Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How can I contact the Sperry Marine Hockey Club?

Send an email to sperry.hockey@embarqmail.com. Additional contact information can be found on the Contact Us page of the club's web site.

Is this a league?

No. The Sperry Marine Hockey Club organizes a weekly game. There are no regular teams, and the rosters vary from week to week. The games are competitive but fun. We don't keep score, and there are no standings. It's like a pickup game, except the rosters are set in advance.

Where is the Referee?

This is just a friendly game, so we don't normally need a referee. Besides, we're too cheap to pay for a ref.

How often does the Sperry Marine Hockey Club play?

We play every Tuesday night, except for holidays and special occasions. In the spring and summer, we play Thursday nights as well. Sometimes we have games on other nights too. Occasionally we play other teams and play in tournaments too. A sign-up message is sent approximately a week prior to each game.

When do the games start?

Game time is 7:50 PM on Tuesday nights. Thursday night games, which are only played in the spring and summer when the UVA men's ice hockey team is not practicing, are scheduled for 9:20 PM.

Game times may vary, however, so always check the game announcement for individual games. You must be at the rink no later than 5 minutes prior to game time or else your spot may be forfeit.

Do I have to work at Sperry Marine to play?

No, you don't have to be a Sperry Marine employee to join the Sperry Marine Hockey Club. Membership is open to any adult 18 years old or older.

Can women play?

Yes. The games are co-ed.

Can children play?

No. You must be 18 years of age or older to play.

What equipment do I need?

Minimally, you'll need hockey skates, a stick, shin pads, gloves and a helmet. However, we recommend you wear full gear: skates, gloves, stick, shin pads, elbow pads, shoulder pads, hockey pants, a cup, and a helmet.

I'm a beginner. Where can I get equipment?

The club has some equipment that you can borrow. Contact us and we'll get you suited up as best we can. The Charlottesville Ice Park also has equipment that they rent. The Ice Park's pro shop also sells equipment, or you can purchase relatively inexpensive gear online. Lastly, be sure to check out the club's For Sale page to see what club members are selling.

I'd like to play goalie. Can I borrow some gear?

Yes! The Sperry Marine Hockey Club owns a complete set of goalie gear, and the Charlottesville Ice Park allows us to store it at the rink. The fit might not be as good as your own gear (and it might smell a little funny), but it'll do the trick.

How much does membership cost?

Membership is free! Just send an email to sperry.hockey@embarqmail.com to join the mailing list. You only pay when you play.

How much does it cost to play each week?

The price per player is usually just $11 per game, but goalies play for free. If we rent the ice for more than an hour the cost will likely be more. Tournaments also cost more. The price is usually mentioned in the sign-up message for that game.

I want to pay by check. To whom do I make it payable?

Most people pay with cash. If you want to pay by check, please make your check payable to the Charlottesville Ice Park since all fees collected are paid to the Ice Park anyway.

For tournaments however, please make your check payable to the Sperry Marine Hockey Club. That's because we have to pay the rink in advance for tournaments, so we need to deposit those fees into the club's account.

Can I pay by credit card?

No. What do we look like hockey.com? Also, the Charlottesville Ice Park has asked us to pay either in cash or personal check. So do not pay with a credit card.

Where do the profits go?

Most of the fees collected each week go to pay for the ice rental. Any extra money goes into the club's bank account. The club's account is used to pay for no-shows, subsidize tournament fees and purchase goalie equipment and uniforms. Plus, somebody has to pay for all that beer that Ed drinks (just kidding).

How do I join the club?

To join the list send email with your name, email address and phone number(s) to sperry.hockey@embarqmail.com. You will receive a reply within a few days confirming that you've been added to the club's mailing list.

Why do you want my phone number?

So we can write it on the bathroom wall, of course. Seriously, we need your phone number to contact you when there is a problem with your email address, or if we need to contact you in the event of a cancellation or some other situation where email is just too slow.

How do I quit the club?

Just send an email with the subject "Remove from list" or something to that effect. You'll receive a confirmation email within a few days.

How do I sign up to play?

All sign-ups are by email only. Once you've joined the list, you should receive a message each week asking if you want to play. If you want to play, reply to that message. Otherwise, simply don't reply. However, just because you signed up to play, doesn't guarantee that you'll get a spot on the roster. If too many people sign up to play, then some people will be put on the alternates list. A few days before the game, the roster will be sent to the entire list by email. It will also be posted on this web site on the Rosters page.

How long do I have to reply to the sign-up message?

You should have a couple days to reply. If you haven't seen the roster in your in-box yet, then you probably still have time to reply. For the Tuesday night game, the sign-up message is usually sent NLT Wednesday morning. The roster is usually posted by Friday night. So that gives you 2-3 days to respond. Most people reply right away. No preference is given for those who reply early. Please remember to change the Subject line of your reply message to the correct format.

Can I sign up to play before the weekly sign-up message is sent?

Yes. Send a message in the usual format, and make sure you have the correct day and date in the subject of your email. However, it's better to wait and respond to the sign-up message or you risk your message getting lost in the shuffle.

Can I sign up to play multiple days?

