SILVER CREEK SPORTSPLEX OVER THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

by Daryn Goodwin

I can’t think of a better way to kick off the new roller season than at Silver Creek Sportsplex for our NorCal Cup over Thanksgiving Weekend. It’s become a tradition. I’ve said it before that this is my favorite market. People are competitive everywhere there’s youth sports, but it seems more people here get the Big Picture that having fun and enjoying and respecting the game are more important than the outcome of any single game’s result.

We’ve had 12 games so far and 4 have ended in ties. The market as a whole seems to continually get deeper in talent and more competitive. I’m sure it’s a combination of variables that attribute to this. Playing more competitive tournaments and more kids from the ice converting are two that come to mind. I don’t recognize a few young kids that are really good.

The Bend Bullets jumped back on the NARCh Scene last year and had a blast, so it’s nice to see them here and have a more committed program with new excited players and parents. A few of them even found teams in Florida FINALS last year, so they’re hooked. They brought a 10u and men’s team to this one. Hopefully we see a few more Bullet Teams at Winternationals in January. Speaking of Winters, don’t forget the deadline is Decemmber 10^th, which will be here quick! For information and hotel info go on http://www.narch.com/news/winternationals-deadline-and-h. Don’t wait to book your rooms either, they’re going quick!

I haven’t talked to anyone about next summer yet but I’ll tell everyone that will listen that they should really try to get to the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. It’s an incredible facility and that trip just can’t be matched. Toronto has so much to offer. Niagara Falls, Hockey Hall of Fame, CN Tower are just a few must things to see. It’s a hockey trip of a lifetime. This year is the BEST YEAR to go. The US Dollar is very strong in Canada, so your 70 cents basically get you a $1.00 in return. Really nice hotels for what converts to $100.00. Another huge reason that it makes the most sense to teams particularly in NorCal is the fact that the West Coast NARCh FINALS are at this very rink in June. Everyone here will be playing in that tournament and if you do, your team can compete in the East Coast FINALS FOR FREE!!!!!! Re-read this paragraph, talk to your team, and make it happen! You won’t regret it, promise.

Nick Boyarsky is my tourney wingman here and is also the rockstar behind taking Konixx Wheels from zero to hero in less than a year. They’re fantastic wheels and they’re running a great promo, so make sure to stop by the check in booth and pick up a pair of great wheels!

My son Caden made the trip with me this year. He played in this very event when he was 6 or 7 and a few times since, he’s now 14. This weekend he doesn’t have a team but he’s helping me capture moments with my video camera and selling NARCh Merchandise. Caden isn’t the best hockey player, but enjoys the game. He is unbelievably talented though. He’s a young techy striving to learn more each day. Unbeknownst to me, he designed a video game app that is available on Itunes and Amazon called Just Run!. I didn’t even know he was doing it until it was already up and he said, “Dad, check this out!” Proud dad moment for sure. We also designed a website together last week for my other passion, surfing. Actually he designed it, I just gave him the pictures to use. If you are into surfing check out http://www.myepicwave.com/

Enough rambling, I’m missing some great action. Thanks for playing and we hope you really have a successful tournament and enjoyable weekend with us here at Silver Creek Sportsplex!