CHEROKEE TRAVEL TO TAMPA FOR SHOWCASE

(PLAY FOUR GAMES IN THREE DAYS)

Toledo OH:         The Toledo Cherokee (21-5-0-0 42 pts.) travel to Tampa Florida, this weekend to play in the USPHL Tampa Showcase beginning on Friday afternoon.

The Tribe will play one game on Friday, two on Saturday and finish up the weekend with a game on Sunday morning before flying back to the Glass City on Monday afternoon.

The Cherokee will take on the Tampa Bay Juniors (21-5-0-4 42 pts.) Friday at 1:30PM. On Saturday the Cherokee will play against the Carolina Junior Hurricanes (14-11-3-0 34 pts.) at 10:30AM and then the Florida Eels (16-6-2-1 35 pts.) on Saturday evening at 8:15PM.

Toledo will finish up the showcase schedule on Sunday morning when they face off against the  Bold City Battalion (17-3-4-1 39 pts.) at 11:30AM.

“Our guys are really excited for this trip, it will be the third straight year of us going down there to play and we are excited about playing some really good teams when we get there.” Said head coach Kenny Miller

Prior to the holiday break the Cherokee swept the Fresh Coast Freeze in a two game series by scores of 10-0 and 11-0.   

“I thought our guys played well all weekend, we were able to get the four points before heading into the break..” Added Miller

 All of the Tampa showcase games will be played at the Advent Health Center in Wesley Chapel Florida.

Fans that are unable to attend the games this weekend can still catch all the action at www.flohockey.tv

For more information on the Cherokee please visit our website at www.cherokeehockey.com

#ROLLTRIBE

#SAPPYSTRONG

TOLEDO CHEROKEE LOOKING FOR SPONSORS FOR 2024-2025 SEASON

     On behalf of the Toledo Cherokee Hockey Association, we would like to invite you to consider sponsoring junior hockey in Toledo.  Specifically, we are currently seeking sponsors for our Toledo Cherokee Jr. Hockey Team for the 2024-2025 season.  We are a 501c3 non-profit organization whose goals are to promote, develop, and advance junior hockey players 16-20 years of age.  As the only junior hockey club in Toledo, Ohio, our main talent is drawn locally from northwest Ohio/southeast Michigan including Toledo, Oregon, Sylvania, Detroit, and Cleveland areas.

Our association would not be able to provide successful hockey programs without the generous support of our community businesses and team sponsors.  The Toledo Cherokee Jr. Hockey Team boasts a 32nd-year history achieving five Huster Cups and one USA National Hockey Championship.  The Cherokee compete in the USPHL Great Lakes Division. 

Your sponsorship money would go directly to developing our Jr. hockey players, not only physically but mentally and socially as well.  Part of their growth involves practice ice sessions, exhibition games, scheduled league play, tournaments and team building skills.  With the high cost of ice time, referees, bus/hotel fees and the hockey equipment fees, this quickly becomes a very costly endeavor.  We have been able to maintain lower then average player fees because of aggressive fundraising and sponsorships.  The average player fee is $10,000-$15,000 per season, while the Toledo Cherokee’s fees were $7,800-$8,800 last season. 

We hope that you will be able to help support the players by sponsoring our team and we, in turn, will help to advertise and promote your business.   Your sponsorship would also show great community involvement on your part.   Here are some sponsorship options, but we are open to any ideas you may have:

Team Jersey/Equipment/Team Wear Sponsor – $2,500-$10,000 sponsorship:

A team jersey/equipment/team wear sponsor would get their company name on the names bars of the home and away jerseys of our entire team (approximately 28 players) for the 2024-2025 season.  Sponsorship of $5,000 or more also includes dasher board add at our home rink, Team Toledo Ice House for one year.  Our cost of jerseys/equipment/team wear averages $10,000 a season.

Team Travel Sponsor- $5,000 or more sponsorship:

The team travel expense for a season includes meals, bus rental, hotel stays for away games (approximately 30 players/coaches/staff).  Our cost for team travel averages $60,000 a season.  A team travel sponsor would get their company name on the sponsor bars of both the home and away jerseys of our entire team along with a dasher board add at our home rink, Team Toledo Ice House for one year.

General Sponsor/Donation –

General donation/sponsorship of any amount.  Specifics directed by donor and advertising benefit dependent on donation amount.   

We hope that you will be as excited about this opportunity as we are and that we can work together to promote your business and support our Toledo Cherokee Jr. hockey team.  On behalf of the whole team, we thank you in advance for your support.

Carey Manders, VP/Finance Director

On behalf of Head Coach Kenny Miller

Toledo Cherokee Jr. Hockey Team

(419)350-2171    cmmanders@gmail.com

CHEROKEE TO PLAY 8th ANNUAL “SAP” GAME SATURDAY

(POST GAME SKATE WITH THE TEAM)

Toledo OH:      The Toledo Cherokee return home this Saturday as they host the Battle Creek Kernels at the Team Toledo Ice House. The puck will drop at 7:30PM

Ken “Sap” Miller was co-owner of the Team Toledo Ice House as well as President of the Toledo Cherokee Junior hockey team. Sap as he was known by everyone whoever met him passed away eight years ago. The Cherokee continue to honor him every season.

The team will be holding a 50/50 drawing and other events throughout the evening. All proceeds will go to the “SAP Memorial Foundation” which helps local youths with tuition to either GTAHA’s Learn to Skate Program or the ADM Program.

All GTAHA players will receive FREE admission by wearing a CHEROKEE jersey to the game.

The Cherokee will also present the annual “SAP” Memorial Award at the game. The award goes to a special person within the Cherokee organization past or present that has showed support towards the organization by volunteering or as a member of the Cherokee staff. This year’s award winner will receive the honor on the ice prior to puck drop. Previous winners include Tyler Zalecki, Brandee Stanton, Jay Fravor, Mik Gonzales, Don Manders and Carey Manders.

“This game means so much to our organization it is an honor to be able to continue to show everyone what he meant not only to the Ice House but to youth hockey in the Toledo area.” Said head coach Kenny Miller “Our staff is really looking forward to announcing this years “Sap Memorial Award” winner.”

In his more than 30-year coaching career, Sap worked with teams including the Toledo Junior Storm, Toledo IceDiggers and our Toledo Cherokee. His love of hockey blossomed early, playing as a child with best friend Tony Parker. The pair later coached together. That love was passed down to his sons, whose teams Mr. Miller coached throughout their childhoods.  

“He was a loyal guy,” Miller said, adding that his father built strong relationships with players and their families. “It showed in how much the kids at the rink meant to him.”

“He was a great ambassador for hockey in Toledo,” said Don Manders, vice president of the Greater Toledo Amateur Hockey Association and current President of the Cherokee. He met Sap when he coached his son Jake, who now helps coach youth hockey at the Ice House. “Sap was really invested in youth hockey, Manders said. He was a larger-than-life figure and not exactly a quiet guy.”

He would work into the wee hours, fixing items at the Ice House so it would be ready for young skaters in the morning.

“He had the mind-set that hockey is the greatest sport in the world,” Manders said. “He worked tirelessly for it.”

**The Cherokee will host a post-game skate with the players after the game. All fans in attendance are welcome to come out and join the players on the ice.**

For more information please visit our website at www.cherokeehockey.com

#ROLLTRIBE

#SAPPYSTRONG