Oakland Bears News - Issue 13

February 01, 2024

Oakland Bears Community News

#13, Jan/Feb 2024

January / February 2024

January is one of the busiest times of both the hockey season and my work schedule. Believe it or not I do have a day job and only do this for fun. For that reason we’re a little off schedule for the monthly update. I’ll make it up to you by including as much info as possible in this edition of the newsletter. It’s my carpool day and I’m in a rush trying to get this done before taking my kid back to practice again but such is the life…

One last thing, if you don’t have a game this weekend TAKE YOUR KID TO THE AHL ALL-STAR GAME! It’s in San Jose. There’s a special offer at the end of this email.

I’ll see you at the rink,

Jason Dearborn

The SJ Barracuda spent a morning in Oakland and ran through a full practice session. A few folks ditched school and work to come watch. I hope to see more pro players come through our rink.

We had a tremendous turnout for the Bears Family Holiday Skate.

The lobby was reconfigured to increase flow during high traffic times at the rink. Staff also gave the Stanley Keg trophy a new home.

Speaking of adult league, apparently winners from the currently-running Adult League playoffs will have their team names immortalized on the keg.

The annual Jordan Kocian Memorial Jamboree was a lot of fun. I love that players get to form teams with old friends and former teammates. Here’s a pic of my son’s team and their humorous jerseys. I mean, it’s not like we don’t have a sense of humor around here.

A project I started over the summer was finally delivered and installed! We now have a record board hanging in the lobby to highlight the achievements of our past and current Bears and inspire future players.

The board will be updated yearly at the conclusion of the USA Hockey season. A few of these records are already close to being broken!

Bears 14A Win the Irvine MLK Classic Tournament and bring home another banner!

Sign Up Today for Bay Area Bears Spring Hockey!

Brad and the gang are offering both an A/BB/B track and a AA/AAA tier track training program. Click here for full details.

Oakland Ice is excited to announce Nicholas Roby's addition to the team as the new Skating Manager. Nicholas, who began skating at the age of four, has a rich background in the sport. He has coached and taught at various levels, from beginners in the Learn to Skate program to high-level athletes competing internationally. In his new role, Nicholas will work alongside Brad to enhance our skating programs, including Hockey 1,2,3. A UC San Diego alumnus with a degree in human biology, Nicholas has always been passionate about teaching, a skill evident from his time at Sharks Ice and Escondido Ice-o-plex. After spending a decade away, he returned to the Bay Area to continue his coaching career. Outside of skating, Nicholas enjoys spending time with his wife, their pets, and engaging in hobbies like golf, cooking, and traveling. Please join us in welcoming Nicholas to the Oakland Ice Center and Team Teal!

Know The Rules

Jeff Martin

USAH Level 3 Referee since 2014

I'd like to focus on Rule 621 - High Sticks, particularly for younger players. This rule involves carrying the stick above an opponent’s shoulders and making contact. Players must always control their stick.

Penalties are as follows:

- A Minor Penalty (2 Min.) for high sticking.

- A Major and Game Misconduct Penalty (5+GM) for endangering an opponent.

- A Match Penalty for extreme recklessness.

Young players should remember never to raise their stick above their shoulders, and the crossbar isn't the height limit for high sticking. The rule applies if the stick makes contact anywhere, not just the head or shoulders.

High sticking must be called for intimidation attempts or carelessness. When a puck is played with a high stick, play stops if another attacking player touches the puck, leading to a faceoff in the offending team’s zone. If a defending player gains possession, play continues. Goals scored off a high stick, even if deflecting off the goalie, are disallowed.

There are 15 Casebook Situations for high sticking in the USA Hockey Rulebook, which are worth reviewing for a comprehensive understanding of the rule.