THE SHANGHAI HOCKEY CLUB PRESS KIT 2017

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Arnold Porter
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1 THE SHANGHAI HOCKEY CLUB PRESS KIT 2017

Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, and Russia.

2 who we are Operating out of Shanghai, China, the SHC is Asia s premiere amateur ice hockey league. It consists of around 150 members from nations all over the world, with the majority of players hailing from the Big-6 hockey nations: Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, and Russia. However, there is a very strong contingent of Chinese and Japanese players as well as a matter of fact, the East Asian membership bloc has grown bigger every year as ice hockey has become more and more popular in the region leading up to the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics.

3 what we do We get together a few times a week for a chance to unwind and play some hockey! But more than anything else, we re known for connecting our players to a strong community of members - both past and present - from all walks of life and every industry. Because of our long history and sprawling network, we do our utmost to reach out to local businesses and make partnerships that provide our members with discounts in exchange for favorable patronage.

4 QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE league Men and Women aged can participate. Operational since Features players with major junior and semi-pro experience. Players with little to no experience also welcomed. Hosts several league-sponsored marquee events that draw strong crowds. League play divided into two competitive tiers: A and B. All members get customized team uniforms. Provides opportunities for year-round play with a winter league and summer league. Since its establishment in 2004, the SHC has played host to over 600 players from over 25 countries and 5 different continents around the world. Unofficially known as The Best Beer League in the World.

5 HOW we OPERATE The SHC is and has always been a volunteer-based organization. Our grassroots democratic structure is entrenched in the league constitution, which lays out the rules and etiquette of the community. In order to ensure consistency and continuity, a player-elected committee of 7 executives oversees the day-to-day operations of winter and summer league play. In addition to this, it largely falls on the exec committee to maintain partnerships with local venues and vendors, advertise and promote the SHC in China, select members for team captaincies, and organize the league s marquee events.

How to get involved There are two times during the year when the SHC is active: during the winter regular season, and again for a short while during the summer months.

6 How to get involved There are two times during the year when the SHC is active: during the winter regular season, and again for a short while during the summer months. Following the league website and official WeChat groups both of which are moderated by the exec team provides players with all the registration dates and details for both winter and summer play.

7 Winter LeaguE After being assessed at an evaluation skate and paying their league fees, players are drafted onto teams at the beginning of the season, which starts in early October. Regular season play lasts approximately games and usually ends in April or May. Playoffs then commence and follow a head-to-head single-game elimination format based on the regular season standings. The winner of the playoff final earns the honor of raising The Shangley Cup, a highly revered and coveted trophy whose elusiveness and storied history has earned it the monicker, The Holy Grail of Shanghai. As an added value bonus, all league games, team records and individual player statistics are updated regularly on the official league website, where members have access to weekly game summaries and photo galleries.

8 SUMMER LeaguE Due to a lower attendance during the off-season months, but a strong desire to keep playing hockey, members have the option to register in the mixed-level summer league. Teams are chosen by mutual agreement between four captains and are approved by the exec committee. Summer league play kicks off in June and runs until September for a total of 10 summer season games. The playoffs follow the same format as the winter league s, and culminate in the raising of Summer Shangley, a smaller yet no less illustrious trophy whose mere existence drives players back to the rink for another shot at having their names etched into SHC history.

Marquee Events The SHC Draft Party In the beginning, the SHC held its draft parties in the back room of whichever well-to-do, hole-in-the-wall establishment would allow for such shenanigans.

9 Marquee Events The SHC Draft Party In the beginning, the SHC held its draft parties in the back room of whichever well-to-do, hole-in-the-wall establishment would allow for such shenanigans. However, ever since the SHC s 10th anniversary the draft party has become a semi-formal affair held in the ballroom of a local hotel. With the help of a large interactive draft board display, team captains from both divisions draft players by round according to a pre-determined draft order. New friendships are forged, old rivalries become alliances, and long-standing feuds are revisited in a night that sets the tone for the rest of the season. Due to the unique nature of our draft, players rarely end up on the same team year after year, which is one of the main reasons our intramural sense of community is so strong.

10 The Gaotie Gongshow and Related Friendlies At various points during the year, the SHC coordinates with our friends in Hangzhou, Beijing, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Dalian with a view to connect the amateur hockey communities from all around China. The Gaotie Gongshow, as its name implies, is a fast-train series that brings together select teams from various cities to a mutually agreed location for a weekend full of hockey, competition, and good ol fashioned socializing.

The Ugly Sweater Christmas Classic What began as a festive pick up game 4 years ago has turned into an annual tradition for the SHC community.

This largely symbolic game signals the beginning of the holiday season and is usually followed closely by the family-friendly league Christmas Party.

It stands to reason, then, that the annual SHC Christmas Party is chockfull of cheer and holiday festivities.

