IYHA Jr Fuel Families and Friends,

As we all embrace the cold weather and get into the routine of regular season hockey, we’d like to thank you for being a part of the new IYHA Jr Fuel for the 2019-2020 season. Jr Fuel travel teams are off to a hot start. Fuel Tank and Pop Weaver House league teams are assigned and competing on Saturdays. The temporary Carmel House program is sharpening their skills in anticipation of the revamped Ice Skadium’s opening next month. 

A couple of weeks ago USA Hockey announced a change in the mandatory suspension for language that is offensive, hateful or discriminatory in nature anywhere in the rink, before, during or after a game. Violation of rule 601(e.3) now carries a mandatory Match Penalty, which means the player is suspended until their disciplinary hearing that will take place within 30 days of the incident. 

The IYHA Jr Fuel strives to promote an inclusive environment where our players are judged by their sportsmanship, fair play, work ethic and competitive spirit, and not for their ethnicity, skin color, gender, sexuality, religion or socioeconomic status. 

While USA Hockey’s policy addresses only incidents that occur during games, the IYHA Jr Fuel will strictly enforce a Zero Tolerance policy toward the above language and actions at all IYHA sanctioned events and on social media. 

Parents, we ask that you please have conversations with your players and emphasize the impact their words can have on their teammates, opponents and officials. Remind them that offensive language on the ice, in the rink lobby, in the locker room or on their mobile device will be investigated and appropriately punished according to the rules set out by USA Hockey and Safe Sport. This is a Zero Tolerance Policy. Language deemed inappropriate will be disciplined as outlined in our procedures and USA Hockey Bylaw 10. 

Thank you for your cooperation. See you at the rink!