Yes, but you must send separate messages for each day that you want to play. Also remember to put the correct day and date in the subject of each message.

Why the weird format for the sign-up reply message's subject line?

Your sign up message's subject line should be in the following format:

The sign-up message will provide a sample to use. Personally, I find that the easiest thing to do is just copy the sample from the sign-up message, paste it into the subject line of my reply, and then edit the name and line that I want to play on. If your email program automatically puts a "RE:" in the subject line, please remove it!

The reason for the weird format is that it makes it easy for us to quickly go through the sign-up messages without having to open and read each one. In other words, we don't open the messages, we just read the Subject lines. The Day is included because we sometimes sponsor games on different days of the week.

Why didn't you reply to my message?

If you sent an email as a reply to the weekly sign-up message, odds are we never opened it. If we receive a message that is a reply to the weekly sign-up message, we assume you're signing up to play that week so we don't bother reading the body of the message. We only read the subject line for those messages, and we never open them.

If you want us to read and reply to your message, you should change the subject line of your message. For example, you might change the subject to "Lost Hockey Stick" or even better "PLEASE READ: Lost hockey stick."

If you leave a phone message, please remember to leave a return phone number.

I didn't receive the roster by email. How can I tell if I'm playing or not?

The list is usually posted 3-4 days before game time, but sometimes it's late. It will be posted at least 24 hours before game time.

If you don't get the roster or sign-up message by email, please contact us and let us know - there may be a problem with the email list. Also, you can always check the roster on the web site's Rosters page. The roster is almost always posted on the web site at least 12 hours before game time, but it's usually posted well before that.

Why are there B and C lines?

Since we have such a range of talents, we decided to segregate the players based on ability. The C line is for beginners or players who don't skate too well yet. The B line is for intermediate and advanced players. We think it's more fun for everybody when the lines are composed of players who are all at the same approximate skill level.

How come there's no A line?

Reality hurts, eh? We realize that the Sperry game caters to beginners and intermediate players. However, sometimes we put together a game with higher quality players who are used to a faster, more competitive game. These A-line players are advanced/expert players who play in the Ice Park's Adult A league, and they generally have some experience playing high school or college hockey.

I'm an A player. Can I play with Sperry?

Yes, A players are welcome to play on the B line. In fact many do. However, please be aware that some of the players on your line may not be playing at the same high level as you might like.

What's up with the buzzer going off every couple minutes during the game?

The buzzer signals when it is time to change lines. In a normal game, players change "on the fly" whenever they get tired. Since we have such a mix of beginners and intermediate/advanced players, we want the lines to change as a unit. It also helps to make sure everybody gets their fair share of ice time when a teammate might otherwise stay on the ice too long.

How is the roster selected?

Players and goalies are selected from all the players who had sent a reply email message to that game's sign-up message. A few days before the game, we go through the messages and put together B and C lines. We try to make the teams even. Any one who signs up to play but doesn't make the roster is put on the alternates list for that game.

Who makes up the roster?

Brad Sayler and David Delamere share the workload. Brad normally makes up the roster on Tuesday nights, while David handles the rosters on Thursdays and other nights. Joe Nasevich, Ed and Cathy Goodrow (when she's not on crutches) also help out when needed.

What color jersey should I wear?

Wear either a white or dark jersey, depending upon which team you're on. When the roster is posted it should specify your team. Teams vary, so be sure to check each week.

The white team wears, well, white jerseys of course. The dark team wears any dark color - black, blue, red, green, purple, whatever. Yellow and gray are discouraged, and orange is just plain ugly so don't go there!

If you own a Sperry jersey, please wear it and show your pride!

How do I get a Sperry hockey jersey?

We first ordered jerseys (sweaters for you Canadians out there) in 2007. Additional orders will be made periodically when we have enough orders to make it worthwhile (the bigger the order, the lower the cost per individual jersey). The first batch of jerseys cost only $44, and that included socks. I doubt if we'll ever manage to get that good a price again.

The jerseys are blue and white like Toronto Maple Leaf jerseys. Sperry Marine's colors are blue and white, in case you were wondering why. We use Reebok jerseys, the same kind sold at the Charlottesville Ice Park's pro shop.

If you'd like to place an order, send an email to sperry.hockey@embarqmail.com with the subject "Order jersey for xyz" or something like that, where xyz is your name. In the body of your message please include the following information:

No money is due until the order is placed. However, no jerseys will be ordered without receiving payment in advance.

Where are the locker rooms at the Ice Park, and which one should I use?

The locker rooms are located along the hallway behind the scorer's box. The Ice Park is really good about posting which locker rooms we're supposed to use, so look for a sign on the door. Please don't use any locker rooms other than the ones designated for Sperry's use. Other teams play before and after our group, and they don't appreciate your smelly gear in their locker rooms!

The ladies' locker room is located closer to the zamboni end of the rink, behind the furthest players' bench.

I'm on the roster to play, but now I can't make it. What should I do?

Contact sperry.hockey@embarqmail.com as soon as possible so we can try to get a substitute to play in your place. Even if you don't play, you may still have to pay. Late cancellations will likely incur a fine and a suspension. However, it's still better to cancel than to simply not show up because the penalties for a no-show are higher than for a late cancellation. See the No-show and Late Cancellation page for details.

