Hello Bend Rapids Players and Families,
I would like to thank everyone involved in the Rapids for your dedication to our community and the growth of hockey in Central Oregon. This season is shaping up to be a return to normalcy across the hockey world and we should all be thankful for the opportunity to compete again. We’ve had a running start to this season and I, for one, am excited to see what the rest of this year will bring.
Our pre-season skate sessions in Eugene over the last two weeks have been a huge success! The intensity level among the players is something I have not witnessed in past sessions. WOW! Everyone came to compete and push themselves—it was really great to see—along with huge smiles on every player’s sweaty faces. It was apparent that all involved were happy to be back on the ice and amped up for the season.
We have tryouts for our 14U and 18U teams coming up this weekend, Saturday 9/25 at 3pm and 6pm at The Rink Exchange in Eugene. Be there at least 45 minutes before your start time to get checked in and assigned a jersey. If you want to play on one of these teams this season, tryouts are MANDATORY; REGISTRATION FOR TRYOUTS is required prior to getting on the ice. We want to give every qualified player the opportunity to show their skills. If you are unable to make it to your specific tryout, please contact our Coaching Director, Eddie Estey (coaching@bendrapidsyouthhockey.org) to advise him of your situation and make other arrangements.
Below is our confirmed and finalized practice schedule; it will be added to each team’s respective calendar on SportsEngine shortly. If you have any questions, reach out to your team’s coach. We are also instituting dryland training for 10U and up. Team coaches for the 10U & 12U will be running their off-ice training; 14U and 18U will be partnering with Boss Sports Performance for age specific training, tentatively scheduled on Mondays (18U) and Wednesdays (14U) 630-745p. More details to follow soon from your coaches.
2021-2022 Bend Rapids Practice Schedule (tentatively starting on 10/19):
8U - Monday 330-430pm*, Wednesday 600-700am
10U - Monday 330-430pm*, Thursday 600-715am
*Monday afternoons for 8U/10U will last until BPRD programs begin on 1/5/2022. We are working on extra ice at the Sunriver Village Rink or Inn of the 7th Mountain. More info coming soon.
12U - Tuesday 600-730am, Thursday 630-800am
14U - Tuesday 630-800am, Friday 600-730am
18U - Wednesday 645-800am, Friday 630-800am
Lastly, I would like to update the entire community on what the future holds for the Rapids. While we have mostly been focused on getting back to a “normal” season, we have also started the process of creating a plan to focus on the organizational development of our club over the next 5 years. Using words like Growth, Inclusion, Competitiveness, Community and Partnership, we are committed to not only the players and families we have now, but the ones we have yet to meet. We have some amazing ideas that we are excited to put together and will be sharing them with the community soon. We strongly feel that the organization is on solid footing to be able to make the leap to the next phase of growth.
Like my predecessors have stated before me, it truly takes a village. Every season, our community shows what a strong village we have. I appreciate everyone’s dedication, enthusiasm and willingness to help make the Bend Rapids the best club in USA Hockey. “Rapids on 3! 1, 2, 3 … Rapids!!!”
-Aaron Olson, Chair