May 21, 2008

Baby Loves Disco

Suburban Sports Group is preparing to boogie at the Baby Loves Disco event at the Eden Nightclub & Ultralounge in Ferndale on Saturday, May 31 from 1 – 4 p.m. The Eden Nightclub is located at 22061 Woodward Avenue. This family oriented community event will include Suburban Hockey’s mascot’s Suburban Steve and Snowplow Sam who will be dancing up a storm while other Suburban Sports Group dance team members share information on our summer hockey schools as well as learn to play and learn to skate programs. Baby Loves Disco is an afternoon dance party for young children (6 months – 7 year olds) and their parents that features music spun by DJ Ryan Richards. For more information or to purchase Baby Loves Disco tickets, visit www.babylovesdisco.com. The cost of the event is $12 per person.

February 19, 2008

Learn to Check with Suburban Hockey

Checking Clinics scheduled across the state.

Suburban Hockey Schools will conduct the highly popular Learn to Check clinics at several locations prior to the spring hockey season, including Kensington Valley Ice House in Brighton (March 18), Dearborn Ice Skating Center (March 19), Lakeland Arena (March 20), Birmingham Ice Arena (March 26), Suburban Ice – Farmington Hills (March 27 & 30), Suburban Ice – Macomb (March 31 & April 8), Ice Box Sports Center (April 1), Novi Ice Arena (April 2), Onyx-Rochester Ice Arena (April 2) and St. Clair Shores Civic Arena (April 3).

The program is geared toward squirt players moving up to the pee wee level, as well as pee wee and bantam players who need instruction on the techniques of checking. Areas of emphasis in the two-hour instructional session include proper checking technique, how to receive a check, how to avoid a check, stick checking, back checking, angling and body positioning.

This is an extremely popular program for players ages 11-14 and there is limited enrollment. For more information on the checking clinics or any other Suburban Hockey program, contact (248) 478-1600 or visit www.suburbanhockey.com.

Suburban Hockey Schools’ mission since 1974 is to provide an instructional experience that allows a student to improve their skills, knowledge of the game and overall self-confidence as it relates to the game through a “positive” learning experience.

About Suburban Sports Group

Based in Farmington Hills, MI Suburban Sports Group (www.suburbansportsgroup.com) owns, operates and manages full-service sports and entertainment facilities.  In addition, Suburban Sports Group continues to provide world-class training, education, periodicals and programming for ice sports through Suburban Sports Communications and Suburban Hockey Schools.

FIFTY-TWO PLAYERS PARTICIPATED IN A FREE “HAVE FUN, PLAY HOCKEY” CLINIC AT NOVI ICE ARENA DURING HOCKEY DAY IN MICHIGAN CELEBRATIONS

Boys and girls ages 5-11 experienced the fun of organized hockey for the first time at no charge.

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich.,  The CCHA, FSN, RBK, the Detroit Red Wings and Perani’s Hockey World hosted 52 boys and girls to a “Have Fun, Play Hockey” clinic at Novi Ice Arena on Saturday, February 16 - Hockey Day in Michigan. The free clinic was open to boys and girls who pre-registered and have never played organized hockey before.

All equipment including skates and a stick were provided to participants.  Members of the Michigan IceBreakers, Farmington Hills high school and Northville high school hockey teams were on hand to mentor players on and off the ice.

“We are really excited to be able to offer more boys and girls an opportunity to experience the fun of hockey for the first time for free in these ‘Have Fun, Play Hockey’ clinics,” commented CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos.  “Our first two years of launching and celebrating ‘Hockey Day’ has been absolutely excellent and we expect the scale and profile of the celebration will continue to grow each year.”  

Novi Ice Arena also celebrated Hockey Day in Michigan with a Skills Competition featuring fastest skater, accuracy shooting and hardest shot for players at the Mite through Bantam age groups.

Hockey Day in Michigan is a statewide celebration of the passion, fun and friendships that make hockey such an important part of our sports landscape.

November 21, 2007

Three Teams Go Undefeated in Metro High School Invitational

Two Northville players named to All-Tournament Team.

Northville, Livonia Stevenson and Livonia Churchill went undefeated in the two-game round robin Metro High School Invitational presented by Suburban Acura/Honda at Novi Ice Arena last weekend.

Northville defeated South Lyon, 3-1, Friday night before topping Novi, 2-1, Saturday. Livonia Stevenson shutout Utica Eisenhower, 8-0, and scored another eight goals in an 8-1 win over Walled Lake Western. Livonia Churchill routed Novi, 7-2, Friday and defeated Utica Eisenhower, 10-2, Saturday.

Northville and Livonia Churchill each had two players on the RBK/CCM All-Metro Team. Livonia Churchill Charger forward Nathan Milam scored a hat trick and an assist against Novi before recording four goals and two assists against Utica Eisenhower to earn his spot on the all-tournament team. Charger defenseman Nick Harakas joined Milam on the team with two assists. Livonia Stevenson’s Mike Voran scored two goals and added four assists for the Spartans’ two victories.

