Philosophy and commitment
The Ice Hawks organization is dedicated to providing players with the skills, attitudes, and experiences to succeed at the collegiate level and to reach full academic, social, and athletic potential. In the past 12 years over 150 players have moved to advanced Junior, College and Professional ranks. The coaching and administrative staff is committed to player development on and off the ice. In addition to hockey skill development, players are oriented to pursue higher education and to achieve social maturity. Players are encouraged to and afforded opportunities to participate in community service projects to and other activities to prepare them for success at the college level.
Who we are
The Ice Hawks celebrate their 13th Anniversary in Junior Hockey during the 2008-2009 season. As a Non Profit Organization, the team’s sole focus and commitment is to player development and to college advancement. The Ice Hawks are affiliated with USA Hockey and enthusiastically endorse its goals and values.
Rochester’s Hockey Tradition
The Minnesota Ice Hawks are the latest entry into the Rochester hockey scene. Hockey in Rochester has roots to the old USHL Senior Professional League. Hockey icons such as 1980 Olympic Coach- Herb Brooks, Former NHL Coach- Lou Nanne and others made the Rochester Mustangs a hockey power. The USHL’s Rochester Mustangs became one of the best amateur development programs in the country winning 2 National Championships and graduated numerous players and coaches to college and professional programs. Prominent coaches to advance included former USA Olympic Coach Lou Vairo, Air Force’s Head Coach Frank Serratore, and Former NHL Coach Kevin Constintine among others. In May of 2002, the Ice Hawks moved from LeSueur (the Mankato/St.Peter, MN area) to Rochester to fill the void left when the USHL’s Mustangs ceased operations. The region has a rich hockey environment with 17 D-III Colleges; 6 D-I Colleges; 9 College/University Club Teams (ACHA); 4 Tier I Jr. Teams (USHL); Tier II Jr. Teams (NAHL) and 9 Tier III Jr.programs. The Ice Hawks and Rochester’s high schools are heavily scouted.
Athletic Training and Access to Medical Services
The Ice Hawks contract with the Mayo Clinic’s Sports Medicine Clinic to provide Athletic Trainer services. In addition, the Ice Hawks are fortunate to have Dr. Michael Stuart of the Mayo Clinic serve as their team physician. Dr. Stuart is the Chief Medical Officer for USA Hockey and a consultant to the NHL Hockey Players Association. Dr. Stuart and his colleagues are available at all home games to attend to injuries and are able to see players as needed at their Clinic offices.
The City
Rochester, MN is a modern, dynamic city with a population of 86,000 (113,000 with suburbs). Surrounded by rolling farmlands in the Zumbro River Valley, scenic Rochester has been named one of the top three livable U.S. cities by Money magazine five years running. Located in the southeast corner of Minnesota, Rochester a wonderful place to live and an outstanding place to play hockey. The city is visited by 1.5 million people yearly, is known for the shortest average commute time in the US (14 minutes). The city hosts the world famous Mayo Clinic and IBM and is a major shopping, entertainment and education center. Add these benefits to a low crime rate and an exceptional school system, and it's easy to see why Rochester is considered among the nation's top places to live. With parks, trout streams, Amish farms and the Twin Cities just 80 miles away, Rochester residents have the best of town and country.
Rochester Olmstead Recreation Center
Home games and practices are held at the Rochester Olmstead Recreation Center. The ‘REC’ has a seating capacity of 2,600 and houses two regulation hockey rinks, an Olympic swimming and diving pool and a gym. The Ice Hawks facilities include a large professional style, permanent locker room with individual built-in wooden players’ lockers, storage rooms, trainer’s room, and equipment room with skate sharpening, training facilities nearby and an administrative office. The Ice Hawks facilities, arguably the best in MJHL and among the best in all of Jr. hockey! The Ice Hawks weight and conditioning set up is conveniently located 5 minutes from the rink. On ice practices are scheduled 5 days per week. In addition, dry land, conditioning and weight training sessions are scheduled on several late afternoons or early evenings on non-game days. The average week will see the Ice Hawks on the ice 6 days a week.
Employment/High School/College
Ice Hawk players are required to work or to go to school. There are many part time employment opportunities available to players. These part time positions provide players with funds to help with playing costs and living expenses. In the event that players are not involved in part time employment, they are expected to participate in weekly volunteer activities in the community. Rochester’s three public high schools and one private (Catholic) school cooperate with the Ice Hawks in establishing schedules to accommodate players’ needs. Century, John Marshall and Mayo high schools are public schools and do not charge tuition to either in state or out-of- state residents. Lourdes High School is a private Catholic high school and does charge tuition. Several college opportunities are available to players. Rochester Community and Technical College is a two-year college that offers a variety of general education offerings, which are transferable to other colleges and universities. Both the University of Minnesota and Winona State University offer satellite campus programs in Rochester. NCAA allows students to take up to 11 credits per quarter without affecting eligibility.
Media Coverage and Fan Support
Unlike most metropolitan areas where large newspapers and the radio/TV media ignore non-professional sports, the Rochester area is well covered by the local media. The Rochester Post-Bulletin covers games and carries features on the club and its personnel. Rochester’s radio, TV stations and local cable service provide coverage. KTTC (NBC) & KAAL (ABC) feature highlights of home games and feature interviews with coaches and players. The Ice Hawks receive outstanding exposure! No Jr. A III team in the country receives the press and TV coverage that the Ice Hawks receive. The Hawks Nest fan club sponsors fan bus trips, fund raising raffles for National Tournament expenses and social gatherings for players and families. The Hawks Nest Club sections at the Rec provide loud and enthusiastic support for their team! Rochester loves its Ice Hawks: Attendance last season ranged 1,200 – 1,400 fans per game and has increased each of the seasons in Rochester. Last season Hawks fans packed the ‘Rec’ with 2,000 fans 4 times for special events.
Housing
All players are housed in the community by ‘host families’. Most housing families have children who currently or formerly have been involved in youth hockey. They enjoy the opportunity to help an Ice Hawks player while at the same time having a young man around who will serve as a good role model for their own or other children in the community. Players are treated as members of the host parents’ family and quickly become part of the family and of the Rochester community. Strong friendships are formed between players and families. Many maintain close relationships in the future. Living away from home is an important part of a player’s social and emotional development. Players learn to be accountable and responsible for their actions and it sensitizes them to the needs and experiences of others in their surroundings.