ice Hockey Club (www,mesquitecolts.com) has hired a new head coach and will hold a “Meet the Coach and Skate with the Colts” event on Sunday, July 19, beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Dr. Pepper Star Center in Duncanville.

Dennis Hall, a former Mesquite resident who has spent the last two years living and working in Fayetteville, North Carolina, has returned to the area and will take over as head coach for the club, which will begin its 2009/10 season with the AT&T Metroplex High School Hockey League this fall. The team’s former coach, Marty Winn, retired after 12 years with the club.

According to Hall, the team has roster spots available for players at all positions, and the team is actively recruiting new players. On July 19, parents and players interested in joining the team, as well as returning players, are invited to the Duncanville rink to hear more about the club, the schedule, the coach’s philosophy, fees and fundraising opportunities. Interested players can then join the returning roster of Colts and alumni for a free hour on the ice beginning at 4:45.

“This is a great way for parents and kids who are interested in stepping up to the high school hockey level to get a feel for how the system works, see firsthand the skill level of our returning players, and determine if joining the club is something they’d like to do,” Hall says.

The Mesquite Colts plan to compete at the Junior Varsity level in the league’s “Gold” division, a step up from the “Silver” division where they have played the last several years. The season will include 22 regular season games and two tournaments, with the first tournament kicking off the season in September.

Boys or girls in grades 8 – 12 who attend any of the Mesquite ISD campus locations or who are home schooled are eligible to play for the team. Students in nearby districts without a hockey team are also eligible to join the club.

Experience playing roller hockey or ice hockey is recommended but not required. Players who attend the free skate will need to be fully outfitted in hockey gear.

“We will begin our season with dry land and on-ice pre-season training later this month. We are willing to assist players who are making the transition from roller hockey to ice hockey. That’s where all our kids started, and it’s an easier transition than many think,” Hall says.

“We have a few returning juniors and seniors this season, but for the most part our team will be a very young team this year. We’re excited about the potential for the future of the club,” Hall says.

Businesses interested in supporting the Mesquite Colts and helping to defray the cost of the season are invited to become sponsors of the club. Support at any level is welcomed. The Mesquite Colts are a 503(b) non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible.

Ice hockey is not a UIL supported sport, but players are required to meet UIL rules with regard to academic performance. Players are responsible for paying club dues, which cover the cost of league fees and ice time. Fundraisers are held throughout the year to assist players and their families with the cost. Donations made to the club by businesses, family and friends help defray the costs for the team.

The club practices on ice once each week and off ice once each week. Games are played throughout the metroplex at Dr. Pepper Star Centers.

For more information, visit http://www.mesquitecolts.com/, or call the Team Manager, Paul Nessman, at 972 222 2676. Email inquiries can be sent to connie@outreachpr.com.