Sign up is here.Tell your friends!

Player deposit for next season is now available. The deposit is $80 dollars and due by the end of the business day on Monday, July 17th. After that, returning players will be treated as new recruits. If you are unable to pay the deposit by July 9th but intend to play with us next year, please contact Jake (treasurer@madisongayhockey.org) or Amanda (president@madisongayhockey.org).

Registration includes a question about which skill based league you would prefer to play in including the option for both. This does not guarantee you will able to play in both leagues, we have some details to work out there as well as priority given to getting as many players as possible into the league. Playing in both leagues will incur extra dues. Subbing across leagues will be possible. You will also be able to update this field in your user profile, login, then go to your account info https://www.madisongayhockey.org/account/ and scroll to the bottom.

As a reminder, we will be maintaining 10 teams at least (perhaps grow). We will need as much information to plan for this season as possible so we appreciate you getting your deposit in asap. In following with our mission statement, in recruiting and in accepting new players, we will prioritize members of the LGBTQ+ community and other groups with historically limited access to hockey.

We will be sending announcements for when we have 100 players, 125 players, and a full roster.

Looking forward to next season with y’all,

-Recruitment team and MGHA board

Hello Everyone!
After collecting nominations from members, we informed all those nominated and gave them a chance to write a blurb about why they would like to be on the MGHA board.

Please take a look at what they have to say. At the membership meeting, there will be brief introductions of those present, and voting for the board will take place physically at the meeting as required by the by-laws.

Nominees:

Amanda Thornton –
I have learned valuable lessons and gained important insights this year as president and would like to continue to serve the league on the board this season. I’d like to see through some of the initiatives that are in process such as the conduct reporting and handling process and improved advanced player guidance. I’d also like to help guide the new board to a successful season that emphasizes fun, safety, and inclusion. I believe in this league and its mission and I’m grateful for the opportunity to devote my time and energy to its success and ultimately to the community we create together.

Jacob Wagner –
My name is Jake Wagner, I have been nominated and would be honored to fill the position of Treasurer of the MGHA for the next term.   There are a few reasons I have decided to run, but the most relevant is that I have significant experience in the field of accounting and bookkeeping.  I worked in the accounting field both while in school, and for the entirety of my time post graduation.  I have experience keeping the books for a variety of smaller companies, as well as working in a larger accounting department of a public company.  I believe my experience will allow me to accurately and professionally keep the books of the association, as well as to address any financial issues that may arise during my time as Treasurer.  Secondly, I have a desire to give back to this league that means so much to so many people, I believe one of the best ways I can do that is by sharing my experience and skills.  Finally, at the end of 2018 I quit my full-time position to assume the role of full time stay at home parent to our daughter.  This leaves me with a bit of extra time, as well as a desire to give back and to keep my skills sharp, both things that would be accomplished in this position.  Thank you for your consideration, Jake.

Maggie Augustin

Greetings, hockey people!  I have been fortunate enough to be nominated for a board position again and I am overjoyed to accept it! Here’s a bit of my backstory:

I have been a part of the MGHA for 3 years and enjoy every moment of it! Our league is so unique in that we provide a place for people from all walks of life and varying skill sets to learn hockey and be a part of a greater community. Before MGHA, I had never played hockey and I had not been a part of an LGBTQA+ organization that embodied fair and inclusive play in the way MGHA does. After my first year, I mentored a few new players (that was a blast) and last year, I co-captained for a Classic team and I had a lot of fun in that role as well and wanted to be able to give back to the league by serving on the board. Throughout this past year on the board, I was able to oversee our social squad, work with our wonderful and generous sponsors, be a part of recruiting new hopefuls and returning veterans alike, and reviewed any member relations and conduct issues we received; not to mention all of the behind-the-scenes work! It has been an absolute pleasure serving you all and I would love to do it again for the up-coming season.

If I am able to be a part of the Board for 2019-20, I endeavor to give back to the league in the same manner I have been for the past year; fair leadership with a dash of zest, humor, and 110% effort! There are always areas in which we can improve and I would like to help facilitate growth and change within our league that will be positive and benefit the majority of folx in our league. As most of you know, this is not always an easy task, but I will do everything I can to advocate for all players and make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable time playing hockey.

Tim Tender –

Hey everyone!  I’m Tim Tender and I’ve been in the league now for 4 years.  Next year will be my landmark 5th with the MGHA!  So far, I’ve seen so many success stories with this league and I really want to help to foster more of those stories for next year as part of the board again.  I’ve been on the board now for 3 seasons and while it’s quite challenging at times, it’s incredibly rewarding, too.  I think my experience both with this league and with running an adult hockey tournament and league in the past will help with the challenges we might face this coming year with the possibility of expanding the league into two leagues and potentially moving to a different rink.  Both of these will present their own challenges and I am eager to help us navigate these new waters (if that’s the direction that’s chosen). 
Other than that, I really just love this league.  I love the people in it and I care deeply about having a place where we can all gather and enjoy a game that I’ve been playing for about 20 years (wow, I now feel old).  I wear my heart on my sleeve and I take things hard but overall, I think that just means I really do care and want everyone to be happy.  Should I be elected, my main goal for the coming year would be to strive to make sure that our new players feel safe.  This needs to be a developmental league, first and foremost, and I think we can definitely improve in this department.
Like I mentioned, I want this league to be an awesome place for all of us and I’m running for the board because I think I have some of the necessary skills to keep the league running.

