Oakland, CA -
The Oakland Ice center operated by Sharks Ice hosted the first NORCAL Mite Min-Jamboree of the 2015-16 season on Saturday, November 7. The event is comprised of associations across Northern California in the Mite (8 years old and Under) and is a great event that left all the 150+ players with sweaty heads and big smiles.
15 teams from 10 associations came and competed in the event where fun is the name of the game. No scores are officially kept but that does not diminish the tempo of the game. The NHL regulation ice surface of 200x85 feet is divided into three smaller cross-ice surfaces making the game surface appropriate for these young players and increase the pace of the game. Players change on the fly and and with no face offs they spend the bulk of their time playing which is what they want to do.
"It is always great to see an event like this that focuses on the fun of the game for the players. The kids all play like the Stanley Cup is on the line because the game is so much fun, they get to be kids and they are moving all the time. The Coaches did a great job of embracing the concept of fun and keeping the players moving", commented Derek Donald, Sharks Ice Hockey Manager.