This will be the largest of its kind, at least in California as the OC Register article says. Wow. We have officially made it California hockey natives! They have these facilities scattered around the USA, but this facility will undoubtedly play host for all-age tournaments in the coming years. Finally, we will not have to trek to our neighbor's rinks up North or on the East Coast to see some seriously competitive puck take place. This facility will officially cement Orange County on the map as a burgeoning "hockey town".
MĀVIN Hockey Co. is proud to be of the first teams registered on the waiting list ready to play some glorious beer league hockey come Q4 2018. Let's go!
]]>According to the USA Hockey data for 8U participation for 2017 the numbers have surged to record highs around the USA. Notably, California had an increase of +716.
"...COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Hockey today announced a record 115,694 participants at the 8-and-Under level for the 2016-17 season, setting a new standard in the national governing body’s 80-year history.
The total includes a record number of first-year 8U participants (52,076), a record number of returning 8U participants (63,618) and a record number of female 8U participants (20,558).
The results marked USA Hockey’s third consecutive year-over-year 8U participation increase and seventh consecutive year exceeding 100,000 participants at the 8U level.
“We’re delighted to report another year of record growth in our 8U player pool and we’re excited about what that means for the future of American hockey,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey.
The record 8U participation total represented an increase of nearly 8,000 players, a boost due in part to a new Learn to Play program launched by the NHL and NHLPA with support from USA Hockey.
Measured by USA Hockey affiliate, the Potomac Valley, consisting of Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia (+1,230), showed the largest year-over-year 8U participation gains, followed by New York (+738) and California (+716).
This is exciting news for California. I wonder what these numbers will look like next year, if perhaps, The Anaheim Ducks were able to win a second Stanley Cup?
Keep up the good work USA Hockey & thank you to all the parents that make 8U hockey possible for these lucky kids!
Cheers,
KG
Anyway, it has become more and more apparent to me how similar hockey equipment is to craft beer. Craft beer you say? Yes, indeed.
Now, is it a coincidence that many of us have a deep love for both of these things? No, probably not. However, there is striking resemblance between the two these days. Let me explain why.
According to the History of Craft Breweries at the www.brewerassociation.org
Momentum began to pick up for the microbrewing phenomenon in the early- to mid-1990s with annual volume growth increasing from 35 percent in 1991, to a high of 58 percent in 1995. Craft brewer volume growth slowed to between 1 and 5 percent annually between 1997 and 2003.
2004 saw an acceleration of craft brewer sales with annual growth percentages for the craft segment of between six and 12 percent each year from 2004 through 2008, as beer drinkers increasingly connected with small and independent breweries and local breweries.
Craft Brewers have succeeded in establishing high levels of quality, consistency and innovation, expanding the minds of the beer consumers and creating the most diverse brewing culture in the world. While craft brewers only had four percent of the U.S. beer sales in 2008, there is a tremendous upside for beer drinkers and craft brewers.
The number of craft brewers has gone from eight in 1980, to 537 in 1994, to over 2,800 in 2013. The number of breweries in planning is skyrocketing. As of June 1, 2013, there are more than 1,500 breweries in development in the U.S.
I think the two keys to this are number one, craft brewers were successful in establishing high levels of quality, consistency and innovation completely on their own. This is also happening in the hockey equipment space. New, young companies are developing innovative and respectable products at reasonable and competitive prices. The second is that they were "serving" their local communities. This is also true in hockey, companies are popping up all over the place and they are serving their local communities with whatever needs were not being met (equipment, soft goods, services, etc.). Here at MĀVIN we are also trying to do just that as well, deliver innovative and quality hockey products to our local friends and family!
No matter what equipment you use, it's an exciting time to be a consumer in a sport that has historically been difficult to afford for many. However, I envision a future where any kid, from any situation, can have access to quality equipment to fully enjoy the sport we all love.... and that, friends, is a future I think we can all raise a beer for.
Cheers,
KG
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