The Tomcat Board of Directors met to discuss the year and plan for the next. Special thanks to Soupy for hosting at his cool new man cave.
In Attendance were:
Soupy, Shack, Falcon, Green Giant, Kamikaze, Hurricane, Snowpants, Bender, Chico and Rocky.
Here are the highlights of the meeting:
– Finances – In a good spot but hall costs have gone up, as well as other incidental costs throughout the year.
– Hall Situation – There is a possibility the hall will go for sale. What does that mean? We have no idea but we need to think about potential other locations to call home. Several ideas were pitched. If everyone could put their feelers out, that would be good in case we are forced down that path.
– Start and End of 2023-2024 Season – We will kickoff on Tuesday September 12th and Wrap up April 16th
– Costs – As mentioned already, hall costs have gone up. In some cases, where we have low turnout on a Tuesday, we actually lose money that night. As such, slight increase to start of the year for full time players. $55 to start, still $5 per night.
– Tournament – Saturday February 24, 2024. Slight increase of costs here as well…$25 instead of $20 plus pizza. A
And for the first time, captains will not be chosen, but instead we will ask Tomcats no longer playing to serve as coaches and draft teams and run the teams from the bench! Several suggested Coaches could be Stevo, Hollywood, Cribzie, The Rake, etc. no obligation for the coaches to pay for new shirts. We have lots of shirts for teams to wear without the additional costs.
Also a first, a new format will be piloted. The 4 teams will play a round robin so every team plays every other team (3 games per team). Then, based on results, teams are seated 1 through 4 for a playoff round. 1 plays 4 and 2 plays 3. Winners go into championship game. This will result in more games than original format, but slightly less than the format used this past February. A happy medium. Round robin games will be 10 minute periods. Playoff round games will be 12 minute periods.
– Rules – Any stoppage of play where one team is awarded the ball, the ball must be passed in and cannot be a direct shot on goal.
We will also reinforce that after play stoppage, both teams get time to set up. This does not include after goalie makes save and gives ball to player behind net. That is a live ball.
Snapshots are KNEE height. Anything above the shooters knee is not allowed.
– Special Nights – We want to have at least one special night in the fall and one in the Winter/spring. Big Net night will be one of them, but open to ideas for another (Toronto vs Detroit, Old vs Young, etc.)
– Events – We will still do Christmas pizza party on last night in December. Soupy will also arrange a gathering at a bar with significant others during the holiday season. Snowpants will arrange Tomcat golf. Stay tuned for this year’s tournament announcement. Bender to look into renting a suite for our farm team, the Windsor Spitfires. Let’s go watch our next generation get ready for their eventual Tomcats career!
The Outdoor Game may return as the final night of hockey in April. We will look for a reasonable size venue as Lansbarry is too large without skates on your feet.
Bender will seek out Tomcats willing to take part in the road hockey summer tournament in Windsor. It is a huge event so any Tomcat interested, discuss with Bender.
Finally, Chico to establish a year long 50/50 pool to help generate funds to buy a defib machine. Safety first and we are getting older as a group.
– Recruiting – We want to keep a stream of good guys coming out, first as guests, then as part-time with eventual full time as required to replenish the ranks. If you have a friend (or son) that would be a good fit, let Rocky know and we will find nights to plug them in. A couple of guests came out this past season and could be good long term players (The Professor, Splitter).
And speaking of recruiting, Rocky announced that over the next couple of seasons, he will start to mentor and transition the President duties. Future leadership needs to be established so a long transition should begin. Early word is that Soupy is a contender. Get your “Vote for Soupy, Make Tomcats Great Again” bumper stickers ready!
If the hall is still an option, we will solicit some Tomcats to come to the hall in August for a Clean and Fix event to get things ready. Hopefully volunteers who have not helped out previously will join the regulars and pitch in.
That is all for now. Look out for announcements on summer events and keep training hard this off-season
Oh, one more thing. Green Giant feels “Tomcats Forever” was not sung enough this season. He has been appointed Director of Ziggy Zaggy Ziggy Zaggy and will be responsible to ensure it comes out more often. Of course, he will relinquish Ziggy Zaggy duties if Hollywood is in attendance.
Tomcats Forever!
Tomcat Board of Directors
Windsor Tomcats 