The Blueprint:
citylightshockeyclub@gmail.com.
“Introducing the City Lights Hockey Club: where the spirit of the game meets community and class. We’re redefining amateur hockey in the City of Champions, creating a league not just for play, but for lifestyle. Our clubs, inspired by the success of senior soccer, are for players 20 and up, emphasizing skill, sportsmanship, and safety with a nod to the legends and history of the game. With a proposed Championship Title named after Jerome Iginla, the Clubs will schedule their games in the original 1892 Stanley Cup “challenge” format. This will make all games special events while creating opportunities for community building and professional development for young adult athletes. It will also allow for a more flexible schedule that ends the current standard of late night games times that negatively impact player health. We’re making hockey about more than just the ice – it’s about fitness, family-friendly socials, and fostering a supportive network. Our unique approach includes the City Lights Community Project, enhancing the game day experience and promoting local tourism. This is hockey reimagined for the modern player: competitive yet inclusive, focused yet fun, all while keeping it classy on and off the ice. Join us in sparking a national renaissance for senior hockey, one city at a time.“
We are facilitating the formation of as many Hockey Clubs as we can, in the following format:
– 20 years and older, players 16+ are eligible for participation during the off season of Jr / U-20 leagues.
– Clubs are expected to maintain a 30-50 player roster. There should be 10 players over the age of 30 to provide a group of classy, experienced, leaders and mentors for the young guys.
– Games and Championship Title (proposed to be named after Jerome Iginla) are in “original Stanley Cup” challenge format. In other words: like boxing matches are scheduled and marketed. There will be an informal “ranking system” in the same sense of NCAA athletics so that clubs have an idea of where other teams they are interested in challenging, and accepting a challenge from, are at in terms of on-ice play.
“It’s the New Years Eve Championship Game” special event. It’s “the losing team gets blueberry pie’d by the kids of the fan base of the opposing club” night.
By making each game, set of games, or series a “special event” it provides flexibility in scheduling, eliminating late night games that are the norm in the adult game city wide now (9pm or later starts) that harm players health and well-being. It will also provide the clubs, and young adults on them, the ability to network and deepen their involvement in their community, and enhance their professional lives.
It will also put the onus on clubs to schedule events. Each Club should be part of facilitating 12-25 games per year. In doing so, it eliminates costs associated with league administration, which aims to be limited to a discipline committee.
– Each Club must have set times for drop in workouts, fitness, and classy social events. Workout buddies. This is Sr hockey – people are busy, so attendance can’t be mandatory but should be regular.
Outdoor rink practices, skills sessions, and games are encouraged.
There should be at least 1 structured, high paced, practice / structured scrimmage a week and 3 drop in workout times. By having 35-40 person club roster, teams can scrimmage internally in preparation for games. Teams should consider and be open to, especially for some of the older players, the notion of an “NFL practice squad” that helps develop the game team both on and off the ice.
An example of a “drop-in regularly” schedule: Wednesday 630 pm practice (outdoor or in), 930am Sunday run followed by socializing and coffee, Tuesday 6pm drop in lift at Kinsmen Field House, Friday 630am yoga and breakfast, and Saturday 10am skills session / community skate at the outdoor rink.
Social events are to be scheduled regularly, be classy, and the vast majority should be open to families, friends, fans, sponsors and supporters of the Club. Events might include: pitch and putt golf, team picnics in the park, watching the Brick Tournament together, dances, and volunteering amidst the community in particular the Boys and Girls Club / Big Brothers Big Sisters Hockey Heroes program.
– Professional Women’s Hockey League body contact rules. This means “body contact for the purpose of separating person from puck and gaining possession.”
In other words: No hitting. No big open ice hits or catching people with their head down along the wall. No hitting to “bang guys up” / send a message / “fire up the team.”
Such hits will lead to suspensions of players. This is “rub a person out” or “give a bump” but not “hit” the person.
No fighting. Neck guards mandatory.
This is a player safety and accessibility issue, in the same way lots of people who have 9-5’s will roll around a bit at an MMA gym wrestling or do some Ju Jit Su, but will never boxing spar.
