~WHO WE ARE~
The Snipers are a non-profit local travel ice hockey program for kids ages 5 to 18, which focuses on fun and friendly competition between University of Delaware In-House hockey players and other youth hockey programs within the local region with similar playing skills.  Continuing the men's program for anyone over the age of 18 for the 2008-09 season.    

We realize parents, families and players are finding that full-travel hockey can become taxing and time consuming both from a financial and time management perspective. We provide the expanded hockey experience, without the extra gas expenditures and time commitment of full-travel hockey.

We are primarily a school-aged model to help encourage more middle school and JV participation in the area. We field 6 levels of play, and as many teams in those levels as we have kids that sign up – Elementary (grade 1-4), Middle School B1 and B2 (grades 5-7) NON-check, Middle School A (grades 6-8) FULL-check, Bantam, limited travel (years 95 and 94, grades 8-9), High School (grades 8-13) and new this season, The Delaware Sled Snipers.  

Unlike full-travel clubs that stress winning over player development, we believe in trying to get equal ice time for ALL players. No parent will travel to a game only to watch their son/daughter sit on the bench for much of it.

There is no better way for a player to improve than to play in a game where equal ice time is important and will be provided. 
 

~JERSEYS~
If you are new to the 2008-09 season, you will need to purchase a home and away jersey and socks ($120.00 for the whole set, same as last year) and pay the USA Hockey registration fees ($40.00); after that you just PAY AS YOU PLAY.  Go to the "2008-2009 Handouts" button above for information on how to order your jersey and/or socks.  You should call Nancy Schrier at 302-668-1652 or email her at schrier00@comcast.net ASAP as the cutoff for 2008-09 is September 14th.

For more information about the Snipers or to register, you can contact Mark Martell at mmartell@internetcapital.com or by phone at 302-834-5595.
 

~SCHEDULING A GAME~
If you would like to schedule a game against one of our teams please contact one of the following:

Elementary, Middle School A and B - Bev Strauss @ 610-255-5779

Bantams, limited travel  - Nancy Schrier @ 302-668-1652

High School - Mark Martell @ 302-834-5595

Men's Team - Nick Vacirca @ 302-376-0796

We prefer to schedule a "home" and an "away" game against each team.

PRACTICES/GAMES

Practices and games are listed on the "2008-09 Calendar" tab.  Games can also be found by team on the 2008-2009 Games By Team tab.

Elementary Grades 1-4, Doug Smithers.  
 
Middle School B Grades 5-7, Mike Guns 
 
Middle School A Grades 6-8, Bob Froelich 
 
Bantams Grades 8-9, Brian LeBlanc 
 
High School Grades 8-13 (Midget 18 Combo rules), Rich Purfield,  Brian LeBlanc  

Some commentary on each division:

Elementary Grades 1-4 offer a wide spread of age and talent.  No big deal, the little 1^st graders will have fun with the 4th graders.  This is about player development and fun at this level.  While we will offer league and some non-league play this season, we expect this group to enjoy themselves as they learn the sport.  Doug is our returning coach as our kids had a blast last season playing up against Squirts and down against Mites throughout the season.  
 
Middle School B Grades 5-7 Non check.  This is meant for Squirts and young Pee Wees not ready for full check. We will offer league and some non-league play this season.  Mike Guns is our new head coach and we welcome Mike and Julie back fully into our program this season with Mikey Jr.  
 
Middle School A Grades 6-8 Full check.  This is mean for Pee Wees and Bantams that desire full check.  We will offer league and some non league play this season.  Bob Froelich is our returning head coach.
 
Bantams Grades 8-9  Brian LeBlanc is taking over the reigns of the former Pee Wee team from last year that is moving up.  This is a built team that will require greater involvement from the players during the season.  
 
High School Grades 8-13  This is a Midget 18 combo program new to the University that your Snipers are starting up.  We will allow Bantams uo to Midget 18 players to play in this league.  Kids in 8th grade and recent high school graduates are eligible to play if they petition into the league while meeting the rules of Midge 18 players (1990 birth years or younger).  Last year we had 2 JV teams and a Varsity squad.  This year, we will simply field as many teams as there are committed players to the league, and have a non-league schedule to boot.  We anticipate 2 full teams again, with possibly up to 2 more depending on signups. Brian LeBlanc and Rich Purfield are committed coaches to two teams.  Additional teams will be led by the likes of George Compton or Harry Wooding or both.
 
Mark Martell, President

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~