Time for Town league hockey draft

Town league slated to start January 4

As the Crested Butte Parks and Recreation crew struggle with Mother Nature at Big Mine Ice Arena, preseason plans are moving forward in preparation for the 2011 Town League hockey season.

 Registration for all players closes Thursday, December 16 at 5 p.m. SHARP! No late registration will be allowed.
Last year 70 players registered. As of press time on Tuesday, 35 players had registered for the upcoming season and Crested Butte Recreation Program Coordinator Lauren Alkire hopes to see that double by the time the deadline hits.
“We’d like to have six teams fully rostered,” says Alkire. “The feedback I got last year was that we should have made six teams so people get more playing time.”
As always, goalies are needed with three signed up but six total needed. The town provides the pads.
“They need their own skates for sure,” says Alkire.
Currently five local businesses are on tap as team sponsors, Brick Oven, Last Steep, Bacchanale, Eldo and Mikey’s Pizza. Captains predetermined for each team will make the selections on draft night.
In an effort to create equal teams, Alkire will be holding an official town league hockey draft at the Brick Oven on Saturday, December 18 at 8:30 p.m.
Players are rated one through five, one being a never-ever and five a former high school/collegiate all star, to give captains and Alkire an idea of what team is getting what talent to keep it fair.
“It was extremely successful last year,” says Alkire. “People said that the teams were the most even ever and it was the best town league season ever.”
While last years draft was somewhat subdued, Alkire is pumping up the event this year with prize giveaways.
“This year we’re prepared to make it a party,” says Alkire.
The season is slated to start on Tuesday, January 4, weather depending of course.