Also, if you're canceling after 5:00 PM on the night before the game, or canceling the day of the game, you're better off telephoning than relying on email. We can't always check email during the day, so a phone message has a better chance of reaching us than an email if you want a prompt response. See the Contact Us page for phone numbers to call.

See the No-Show and Late Cancellation Policy for more information.

What happens if I'm on the roster and I don't show up to play?

Bad things, terrible things... not the least of which of which is that you've probably pissed off a lot of people, especially the people who run this game. You will also have messed up the lines for that game and forced some people to skate a double shift or made your team play each shift short-handed. You'll still have to pay your game fee, just as if you had played, plus you'll have to pay a fine, and you won't be allowed to skate with the group for a week or so.

See the No-Show and Late Cancellation Policy for more information.

I signed up to play, so why didn't I make the roster?

Signups are limited to just 20 players and 2 goalies each week. If more than 20 people sign up to play, then those extra players are put on the alternates list.

I'm an alternate. What does that mean? Should I go to the rink?

If somebody were to cancel after the roster is posted, you (or one of the other alternates) would be contacted by email and asked to fill the vacant spot. If somebody were to cancel at the last minute, you would get a phone call. Regardless of how you're contacted, you would know if you were playing. So, no, you don't need to go to the rink if you're an alternate. However, sometimes people just go to the rink anyway, just in case there is a no-show. Usually everybody shows up, so that's not a great strategy.

How do you decide who makes the roster and who doesn't?

If more than 20 players sign up, not everybody can play. We try to give everybody an equal opportunity to play. So those who played more in previous weeks are given a lower priority than somebody who did not play in previous weeks. Those who were alternates the previous week are given the highest priority. Those who have been suspended because of a no-show or late cancellation cannot play until their suspension is over.

All applicants who sign up are considered for placement on one of the lines. Early signup is permitted, but not encouraged - it neither enhances nor reduces your chances of being selected to play (in other words, there's NO ADVANTAGE in signing up early).

The first criteria when setting up the lines is to select those applicants who served on the alternate list the previous time they signed up. In addition, those who help significantly with the administration of the Sperry games are given special preference, so they usually make the roster every time they sign up to play. Once the former alternates and administrators are put on the roster, the rest of the roster is completed using the "order of merit" as described below.

What's the "order of merit" and how is it used to determine the roster?

We maintain a system that ranks everyone who has signed up for one of the preceding 16 Sperry games. The ranking is based on the ratio of the number of times you have served as an alternate divided by the number of times you have signed up. After placing the former alternates and administrators on the roster, we use that ranking system to determine who will get the remaining slots. It is the fairest system that we've been able to implement. If you have any suggestions, we'd be glad to hear about them.

When there are more skaters that slots, the people with the highest ratio (those who have played the least or been on the alternates list most frequently) make the roster, and those with the lowest ratio (those who have played the most or been an alternate infrequently) are put on the alternates list.

I might be late for the game. Whom should I contact?

You must be at the rink at least 5 minutes before game time, or your spot may be forfeit. Call Brad, David, or Joe ASAP so we don't give your spot to somebody else. If all else fails, call the Ice Park at 434-817-2400 and ask the attendant to give your message to somebody in the club. However, there's no guarantee that a message left at the Ice Park will actually get to us. Don't be content to send an email or leave a message on somebody's voice-mail - make sure you talk to somebody or there's no guarantee that we'll save your spot.

Where is the Ice Park located?

The Charlottesville Ice Park is located at the west end of the Downtown Mall, 230 West Main Street Charlottesville, Virginia 22902. The Ice Park's phone number is 434-817-2400. It's right across from the Omni Hotel.

Where should I park?

Putting an ice rink downtown is a great idea, but it sure makes finding parking difficult. There are a limited number of free on-street parking spots near the Ice Park, but they're hard to find. The Ice Park also validates parking at a few nearby parking garages. Park for two hours free in the Water Street Parking Garage, or park at reduced rates at the Omni Hotel. All lots are a one to two-minute walk from the ice. The Promenade offers the closest parking (practically just outside the Ice Park's doors), but parking spaces are reserved during the day, and they charge $5 to park there in the evening.

However, if you stay for apres-hockey libations, the Omni parking attendant is usually gone by 10:00 PM, so it's FREE! Also, the bar at the Omni validates parking and has a better deal than the Ice Park. And you know the Omni bartender loves us...

How can I send an email to the entire list?

You can't, at least not directly. The list is too big to send a message to the entire list at once, so the list is broken into smaller groups, and a copy of each message is sent to each group. So if you send a message using the "Reply All" option, you won't reach the entire list. However, we will be happy to forward your hockey-related message to the entire group.

Please email your message to sperry.hockey@embarqmail.com with the subject line "Please forward:" followed by whatever you want the topic of your message to be. Be sure to include your email address and phone number if you want people to reply to you. We will forward your message to the entire list.

If you have a question, please send an email to sperry.hockey@embarqmail.com.