RISE OF THE PHOENIX

"A mythical bird that never dies, the phoenix flies far ahead to the front, always scanning the landscape and distant space.  It represents our capacity for vision, for collecting sensory information about our environment and the events unfolding within it.  The phoenix, with it's great beauty, creates intense excitement and deathless inspiration."

The phoenix was a fabulous mythical Arabian bird, said to be as large as an eagle, with brilliant scarlet and gold plumage.

The successful “Fall Session” ended for both teams the weekend of Nov. 6-8, 2009 with each hosting an Invitational Round Robin event at the Kern Center.  Visiting Milwaukee for games at the Midget Major level were the CSDHL Northwest Chargers, the Rockford Icemen and Shattuck-St. Mary’s AAA.  At the Midget Minor level, attending were Loyola Academy, Maine Township and Shattuck-St. Mary’s AA. 

Of the 24 teams that were on the two team’s “Fall Session” game schedules, 9 were Tier I (AAA) programs.  The Phoenix Force (18U) team finished with a 8-11-3 record and the Phoenix (16U) team closed out the session with a record of 10-8-4.  The players, who represented 18 different Wisconsin high schools, concluded their 22 game schedules Sunday, Nov. 8^th.  On Monday, Nov. 9^th, they all attended the tryouts for their high school teams. 

The players for both teams will return to PHOENIX HOCKEY for the "Spring Session" to compete for a USA Hockey Tier II National Championship in late February of 2010 when they complete their high school seasons.     

PHOENIX HOCKEY is a developmental "Before and After" Midget hockey program that has been in existence in various forms since the Spring of 2001. The program is designed to provide the committed high school player, who wants to excel at the high school level and beyond, with a combination of advanced skill development and a competitve (AAA) 20 game fall schedule. This program places a stronger emphasis on practices than games, and individual skill enhancement over team building. Players from 21 different high schools in Southeastern Wisconsin participated in the 2008 - 2009 program. Most of the players were from schools in the Milwaukee Metropolitan Area. Travel demands will be limited, and most games will be played within a 100 mile radius of "Home Ice" (MSOE Kern Center).

The 2009 - 2010 program will commence with a tryout for both the U18 (PHOENIX FORCE) and U16 (PHOENIX) teams in late June. The coaches will select the best 17-25 players for each team at the tryouts. Practices for both teams will begin in mid-August. Teams will practice twice a week in August and September. In October, to allow the players to join their high school teammates for "Captain's Practices", the teams will practice once a week. Games will be scheduled and played on weekends (never on Fridays except tournaments) up until the high school tryouts begin the second Monday in November. The KERN CENTER, at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, will be used by the teams for tryouts, practices and games.