TOLEDO CHEROKEE GOLF OUTING

(SATURDAY AUGUST 26TH 8:00AM)

Toledo OH:       The Toledo Cherokee have announced the date for the annual golf outing fundraiser. This year’s outing will take place on Saturday August 26th at Giant Oak Golf Club.

The event will kick off at 8:00AM with a shotgun start. Cost will be $90.00 golfer/$360.00 per foursome. Dinner following golf will include new york strip steak, potato, salad and rolls.

“This outing has been a huge success as well as a lot of fun in the past and we are confident it will be again this year. This is a big fundraiser for us, we only have two a year so it is important to us. Giant Oak does a great job hosting the event and we are very happy to go back there again this year.” Said head coach Kenny Miller

Some of the side games will include skins, two betting holes, mulligans, longest drive, longest putt.

The Cherokee will have a 50/50 raffle as well as gift baskets and many more great prizes.

For more information please contact a member of the Cherokee staff anytime. Kenny Miller 906-458-2897 kmiller@macombgroup.com, Carey Manders 419-350-2171 cmanders2@bex.net

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Buffalo Stampede, Nashville Spartans Move Into USPHL Premier’s Great Lakes Division For 2023-24

By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com 

The Great Lakes Division, which competed as a four-team division for 2022-23, will welcome two new members as the Buffalo Stampede and Nashville Spartans are joining the Great Lakes for the 2023-24 season. 

The Buffalo Stampede, who have regularly played Great Lakes Division members as part of their non-division schedule, will move from the Mid-Atlantic Division to the Great Lakes. 

The Nashville Spartans, which joined the USPHL Premier as an expansion team in 2022-23, are moving from the Southeast Division to the Great Lakes. 

The Great Lakes Division membership for 2023-24 will feature the 2022-23 Division Champion Toledo Cherokee, fellow Nationals competitors the Metro Jets, the Columbus Mavericks, the Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones, the Buffalo Stampede and the Nashville Spartans. 

“The Great Lakes Division is excellent, and we are excited to be a part of it,” said Zach Sabatini, a Co-Owner of the Spartans. “Every season there sees at least one if not two teams ranked within the Top 10 of all USPHL Premier organizations, and the division is well represented at Nationals year after year. The Great Lakes Division teams have also done an outstanding job advancing players on to Tier 2 junior hockey and college hockey. We plan to heavily contribute to those numbers.”

“The move to the Great Lakes Division is big for us,” said Joey Recktenwald, a Co-Owner of the Buffalo Stampede. “It’s a much more manageable travel schedule and allows us to regularly compete against some of the top programs in the country. The Great Lakes Division consistently produces teams that are in contention for the National Championship. We look forward to the challenge and rising up to the occasion.”

Both teams will continue to play some members of their former divisions, as some exciting rivalries have formed. Some of these rivalry games will take place at USPHL Showcase Series events and others will be played as a standard weekend series. 

“We are still fine-tuning the schedule for the upcoming season, but we are hoping to get the opportunity to compete against some familiar faces at the USPHL Southeast Showcase and USPHL Tampa Showcase,” said Sabatini. “Maybe we will get some long-standing rivalry games on the schedule as well, but we just don’t know yet. We like to have fun in Nashville. I’m sure we will find a way to keep things interesting.” 

Likewise, Buffalo will continue to play upstate New York and interstate rivalries they have formed over the years. 

“We have every intention of continuing our geographical rivalries with Hershey, Utica, and Elmira,” said Recktenwald. “We’ve had a great working relationship with Tim Kolpien and his staff with the Jr. Enforcers, and look forward to growing our on-ice rivalry with their club.”

There’s some history between Buffalo’s management and a couple of their new Great Lakes Division rivals, as well. 

“Stampede GM/Head Coach Brian Thompson is very familiar with the Great Lakes Division, spending three years as an assistant with the Columbus Mavericks before taking the reins in Buffalo,” Recktenwald said. “As teammates, [Thompson] and I competed against the Metro Jets and Toledo Cherokee nearly 20 years ago. We look forward to the next chapter in our hockey journey.

“I have all the confidence in the world that Coach Thompson is the right guy for this type of challenge,” Recktenwald added. “His history of developing players and relationships makes him one of the top coaches in the country.”