Northville forward Alex Brewin scored twice and added a helper to earn the all-tournament honor. Teammate Ted Keranen, a goaltender, was also named to the team. Defenseman Jake Jossey of Plymouth struck for two goals and two assists to round out the RBK/CCM All-Metro Team.  

In other scores, Plymouth doubled Walled Lake Western, 6-3, on Friday night before falling, 5-2, to South Lyon on Saturday.

Special thanks go to Maria’s Deli for providing team meals, RBK for furnishing the All-Tournament Team awards, and the Summit Sports for the ongoing support.

September 21, 2007
Enter to Win Disney on Ice “Finding Nemo” Tickets at Novi Ice Arena
Learn to Skate participants to receive a special discount on tickets.

Novi Ice Arena will be giving away three sets of four tickets to the Disney on Ice show “Finding Nemo”, which runs from October 17-21 at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The winners will be selected in a drawing on Oct. 6.

Learn to Skate participants who are interested in purchasing tickets will receive a special discount. Call Novi Ice Arena at (248) 347-1010 for more information.

For more information on Disney on Ice, visit www.disneyonice.com.

To purchase tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.

Novi Ice Arena restoration efforts begin

Most operations to resume Tuesday, August 21

NOVI, Michigan, August 15, 2007 – City staff and insurance adjustors have been working since last week’s fire to reopen a refreshed and clean Novi Ice Arena as safely and as soon as possible.

On August 8, 2007, an ice resurfacing machine was clearing the ice at the Novi Ice Arena, located at 42400 Arena Drive, when a hydraulic leak ignited.  Players on break and the machine driver witnessed the fire and the arena was smoothly evacuated.  A crowd of approximately 150 people, including players, coaches, parents and staff, were in the ice arena at the time of the incident.  No injuries were reported. 

Since August 8, City of Novi staff has worked with insurance adjustors and met with restoration organizations to best determine clean-up efforts.  There was extensive smoke damage throughout the building.  The City worked with adjustors to get a number of competitive proposals and has contracted with Statewide Restoration.  Work is beginning to restore the facility.  It is anticipated that most Novi Ice Arena operations (including one surface, dance studio and administrative offices) will resume on Tuesday, August 21, 2007.  Full operation of the arena is expected to resume on Monday, August 27, 2007. 

The ice resurfacing machine was purchased in August 2004.  It was most recently inspected and serviced in late July 2007.  Insurance adjustors assess damage to the ice resurfacing machine a total loss, estimating it at $50,000 to $60,000.  Assessed damages to the ice arena are more than $200,000. 

Updates regarding ice arena operations will be posted on the City of Novi’s website at cityofnovi.org.  All inquiries regarding league play and practice times can be directed to the Suburban Sports Group at (248) 478-1600.  The City of Novi contracts with the Suburban Sports Group to manage and operate the Novi Ice Arena.  Arrangements have been made wherever possible for alternate venues during the clean-up. 

The Novi Ice Arena opened in September 1998. This multi-surface facility offers two NHL-regulation sized ice sheets, seating capacities of 750 and 200, heated viewing areas, a pro shop, concessions, skate rental and meeting space. The facility is host to a variety of programs, including the Novi Youth Hockey Association, Skating Club of Novi, Novi High School and Northville High School hockey teams, and adult hockey leagues, as well as open skating and learn to skate programs.  The City of Novi also operates a dance studio out of this facility. 

July 19, 2007
Tune Up Your Game this Summer with Suburban Hockey Schools
SHS is Michigan’s power skating and hockey school leader since 1974.

Registrations are still being accepted for the Suburban Hockey Schools Summer programs. Classes continue July 23 at Suburban Ice - Farmington Hills, the Onyx-Rochester Ice Arena and Novi Ice Arena. Summer programs continue throughout August at St. Clair Shores Civic Arena, Suburban Ice-Macomb and Birmingham Ice Arena.

Suburban Ice - Farmington Hills and the Onyx will both hold Squirt Skillbuilder and Pee Wee/Bantam Finishing Schools July 23-27. Novi Ice Arena is running four programs during the fourth week of July including: Mite Power Skating, Defense School, Fundamental Goalie and Advanced Goalie classes.

Mite Power Skating classes are being held at Suburban Ice - Farmington Hills, the Onyx and Suburban Ice - Macomb on July 30 - August 3. During that same time period, Novi is managing three programs including: Mite Hockey, Squirt Skillbuilder and Pee Wee/Bantam Finishing School.

On August 6-10, Suburban Ice - Farmington Hills and the Onyx will offer Mite Hockey School and Power Skating (ages 9-12). St. Clair Shores Ice Arena will offer Mite Power Skating, while Suburban Ice - Macomb is holding three programs: Squirt Skillbuilder, Pee Wee/Bantam Finishing School and Mite Hockey School.

Suburban-trained instructors, including those with professional and college coaching and playing experience, will lead these programs. Classes are open to players of all ability levels. All classes have limited enrollment, with a 6 student-to-1 instructor ratio (even lower in the goaltending program!).

Classes are filling fast! Call (248) 478-1600 or visit www.suburbanhockey.com today for more information or to register. Don't forget to ask about multiple class, family and team discounts as well as our mite and goalie combos!