– Recommended Overtime format is play 5 on 5 until there is 12 minutes left in the Ice Time, at which point it will be “Brick Tournament Format.” 5 v 5 for one minute, 4 v 4, 3 v 3, 2 v 2, and 1 v 1 until someone scores.
– Recommended game format is 10 minute warm-up and two 30 minute halves with a 10 minute half-time show and a flood.
– At present costs for individual player are as much as 800 dollars per winter and summer season to play in the local Rec league in Edmonton (AMHL / CCRHL).
The vast majority of these games are late night, leaving players jet-lagged for much of the winter. The AMHL / CCRHL elite division, which is the highest men’s division level in amateur adult leagues in Edmonton, at present would lose on ice to a JR B or rural SR AAA in the same manner a local sandlot baseball game would lose to the Blue Jays.
This is not an acceptable standard for Hockey in the City of Champions.
On Ice, the highest ranked clubs should be above, near, or at Jr B level On Ice Play. We believe down the line the top ranked clubs should be competitive with local CIS and ACAC University Teams.
These clubs are to be funded by player dues and sponsorship. Players must not be paid to play on the clubs, though clubs can accept players without cost on a financial needs basis. While sponsors are welcomed, sponsorship of sticks is not allowed with the exception that maybe we can get a Sherwood league wide sponsorship for wood ones (5030’s are better than most realize).
Clubs must operate on a not-for-profit basis.
– We are creating something called “The City Lights Community Project.”
It is a tourism package that all teams will have access to.
Invite adult teams from out of town to play 12 pm Saturday starts at the downtown community rink.
The City Lights Tourism Package will then help facilitate bringing in “the whole town.” Play the game, then everyone enjoy the downtown – ideas such as kids go to the bug exhibit at the museum, high school students can tour higher educational facilities, packages with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Citadel Theatre, discounted restaurants, arts and music events at city hall, legislature tours, events for those with special needs (hopefully giving the Joey Moss statue a high five in the Oilers locker room) and discounted Oiler tickets (where hopefully those with special needs who high fived Mr. Moss’ spirit can high five the team coming out onto the ice.)
We will create a league contact to help clubs activate these events. There should be at least 2 months notice for such events. We will be careful to make these events family friendly and eminently classy. We do not want to end up like in Hawaii, where due to rowdy tourists a law was passed that if one laughs after 10pm it has to be A Low Ha.
– This model can be emulated in other big cities across Canada and create a renaissance in the Sr game nationally.
Smaller towns can do hosting events as well.
Hockey Players from the City of Champions are more than happy to light up hockey clubs and their communities…perhaps especially Calgary. No disrespect to everyone else but we here in town have a special place in our hearts when it comes to lighting up Calgary. (All jokes aside, the Jerome Iginla / Lanny and his Moustache Flames combo is a hockey zenith we here in the City of Champions acknowledge we today could only ever hope to tie. I know Wayne Gretzky would agree the Iggy / Lanny Flames standard is truly a Great One, as Great or Greater than any legacy in the sport.)
This project – which is ultimately the City of Champions lighting everyone up – could possibly lead to on ice play that sends some amateur players to the Olympics or some late bloomers to CIS / ACAC / NCAA or pro leagues.
– This concept aims to include Female Teams and Men’s Divisions club. Men’s Division teams should welcome include Female Players on their club roster, as well as welcome to CIS / ACAC / PWHL level female players during their off season looking for class teammate and high level on ice play. Female players are to be consulted and accommodated for safe participation in light body contact practices.
We will work with hockey authorities about game eligibility of Female Players who want to give it a whirl in the Men’s Division.
– Clubs are expected to be active year round, including on the golf course. Have fun, stay in shape, network professionally and personally, mentor and be mentored, keep it classy at all times.
These are not drinking teams. This is not beer league.
To view the origin of the City Lights Name, click on the “Our Name” portion of the menu above. That’s what this is all about.
The City Lights Hockey Club is Non-Hetero and Non-Gender-Binary Friendly.
Pure class. Jerome Iginla.
The City Lights Hockey Club 