The USPHL wishes best of luck to the Buffalo Stampede, Nashville Spartans and all of the Great Lakes Division teams in 2023-24! 

CHEROKEE HEAD TO UTICA NY FOR THE USPHL NATIONALS

(OPEN UP TOURNAMENT ON THURSDAY )

Toledo OH:          For the third straight year the Great Lakes Division champion Toledo Cherokee will take part in the USPHL National Championship next week in Utica NY.

“As a team we set goals at the beginning of the year and one of those goals was to get back to the National tournament we’ve accomplished that goal now it is on us as a group to go out there play as hard as we can.” Said head coach Kenny Miller

The Cherokee will head to Utica on Wednesday morning as they prepare to kick off the National tournament on Thursday afternoon at 5:00PM when they take on the Islanders Hockey Club of the Mid-Atlantic division.

Toledo will then play the Vernal Oilers of the Northwest division on Friday. Face off is set for 12:30PM.

With a new format in place at this year’s Nationals day three of the tournament will feature a reseeding of teams one thru sixteen for the 3rd game of the event. After day three the winning teams will continue to advance with the higher seed playing the lower seed until a winner is determined in the USPHL finals on Tuesday March 28th at 1:00PM

“We know that every team out there is going to be a challenge for whoever they play so we will have to be on our game in order to have success. If your winning out there it is a long tournament it takes six wins in six days to become champion so our guys need to make sure they are taking care of themselves and preparing for each day.” Added Miller

Fans unable to attend the National Championship games can catch all the action by visiting www.hockeytv.com

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

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CHEROKEE FINISH REGULAR SEASON WITH RECORD OF 38-6-0

(HOST CINCINNATI IN 1ST ROUND OF PLAYOFFS)

Toledo OH:         The Toledo Cherokee wrapped up the regular season on Saturday night with a 1-0 win over the Columbus Mavericks to finish the regular season with a record of 38-6-0 good for 76 points and a Great Lakes Division title. It is the first division crown for the Cherokee since the 2011-2012 season.

Toledo finished with a record of 16-0-0 inside the Team Toledo Ice House this year.

Captain Nicklas Millhorn (Brownstown MI) lead the Cherokee in scoring netting forty-five goals and adding thirty-seven assists for eighty-seven points. Jason Crossland (Dearborn MI) scored thirty goals and had forty assist for seventy points in thirty-eight games for the Tribe. Defenseman Ryan Stanley (Trenton MI) finished the season with fifty points scoring nine goals and adding forty-one assists. Millhorn and Santino Multari (Hermitage PA) were the only two members of the Cherokee to suit up in all forty-four games for the Cherokee this season.

Goaltender Frank Murphy (Toronto ON) led the entire USPHL Premier division in wins this year with twenty-five wins, Murphy also led the league in shutouts with six.

“This has been a special regular season for our group we had several guys do great things for our team this year, we set goals at the beginning of the year and one of those goals was to win the Great Lakes Division which we were able to do, next on our list is to win in the playoffs and advance to the USPHL Nationals and we have an opportunity to do that next weekend when we start the playoffs.” said head coach Kenny Miller

The Cherokee will host the fourth seed Cincinnati Cyclones in the Great Lakes Division playoffs next weekend at the Ice House. Game one is set for Friday March 10th at 7:00PM. Game two will be at 3:30PM. If a game three is necessary it will be in Cincinnati on Sunday March 13th. The winner of that series will advance to the USPHL Nationals which will be held in Utica NY from Thursday March 23rd thru Tuesday March 28th.

**NOTES** On Saturday night the Cherokee held a pre-game on ice ceremony to honor the ten twenty-year old age out players. Nicklas Millhorn (Brownstown MI), David Crandall (Sylvania OH), Dominik McNamara (Gibraltar MI), Ryan Stanley (Trenton MI), Hunter Hatcher (Westland MI), Jacob Slater (Pewaukee WI), Jason Crossland (Dearborn MI), Jonah Slater (Lakeville MN), Connor Garcia (Dearborn MI) and Aaron Cope (Livonia MI).

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

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CHEROKEE HOME SATURDAY NIGHT

(7TH ANNUAL “SAP GAME NIGHT”)

Toledo OH:      The Toledo Cherokee return home this Saturday as they host the Columbus Mavericks at the Team Toledo Ice House. The puck will drop at 7:00PM both nights

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.