The following people have applied for membership in the MGHA. Please click on their name to see each person’s application. Once you’ve read the applications you can click on the boxes to the side of their names to vote; voting “Yes” means you are voting for this person to become a member, while voting “No” means that you are voting against their becoming a member.

Voting will be open from now until April 21st, in order to allow time to notify applicants prior to the Annual Member Meeting and allow for board nomination participation (as membership is required). You may change your votes at any time until voting closes.

As a reminder, the Annual Member Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 16th at Kavanaugh’s. More details on agenda and time will be posted elsewhere.

Whether you were a new or returning player this season, we want you to share your story by writing an essay titled “What Gay Hockey Means to Me.”

Why?

• These essays are vital part of our recruiting efforts. They show our prospective new players the impact that participation in MGHA has on improving lives.
  
• The essays help of us recognize our diverse needs and our shared intersections.
  
• They help guide the efforts of league leadership. 

How to Participate

1. Read past essays: https://www.madisongayhockey.org/about/what-gay-hockey-means-to-me.
   
2. Write an introspective essay (humorous, serious, instructive … this is 100% your choice). Essays are typically less than 1000 words, but can be more if needed. Questions to get you started include: What role has the Madison Gay Hockey Association played in developing you as a person? What has participation in the MGHA taught you about your identity and our community?
   
3. Send your essay to president at madisongayhockey dot org.
4. All 2018-2019 MGHA participants may write an essay. Previous award recipients are ineligible for this year’s award. Essay writers are ineligible for the evaluation committee.

Deadline: May 3rd, 2019

• A committee made up of current board members, Our Lives staff, and current captains will read the essays. All essay writers receive a gift from the league and have their essays published on the MGHA website. 
  
• One essay will be selected to be published in Our Lives magazine. And the writer’s 2019-2020 league fees will be covered by the MGHA!

The courage showcased through writing this can empower others to live more open and authentically. Please consider writing and submitting an essay.

Here are this year’s winners and the nice things their teams had to say about them! Congrats to all the winners!

Madison Blues (Blue) Erika Hansen Her quiet encouragement and comments were welcome to the new players. She is a great teammate in the locker room and on the ice, always willing to help the newer players by providing encouragement and positive feedback. She is the embodiment of a MGHA player, great attitude, and always willing to lend a hand. It has been an absolute pleasure playing on a team with her and getting to know her as a person this season.

Arrrnge (Orange) Chris Swomley Avast!! Our self-appointed pirate flag-bearer, Chris Swomley, makes our time on and off the ice more fun, whether breaking out his dance moves before the puck drops, giving encouragement and constructive feedback to his teammates, or just being a friendly face making the league feel more welcoming and safe. Chris helps anchor this team by playing with consistent energy and skill, giving it his all, and working hard to set up plays and assists for the rest of us. He’s been a real asset to this team and and is definitely MGHA all the way!

Maroony Tunes (Maroon) Molly Costello “For her combination of high speed and skillful play on the ice, and her unflagging positivity and ever-present smile in the locker room and on the bench, the Marooney-Tunes All The Way Award goes to Molly Costello. Molly has been a standout on defense all season, but has excelled not only in preventing opposing scoring opportunities, but also in mentoring less experienced players.  On the ice Molly’s consistent and consistently unselfish and inclusive play has benefitted the entire Marooney-Tunes roster. In the locker room Molly is always upbeat and positive, regardless of the result of the game.  Through the entire season she’s contributed to keeping the Marooney-Tunes focussed on what’s important about Sunday night – playing hockey with our friends.

Nightfuries (Black) Gene Zadzilka Gene is a great teammate that always encourages everyone and has something positive to say every game! He is great at lifting the spirit of the entire team, consistently throughout the season. Gene spearheaded a lot of team bonding – multiple rounds of shirts, patches, hosting movies, decorating his goalie stick. He’s been supportive of the entire team on and off the ice and he makes each game day fun.

Red Delicious (Red) Paul Weber Paul is the embodiment of positivity, inclusivity, and the MGHA way. He has been a fan of the MGHA for many years, but this is his first year as a player. He gives 110% on and off of the ice. He is always striving to improve his own skills. His team spirit is unmatched. He is always cheering on his teammates with words of support and he constantly leads cheers from the bench. He keeps the attitude fun, positive, and exciting no matter what the score is. You couldn’t ask for a more supportive team mate.

Grayzly Bears (Gray) Greta Landis Greta embodies our Grayt Grayzly spirit and has made incredible progress throughout the year. She has developed her game by putting in extra time outside of Sunday games, asking questions and welcoming feedback by turning it into progress. Regardless of the outcome of a play, an opponent’s tactic, or the score, she elevates the game to a positive place with her supportive words, wide smile, and growing love of the game. She always elevates our team and the game to a positive place, she is the Graytest! She is MGHA All the Way!

