Fall Learn to Play Registration Opens Friday, September 17th

Twin Bridges Lightning is excited to introduce your child to hockey!

Our FREE Learn to Play program offers you the chance to try the sport without a major investment of time... or money. 

Registration opens Friday, September 17th at 9 a.m. for the fall session. 

Here are the dates, times and location:

October 30, 2021 8 - 9 am East Alton Ice Arena

November 6, 2021 8 - 9 am East Alton Ice Arena

November 13, 2021 8 - 9 am East Alton Ice Arena

November 20, 2021 8 - 9 am East Alton Ice Arena

December 4, 2021 8 - 9 am East Alton Ice Arena

Before registering, please go to the link below for more information, including instructions for signing up with USA Hockey and to download some required documents.

Twin Bridges Lightning Learn to Play Fall 2021

Please feel free to share this information with other families in our region.  We look forward to seeing you at the rink in October!

TBL/Blues Hat Fundraiser

TBL is partnering with the St. Louis Blues for a hat fundraiser.

Each hat will cost $30 with a $5 per hat profit.

The hats will be available until the end of September. The link to order is below.

Twin Bridges Lightning Hat Fundraiser

If any one would like to collect individual orders and turn them into Jenn McHatton by September 27 she can turn in an individual order and that order can be for a player specific profit.

Please see the link to the form below.

Cash is due at the time the forms are turned in.

Individual Order Form

8U Practice Groups and Ice Times

Here are the 8u group assignments and practice times for this week/weekend.

Group 1: 9/9 at 6:15pm EA

Group 2: 9/11 at 8:00am EA

Group 3: 9/11 at 9:15am EA

Group 1: 9/11 at 10:30am EA

Group 2: 9/12 at 10:30am IZ

Group 3: 9/12 at 11:40am IZ

8U Practice Groups

Equipment 101: Sizing Skates

Buying skates can be a big investment. 

Getting the right skates can make a significant difference when it comes to comfort, athlete health, and performance.   

What you buy, is really up to your player's feet as this article explains:

Hockey Skate Sizing Guide

More Tips for Using the Website and Crossbar App

Our website and the Crossbar app should be your first source for information about TBL and the first stop for communication with your team.

When you go to your team page online, you are able to message your team, check out the roster, find contact information for your coaches and Team Manager, look at your schedule, etc.

If you go to the Family Calendar link at the top left of the homepage you can access a calendar feed for iCal, Google and Outlook.  

Here are a few tips for navigating the App from Crossbar:

https://help.crossbar.org/en/articles/5467964-need-access-to-the-mobile-app

If you are not receiving notifications or messages from other members of your team, we recommend you turn those settings on so you don't miss anything.  Here's how to set that up on your mobile device.

https://help.crossbar.org/en/articles/5467943-not-receiving-app-notifications

I'm new to 10U. What happens after evaluations???

If your child is moving up from 8U to 10U, the season will be quite a bit different.

Once evaluations are complete and TBL teams have been rostered, your player will enter what's called the Declaration Season. 

The Missouri Amateur Ice Hockey Association Youth Division explains the Declaration Season like this:  "Declaration season helps determine what playing level teams should be placed in for Youth Division Regular Season league play.  10U, 12U and 14U teams will participate in the Declaration Season."   For example, your team may be B1 or C3.  You'll play a series of games to make sure your team is placed correctly. 

There are three phases of "Dec" Season, which runs from September 23rd to November 6th this year.   Scheduling for the first phase begins in mid-September.  You will play three games in that first phase between September 23rd and October 16th, according to MO Hockey.

Once the regular season divisions are finalized in early November, then your regular season games will be scheduled.    The regular season is scheduled to begin on or after November 19th.

We hope this helps you understand the process a little better.  For more information from MO Hockey, including a list of these  key dates, go to this link:  MO Hockey YD Info and Dates

Fall Learn to Play Dates Announced

The next session of our free Learn to Play program for beginning hockey players has been scheduled for the following dates:

October 30, 2021       8 - 9 am    East Alton Ice Arena

November 6, 2021    8 - 9 am    East Alton Ice Arena

November 13, 2021    8 - 9 am    East Alton Ice Arena

November 20, 2021    8 - 9 am    East Alton Ice Arena

December 4, 2021    8 - 9 am    East Alton Ice Arena

Be watching for registration information in September.  

Click the link below for basic information about our program.

Learn to Play Program Information

Check your email for Evaluation Groups

Evaluation groups, schedules and other information have now been sent by email to players in the 8U to 14U age divisions.  

16U and 18U players have also been sent information on upcoming evaluations.  

Families at the 6U level, be watching for information in the coming weeks about the season.

Earn credits toward hockey expenses while helping TBL

To help ensure the evaluation process runs smoothly we will need volunteers to help with check-in.

The Board of Directors has approved credits to ensure check-in is fully staffed.

CORRECTION FROM OUR EARLIER POST: Each family is eligible to sign up for two shifts, per player. Each shift will earn $20 in credits. 

You will be responsible for checking players in, handing out numbers, directing players to locker rooms, and ensuring any necessary documents are signed by families.

We will open sign-up for these shifts on Wednesday 8/11 at 6:30 pm. 

To access the sign up after that time, go to your Account in the upper left corner of the TBL homepage, then go to the Volunteer tab to see available shifts.

2021-2022 Evaluation Update

2021-2022 Season Evaluations begin Sunday, August 15th.  

With the bulk of our players now registered, the Player Development Committee is in the process of determining evaluation group assignments for players in the 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U divisions. Watch your email for the first groupings by this Thursday 8/12.  

Please note:  group assignments may change during the evaluation process.  

16U and 18U times can be found HERE