“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. Kelly his youngest son played for Sap before playing in the USPHL as well as professional hockey with the Toledo Storm.

“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.”

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

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CHEROKEE HOST JETS FRIDAY NIGHT

(DAN K AND LUCAS JONES WILL BE IN THE BUILDING )

Toledo OH:         The Toledo Cherokee proud members of the USPHL Premier division of the Great Lakes Conference return home Friday evening to take on the Metro Jets at the Team Toledo Ice House. Faceoff is at for 7:00PM

Toledo will travel to Metro on Saturday afternoon to wrap up the home and home series. Puck will drop at 3:30PM at Mount Clemens Arena.

“It is always a battle when we get to play the Jets and I expect this weekend to be the same. We are looking forward to having Dan K and Lucas in the building again this year for another fun evening.” Said head coach Kenny Miller

The Dan K show will be in attendance for both games this weekend, the pre-game show will begin at 6:30PM inside the lobby of the Ice House. Dan Kmiechick and Lucas Jones will be on the HockeyTV call with Cherokee Broadcaster Nick Lang and Bill Faulkner inside the “Mik Gonzales” press box.

The two teams will be competing for the 1st annual “The Coney Cup Trophy”

Toledo is coming off a two sweep weekend where they defeated the Columbus Mavericks on Thursday night at the Ice House by a score of 2-1 in OT and then traveled to Mount Clemens on Saturday and dropped the Metro Jets by a score of 5-2.

“I thought our guys had a good effort on Thursday at home, the Columbus goalie played really well in that game and we were happy to get out of there with an OT win, on Saturday our guys battled hard and played a good road game and were able to get a much needed win against our biggest rival.” Added Miller

Any GTAHA player wearing his or her Cherokee jersey will be admitted for FREE to the game.

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

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

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CHEROKEE HOST JETS FRIDAY NIGHT

(TRIBE WEARING SPECIAL CHRISTMAS JERSEYS)

Toledo OH:         The Toledo Cherokee (18-2-0-0 36 points) proud members of the USPHL Premier division of the Great Lakes Conference return home Friday evening to take on the Metro Jets (14-3-1-0 29 points) at the Team Toledo Ice House. Faceoff is at for 7:00PM

Toledo will travel to the State capital on Saturday night to play the Columbus Mavericks (9-10-1-2 21 points) in Lewis Center OH. The puck will drop at 8:30PM

The Tribe are coming off a two game sweep of the Buffalo Stampede at the Ice House winning on Friday by a score of 8-0 and Saturday afternoon 14-3.

Metro picked up a win on Saturday down in Cincinnati where they defeated the Cyclones by a score of 10-0.

“Our guys are excited about this weekend, we know we are playing two good opponents and we need to be ready for the weekend.” Said head coach Kenny Miller  

The Cherokee players will be wearing special event Christmas jerseys and the coaching staff will be wearing ugly Christmas sweaters during the game. Fans are encouraged to wear holiday attire for the game.  

“It’s always fun to wear special event jerseys, we are hoping Cherokee nation comes out in full force on Friday night to support our guys.” Added Miller

Any GTAHA player wearing his or her Cherokee jersey will be admitted for FREE to the game.

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

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

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TOLEDO CHEROKEE LOOKING FOR BILLET FAMILIES

(2022-23 SEASON)

The Toledo Cherokee are looking for billet families for the upcoming season 2022-2023. A Billet Family opens their home to selected players in order to give them a safe and stable environment while they are away from their own homes.  Our players are between ages 16 and 20.  For many of them this is the first time away from home, making it essential that they are comfortable with who they are staying with.  We would like to have many options when placing our players with a family.  Most players have transportation of their own and if they do not we place them with another player who does.  The players must be going to school or working.

The players will arrive in early September and stay until the middle of March.

Billet families receive a stipend each month of $325.00 from each player they are housing to help offset the additional food and utility expenses of the household.

If you would be interested in additional information in becoming a Billet Family, please email General Manager/Head Coach Kenny Miller at kmiller@macombgroup.com or Vice President/Director of Finance Carey Manders at cmanders2@bex.net.

GO CHEROKEE!!!!!

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