With the inaugural season behind us, the Indy Special Hockey Association is happy to announce the following improvements to the program:

1. Establishment of a Board of Directors
2. Donation from the NHL Players’ Association
3. Recommitment from DAMAR Services

In order to organize our efforts more effectively, the Indy Special Needs Hockey Association has created an administrative committee to handle the various aspects of running the operation, making wise decisions, and ensuring financial credibility and accountability. The following people have volunteered to participate in this effort:

1. Dave Carsons: Treasurer/Secretary
2. Jeff Fox: President
3. Francois Hurtubise: Director of Player Development
4. Jim Porter: Special Needs Community Liaison
5. Steve Tofaute: Donor Relations & Volunteer Coordinator

A special “Thank You” is owed to Steve Tofaute who had the original vision to start this program. It was a three year vision in the making, with many hours of lobbying, networking, and relationship building that got it off the ground for the first season in 2009. We had a core group of 10-12 players that were consistent attendees in practice.

We are happy to accept and announce that the NHL Players’ Association, through the Goals & Dreams program, has donated 30 sets of hockey gear to the program, estimated at about $15,000. This will allow new players who enter the program to have a full set of hockey equipment at no cost to them. The cost of hockey equipment is oftentimes a prohibiting factor in young people getting involved in the sport. This donation by the NHLPA removes that barrier. A big THANK YOU goes out to our contacts with the NHLPA.

During the 2009 Inaugural Season, financial support from DAMAR Services was critical in making the entire program work. Due to their support, over 15 players were able to play hockey in full equipment for 10 weeks. The players paid nothing for the equipment. They paid nothing for the ice time. These costs were fully covered by DAMAR Services. Thank you to Jim Porter, Activities Director, and to Dave Dewitt, Director of Advancement, for your financial support, but also for your shared passion and vision to give these players a rare opportunity to play the “Coolest Game on Earth.”

As we plan for the 2010 season, we’re happy to partner once again with DAMAR Services to provide the opportunity to play ice-hockey for people with special needs. While DAMAR provides financial resources and participants, Indy Special Hockey Association provides the certified coaching staff and practice format that teaches the game. It is a mutually beneficial relationship in that the players benefit by learning and exercise, but the coaches also benefit because they love the game and want others to acquire the passion they have. Nothing is more satisfying than to see a novice player learn new skills as the season progresses.

The first season for the Indy DAMAR Twisters hockey program is in the rear view mirror and it was a huge success! The season started with little funding and a large roster. With the hard work of some dedicated volunteers and some generous donors we were able to outfit some thirty skaters head to toe. The funding moved slowly but steadily with donors giving from fundraising skates to some private donors giving for equipment. The outfitting of the skaters was a daunting task but one the volunteers were up to. Once a player was assigned a bag full of equipment they were required to maintain it by putting all the equipment back in their bags after practice and getting it from the equipment room to the locker room. The players learned the proper way to dress and the order needed to facilitate it. At the end of our season the skaters were well versed in the proper on ice behavior and all progressed farther than we could have expected!

To see a six year old boy who could hardly stand in the beginning skate with the puck form end to end without falling was truly amazing. The teenagers we started with in the beginning of the season who could skate had little idea of how to play ice hockey. Through the length of the season these players gave a ton of effort and grew into good players with a team ethic. The ability of these kids to pull together and help each other was amazing. Every volunteer who was there for the season saw great improvement and all felt a sense of satisfaction. The players gave their all and all grew from the experience.

The plans for next season have already begun! The grant writing department at DAMAR Services has been busy and as a result we are poised to have much more funding for equipment and ice time. The addition of some key coaching help midway through the last season has us poised for an even better season next September. We are in the process of inventory on our equipment, recruiting new skaters and adding funding. The Carmel Ice Skadium has been in contact with us to schedule ice times and we are getting ready to put up an information bulletin board at the Skadium. Should you have any leads for new skaters please feel free to get in touch with us via our web site. Late September early November we will be doing another skate-a-thon to raise money and awareness of our program. We hope to see you there!

Thank you to all who helped make this past season such a huge success!

Steve Tofaute
Volunteer Coordinator

It’s official- On February 12th 2010 we will be having a promotional night with the Indiana Ice! We will be selling tickets and getting a portion of the proceeds. We will have a team table there and will be selling t-shirts as well as pucks for a chuck-a-puck! Chuck-a-puck is where you buy a puck for a certain amount and in-between the second and third periods you will be prompted by the announcer to throw them on the ice. Should they land on some designated places you will win a prize. All the proceeds go to our program from this promotion. There will also be a raffle of a jersey and we will get a portion of that too!

The most exciting news is that we will get a chance to go on the ice between the periods to skate and show how we skate! The kids will do some drills and probably do a breakaway competition. The entire group will be guests of the Indiana Ice and have free tickets for the game. The possibility of getting to visit the locker room after an ICE win is also something to be excited about! We will welcome all of the DAMAR Services team to the game and will have a VIP party deck for our supporters. All of the people who have made this possible will be in attendance from DAMAR Services and the public. We hope to see you there as well!

Please help us make this night a success by going to the Indiana Ice web site soon and purchasing advance tickets for this night. We will be adding the flyer to our site as soon as we get it from the Indiana Ice graphic arts design team. In the mean time we hope you have a happy holidays and a great new year!

On behalf of the entire Indy DAMAR Twisters organization Thank You for your support!

Steve Tofaute
Volunteer Coordinator

As of today the season for the Twisters Special Hockey team will begin on December 6th with our first practice. The practice will be held at the Arctic Zone ice rink in Westfield. As of today November 5th we have 27 skaters who will make up the first team of the Indy DAMAR Twisters. This is way more than initially expected and would make us even more diverse. The coaching staff is engaged in all our clearances and the uniforms are ordered. Now we need to equip our skaters to begin on ice activity. Should you have any equipment you are not using that might help our program to advance please contact us and we will be glad to meet you to take it off your hands. The Carmel Ice Skadium as usual has been extremely helpful!

The Indianapolis Youth Hockey Association (IYHA) voted unanimously to pick up our program and affiliate us with them. The IYHA has been a leader in youth hockey in Indiana for over 40 years and with their help we will thrive as they have for so long. The IYHA has been at Carmel for as long and as we are a part of their organization the equipment exchanges and help will be invaluable. A special thanks goes out to Mrs. Mills of USA Hockey and the IYHA for her help in bringing this into the fold!

On October 11th the first annual Twisterthon took place at the Carmel Ice Skadium. The event was not greatly attended by the public but that didn't stop our athletes from coming out and having a ball. The total of special needs skaters was 27! The number of skaters could reflect the size of the first team of Twisters to be assembled. Twisters volunteer coordinator Steve Tofaute was quoted as saying: "I was blown away by the number of kids who want to start this team and came today! The volunteers and parents were here and all were ready to jump behind this program full force. We are blessed with a group of coaches who will help develope our skaters and build this team. i couldn't have been happier." The current economic situation being what it is we raised almost a thousand dollars but the money was an after thought. The kids skated and had a blast!