Background on the Florida
Hockey Alliance:
Tier 1 Hockey in Our State
Tier 1 Hockey in Florida has been
an ongoing challenge for SAHOF and a few of the stronger
Florida Organizations. This season, SAHOF has made the decision
to adopt a new policy regarding tier 1 Hockey in our State.
The main factors affecting both FJP and SFGW programs are:
SAHOF desires Tier 1 Hockey be more geographically based,
limited to only three teams at any one level. SAHOF has
also mandated that any interested program apply in writing
for approval for tier 1 status and cannot publically announce
a tier 1 program or conduct tryouts until the SAHOF Tier
1 Committee has reviewed all applications for Tier 1 and
has granted tier 1 status to a program. Currently only 2
programs in State have been granted Tier 1 status these
are: Florida Alliance and Everblades AAA.
Purpose of the Alliance
For years the Florida Jr. Panthers
(FJP) and the South Florida Golden Wolves (SFGW) have been
two of the premium organizations in the state, consistently
winning States and sending teams to Districts and Nationals
at Tier I & II. Both organizations have also helped
send nearly 80 Florida raised hockey players onto various
NCAA, OHL, USHL, NAHL, EJHL, AJHL and Prep teams.
In the past 5 years we’ve seen the FJP and SFGW field
Tier I teams and have had limited success being that neither
organization has truly been deep enough to compete and win
against the top Tier I talent in the country. In doing so,
both organizations have had healthy competition between
each other raising the bar in the state and doing an excellent
job developing the upper level Tier II players and the lower
level Tier I players. However, we have seen both programs
lose some of the top level Tier I talent to teams up north
due to different reasons.
One of the big reasons the top level Tier I players are
leaving the state is that they don’t feel adequately
challenged playing in an over diluted Tier I state. It is
now time to take the next step. With the FJP and the SFGW
joining forces, we enable the top talent from both organizations
to play together and develop to a higher level.
Impact on Jr Panthers and
Golden Wolves Programs
Both the Florida JR. Panthers and the South Florida Golden
Wolves will continue to operate as independent organizations.
Each program will remain as a Tier 2 organization and will
only field Tier 2 level teams for 2008-09 season. Either
program may field “minor” tournament teams to
compete in selected Tier 1 events. These teams must consist
of all first year players and may not be National Tier 1
bound but may operate as National Tier 2 bound teams (pending
approval by State League and SAHOF). No Mite or Squirt team
shall be classified as a tier 1 team as per SAHOF guidelines.
Both organizations and arenas have agreed to not allow independent
Tier 1 teams to operate in its program or facility.
Practices
The Panthers Alliance being a Tier I program would practice
3 times a week. This would include one hour of on-ice practice
3 days a week. In addition Coaches may incorporate a dryland
regiment as needed. Practices will be either @ Incredible
Ice in Coral Springs and Pines Ice Arena in Pembroke Pines.
Actual practice times and logistics would be coordinated
with enough advanced notice to give amply time for families
to adjust their schedules.
Game/Schedules
All practice, game and tournament schedules will be determined
by Directorship along with the Head Coach of each team.
Jerseys and Apparel
The Panthers Alliance will wear the Official “NHL”
Panthers Style Jersey utilizing
the “Alliance” logo. Players are required following
“mandatory” equipment: Home/Away Jerseys, socks
and a team warm up suit. Other official “Alliance”
gear shall be offered for sale like bags, hockey pant shells,
shirts, caps, fleeces through the Incredible Ice pro-shop.
Player Selection or Release
The Panthers Alliance is committed to establishing the most
competitive teams. This means we will select the players
that we feel will accomplish the goals of the program through
team chemistry, hard work, dedication and talent. Players
chosen to alliance teams must commit in a timely manner
by completing necessary player information sheet and contract
as well as making payment to program. Players being released
from the Alliance tryouts are encouraged to try out for
Tier 2 team with either the Florida JR. Panthers or Golden
Wolves. Players choosing to tryout for Tier 2 teams in either
organization must pay for that tryout process.