11 The Ugly Sweater Christmas Classic What began as a festive pick up game 4 years ago has turned into an annual tradition for the SHC community. The USCC basically consists of a bunch of guys playing pick up while sporting their cheesiest, tackiest holiday abominations. This largely symbolic game signals the beginning of the holiday season and is usually followed closely by the family-friendly league Christmas Party. The Christmas Party With an abundance of doughy beer leaguers to choose from, finding somebody to play a portly Santa Clause is the least of our worries! It stands to reason, then, that the annual SHC Christmas Party is chockfull of cheer and holiday festivities. As the event is aimed at the club members with families, the Christmas Party starts early on in the day at one of our sponsor s establishments and rambles on late into the night, but not before all the young children receive a visit from the big man himself!

12 The Beijing Pond Hockey Tournament This event has taken on a cult following of its own among members of the SHC. After several consecutive years of participation in a well-run and internationally renowned tournament, league members sign up in droves for the chance to go play a little 3-on-3 Pond Hockey. Rumor has it that some members among us know of a secret location nestled into the mountains north of Beijing that cradles a frozen reservoir right along a picturesque stretch of the Great Wall. Some say it is the hockey Mecca of China, others say it is simply a fantastic opportunity to snap a sick profile pic. Either way, there s never a shortage of intrigue.

Hockey Night in Shanghai HNIS is one of the SHC s biggest draws.

has grown into an event that is run in conjunction with a variety of the league s

Originally, the event was headlined by a game between Team Canada (made up of Canadian

And though the sponsors and format have changed over the years, the high level of

13 Hockey Night in Shanghai HNIS is one of the SHC s biggest draws. What started as an event sponsored and organized by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has grown into an event that is run in conjunction with a variety of the league s partners. Originally, the event was headlined by a game between Team Canada (made up of Canadian expat players based in Shanghai) and Team World (everybody else). And though the sponsors and format have changed over the years, the high level of talent involved in the game itself still draws anywhere between fans. The aim of the game is to promote the growth of hockey in China, which only gets easier with the Beijing Winter Olympics on the horizon.

14 Finals Night The one night of the year when our members get to relive the glory days! Finals Night is the culmination of the playoffs and involves the top two teams in both the A league and B league vying for the championship title. The winner of the game gets the right to hoist The Shangley Cup, an elusive feat that comes with bragging rights for years to come. The event itself draws anywhere between fans and is a great showcase, not only for our players, but also for our league sponsors. Finals Night The one night of the year when our members get to relive the glory days! Finals Night is the culmination of the playoffs and involves the top two teams in both the A league and B league vying for the championship title. The winner of the game gets the right to hoist The Shangley Cup, an elusive feat that comes with bragging rights for years to come. The event itself draws anywhere between fans and is a great showcase, not only for our players, but also for our league sponsors.

15 contact information League Website Points of Contact For any further information about the SHC, how to join, or build a partnership, contact any member of the exec team below: Director of Communications: Shane Anderson shanerah@hotmail.com Events Director 2) Cole Paterson colepaterson@hotmail.com Referee Director 3) Peter Helenius peter.helenius@live.com Treasurer 4) Jim Scotti James.Scotti@sbcglobal.net Technical Director 5) Taggart Thomson taggart@try-creative.com Goalie Director 6) Barry Roe Bgroe@live.com Community Director 7) Mike Dorris dorrism71@gmail.com

16 Sponsorship Opportunities For any inquiries regarding league sponsorships, please contact Cole Paterson, Peter Helenius or Shane Anderson using the contact information provided above.

17 Partnerships The Thunderbirds AKS (Active Kids Shanghai) The Thunderbirds organization is a volunteer-based youth hockey league that provides IIHF qualified coaching to a strong contingent of international players living in Shanghai. At the moment, the SHC provides the Thunderbird players with a place to call home after they ve aged out of the program. We also work hand-in-hand for Hockey Night in Shanghai. Contact or for more info The Hangzhou West Lakers Our good friends down in Hangzhou are a small, yet well-organized league and are always looking for new members. With such a great group of personalities growing hockey in a smaller hockey market nearby, there s no doubt that our partnership will continue for years to come. Contact Frank for more details WeChat ID: frankfulanke Phone #

Beijing International Ice Hockey Due to the mover-and-shaker nature of

some point - call the SHC home (and vice versa).

remain solid so long as the beer is cold and the pond is frozen.

children in China the opportunity to learn about hockey and gain an

18 Beijing International Ice Hockey Due to the mover-and-shaker nature of business in China, a majority of the players in Beijing have - or will at some point - call the SHC home (and vice versa). It is for this reason that our relationship with the Beijing league will remain solid so long as the beer is cold and the pond is frozen. Hockey Hands Hockey Hands is a charity formed with the goal of providing children in China the opportunity to learn about hockey and gain an exposure to English. We have worked with children in Beijing and Shanghai and hope to continue reach children through hockey.

19 THANKS

UNITED LONDON FC. SPONSORSHIP

UNITED LONDON FC. SPONSORSHIP 2016/2017 SEASON GRASS ROOTS FOOTBALL The number of people playing football in England is on the rise with nearly one in five adults (8.2 million people) participating in