Rookie Awarded Season's First ESPN Player of the Week Honor

Each week our ESPN sponsor has asked that one player be named Ashar Hockey's ESPN "Player of the Week". This is to be the player who shows the most effort, focus and desire to improve.

Dave and I don't get easily impressed that often. But this kid impressed us.

He walked on the court with a goal of trying to make the 2007 team. By the end of the week he walked away with this years first ESPN Player of the Week honor.

Not every 10 or 11 year old wakes up one day to says "I need try out for a sport that has players shoot really really hard objects right me at super high speeds". This player not only wanted to try out for the Ashar Hockey Team but wanted to do so in the toughest most demanding position. Goalie.

His focus and determination just to be the teams backup goalie was impressive enough. Working together with current Frisch Hockey star and former Ashar Hockey goalie phenom Zak Rimberg , this rookie's enthusiasm and work ethic during this past week's practices makes this week's choice for ESPN Player of the Week a no brainer.

Setting the bar high.....Congratulations to this week's
ESPN PLAYER OF THE WEEK.........JASON FISCHMAN.

Jason awarded an ESPN Monday Night Football Hat courtesy of ESPN

Letter To Parents

[ The following "Letter To Parents" was written for the last years Ashar Hockey Program team. The concept remains the same today, thus I am posting this letter once again this 2007 season. ]

Dear Ashar Hockey Parent,

Congratulations! Your son has been chosen to be part of the Ashar Floor Hockey Team.

Once again, this year an extra effort has been made to go beyond the normal 14 player cut off in order to give some of the less talented, younger players a chance to develop their games. Twenty students have tried out for the team.

Twenty students displayed a desire to play and improve their games. Each one of these students showed heart and a love for the game and so a decision has been made by the coaching staff not to shatter any players dream to be on the school hockey team.

The team is definitely making a sacrifice by having these additional players. Practices now become more difficult and an extra effort must be made to help the weaker players to improve. But the players and the coaches are willing to give up a little to encourage these players.

Currently, however, not all 20 students possess the skill level needed to play in the floor hockey league in which Ashar competes. The team objective though cannot be sacrificed on game day. Although it will undoubtedly be difficult for any child to sit on the sidelines on game day, it is a valuable sporting lesson for a child to understand that the team must field its best 14 players come game time. While we will make every effort to play as many students as possible, realistically, there may be students who potentially might not see any game time this year.

I have stressed this point many times at practice. I’ve told the team honestly that some of them have made the team based on future potential, not their current ability. When asked if they would still like to be part of the team for practices even if they never got to play in a single game this year, your child raised his hand and replied yes, (as captured in the image below)an attitude and a commitment that I truly admire and respect.

Your children will have had two practices by the time you receive this letter. I don’t think you will find one child who will say that he didn’t enjoy the sweat and hard work he put into it. All of these boys are excited to be on the team and look forward to getting their team jerseys. I will not cut one of these kids. They all have what it takes to enjoy this game of hockey, and to be better players for future teams.

I encourage you to talk with your son to confirm for yourself his desire to participate on the team no matter the game time. I hope you, too, will appreciate his admirable enthusiasm for the game. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to a enjoyable hockey season with your children.

Sincerely,

Coach Steve

Ashar Hockey Program 2007 Try-Outs Results

Congratulations to the following

students who have made the

2007 Ashar Hockey Program Team.

Joshua Birnbaum, Ross Chanofsky, Joey Chesir,

Jason Fischman, Ashra Fishman, Bryan Frenkel, Donny Fuchs, Sam Gelman, Josh Gold,

Joey Katz, Michael Katznelson, Jason Klein, Shaulie Naumberg,

Ari Minsky, Maxx Rimberg, Jeremy Roseblatt, Jesse Schwalb,

Isaac Selter, Daniel Silvermintz, Elan Teichman, Yoni Winfeild.

Official Start of the 2007 Ashar Hockey Program