Narwhals (Lt Blue) Matthew Dorris The Narwhals are proud to have selected Mathew Dorris for the MGHA All the Way Award. He always has a positive attitude and has a real love for the game. Matthew’s positive attitude has made him a delight to play with, and his dedication is displayed in his perfect game attendance this year – even when he couldn’t skate, he was still present on the bench to cheer and coach. He constantly shows up to games with more energy than anyone else, and you can see and hear that energy in the cheers he leads throughout games. He really does embody what the MGHA is all about. Congratulations Matthew!

Snow Witte and the 14 Dwarves (White) Anna Celaya We think Anna deserves this award for her completely unflappable attitude, grace, and charm. No matter what she is positive on the ice, bench, and in the locker room. She’s a very advanced player, but takes every opportunity for inclusive play with her team. She has made so many plays happen for our newer players and helps give advice whenever needed. She’s decorated many of our team’s awards, making dwarf pucks, and helmet stickers! She’s also incredibly modest and will probably deny that she should even have been considered for this award. It’s been a lot of fun playing with her and everyone in the league benefits from her being in it.

ABBA: Gold (Yellow) Bryan Zaramba Bryan has developed quickly and takes coaching well. He’s always in there fighting for the puck, even when going up against much more experienced players, and never gives up. He is full of insightful questions to broaden his hockey knowledge, as well as to understand how best to play and contribute. He always has compliments for his teammates and is a cheerful and energizing presence on the bench. Best of all, he embraces and embodies the MGHA Way both on and off the ice.

Dancing Greens (Green)   Andi Vertz The Dancing Greens have nominated Andi Vertz as our All the Way award winner! Andi laces up their skates each week with enthusiasm and brings a positivity to the locker room that cannot be ignored. Andi has shown week after week they are not afraid to challenge opponents and make a play on the puck. Their hard work was rewarded with their first MGHA goal! Congratulations Andi!!

Can you believe our season is almost over? Honestly I feel like we just started!

But before we move on to summer (and the Classic!!) we have our Championship Night at Cap Ice. Saving the best for last! 
We have a busy night that includes taking our on ice league photo and presenting the ‘MGHA All-The-Way’ Awards.

Here is the schedule of events for the night:

4:20pm – Rink B = MaroonyTunes VS Nightfuries
4:40pm – Rink A = Arrrnge VS Madison Blues
5:40pm – Rink B = Grayzly Bears VS Red Delicious
6:00pm – Rink A = Narwhals VS Snow Witte and the 14 Dwarfs
7:30pm – Rink A = Team photo! Please arrive at least 15 minutes early with your jersey
8:00pm – Rink A = ABBA: Gold VS Dancing Greens

Because of the alternating schedule. our current schedule for scorebox doesn’t really work. To solve this, we are asking for volunteers to work a shift instead. Please, PLEASE sign up for a shift here if you are able! Keep in mind when you are playing before signing up, especially for rink A.
Scorebox

Also, Cap Ice has graciously allowed us to still host our potluck at their rink. Please sign up for a dish to pass in the link below:
Potluck Sign Up

**IMPORTANT REMINDER: We are not allowed to bring in any of our own alcohol into the rink due to the Eagles Nest having a liquor license. Thank you for following their rules!***

Let us know if you have any questions!
See you Sunday!

Hey everyone!

Hope you’re having a fantastic Saturday!

tl;dr:
– New schedules and location for March 31 and April 7 on website and Google calendar
– Can’t sub in overlapping games, alert captains if already subbing for another team
– Scorebox shifts will be adjusted, standby for that email

Full Message:
We’re coming down the home stretch of the season and with Hartmeyer going down early this season, we’re shifting our play to Cap Ice, the same venue that’ll host our MGHA Classic.  This’ll be a chance to check it out before the tournament in about a month.
That said, we’ll have some changes to the schedule and we wanted to pass those changes along to you.

You’ll see the schedule above.  Since Cap Ice has two sheets, our night will be condensed and nobody will have a super-late game.  The games at 5:30, 6:40, and 7:50 PM will play on Rink A.  The 6:00 and 7:10 PM games will be on Rink B.  Rink A is to the left and Rink B is to the right when you enter Cap Ice.

We’re working on adjusting scorebox shifts, so stay tuned for an email about that.
Also notice in the picture that we’ve adjusted the subbing procedure to account for overlapping games.  Notice that I can’t sign up for the 6 PM game because I have a game at 5:30 PM.  I can, however, sign up for the others.  When you are asked to sub by a captain, please be careful not to volunteer to sub in overlapping games.  Let them know if you’re already subbing for another team that day.

Championship night is April 7th.  We’ll also be running on two rinks.  We’ll still have the potluck.  We’ll still have the team picture.  Standby for more information on all of this coming soon.  Here’s a look at the schedule.  This will be based on the season-ending team standings.

That’s it for now.  Although we’re sad about the season ending, we’re really excited for the next two weeks!
See you at the rink,Tim (on behalf of the Board)