Total Roller Hockey Celebrates Grand Opening With Peter Dale and Mission Hockey
April 26, 2009

Total Roller Hockey spent the weekend of April 24-25 celebrating their grand opening of their new location in Novi which opened in January. What a better way to do so then by hosting roller hockey renowned trainer, Peter Dale. TRH started off the weekend with a local adult tournament on Friday. It was a packed house right from the start. Mission Roller Hockey’s display was on hand to view all their 09 products along with plenty of giveaways. Saturday morning brought out 25 eager 12u players and parents. After a friendly welcome and check in from Peter Dale and his USA Clinics, it was right to some grueling off court training. “It was one of the best workouts I have ever had” said Pat Lee of the Mission Syndicate pro team based in California. Pat was one of a number of quality trainers Peter had on hand. Players from the Detroit Mission Stars pro team also supplied their expertise. . After getting on the floor for some intense skills training it was awards time. Peter presented all of his participants with a Mission Stick bag along with phat tape and other prizes. Saturday afternoon’s session was next along with a barbecue. The 16u group found some of the top talent in the metro area for another challenging off / on floor workout. “The weekend was a great success”. “It’s always fun to come to Detroit and work with dedicated players and trainers” Peter said. Sunday the fun continued with the tournaments finals.

Total Roller Hockey is run and directed by Jim Gorney. “It was an awesome weekend of weather and fun” said Gorney. “We put on a great show for our customers”. All of Total Sports Complex’s programs can be viewed on their website.

Detroit Mission Stars Help NARCH At Silver/Club Qualifier
March 9, 2009

Narch wanted to continue their growth at the grass roots level. What better way then to come to the Detroit area and Total Roller Hockey. Although Michigan is hockey rich in both ice and roller this level is the heart and soul of the sport. Detroit Mission Stars helped Narch by fielding teams in a 5 division the weekend of March 6th-8th. It was a great event for players from the surrounding areas to get a taste of Narch for the first time. “It was a huge success” stated Narch president Daryn Goodwin who personally came out to oversee the event. “Next year we hope to get more teams and build on this weekend” said Goodwin. Narch will be returning May 22-24th for the most competitive qualifiers on their schedule at Joe Dumars Fieldhouse in Shelby, Mi. Local house and Rec. team are also encouraged to attend as they plan to have Rec. divisions as well.

After playing in the championship game in the men’s division, program director Dave Zarem could not have been more pleased. “We take pride in our involvement at the grass roots level to help promote the sport” said Zarem. Look for all the DMS teams to participate in the qualifier in May at Dumars.

The DMS program off to a Huge start
January 9, 2009

The programs tryouts brought over 100 players for 8 youth teams. Here is a run down of this years line up.

Cub 6u
This year the DMS program has added the youngest division recognized in the sport. Newcomer, Tom Simo will be leading this batch of little guys this year. Tom brings many years of experience both as a player and coach to the DMS program “This program is the best place for a young athlete to start,” said Simo. “The guidance these players will receive will help them develop into respected athletes”

Atom 8u
After having an 8u team in there inaugural season coached by Jeff Temple they decided not to fill this age group last year as program director Dave Zarem couldn't’t find the right coach. After interviewing 3 people for the position it was an easy pick. Harry Barnett who was an Asst. to the 12u team last year gets the reins. “Again, we have an experienced non-parent coach with ice hockey and inline background that were looking for,” stated Zarem.
Coach Harry is extremely excited to have his own team. “Coaching with Rob Mortiere last year gave me the confidence to take my own team this year and I am grateful to the organization,” explained Barnett.

Mite 10u
Although 10u seems young this group plays like they are older. This is due to the fact for some; this will be their 3rd season with the program. Head Coach Jeff Temple has been with the program from its infancy and has years of experience coaching and playing ice hockey as well as roller hockey. After medalling the first 2 years, Coach Temps feels pretty good about taking this team all the way in 09. “I look forward to continuing to lead these young players in the right direction both on and off the floor,” said Temple.

Squirt 12u
Head Coach Rob Mortiere is also coming back for his 3rd season and 2nd with the 12u group. “I think I have matured both on and off the floor in the past 2 years and look to succeed in every aspect of our winter, spring and summer session so this team can be ready for Narch.” Coach Rob explained. “We have added some real talent this year that my coaching staff and I feel will take us to the next level”.

Pee Wee 14u
Program director Dave Zarem new the time would come that one of his pro team players would be ready to step up to lead the way for one of his youth teams. “We have selected John Murray with know worries” Zarem said. “John has been one of the most mature guys I have known going way back to his H.S days playing for us on the Novi Varsity ice hockey team”
“ I look forward to coaching this team and feel comfortable doing so, since I have been with the players for the past couple of sessions” Coach Murray stated. “Most of these now, young men have been playing long enough that they understand the DMS system”.

Bantam 93’s
Coach Tom Simo who is also coaching the cub 6u team leads the way with this experienced group. This division has been split up to accommodate all the interest in the 93 and 92 birth dates. Again the non-parent coach helps keep things in line with a group of 15-16 year olds. “We have a group of long time Inline players and have added some ice kids to this team,” Simo said. With the talent we have we should always be in any game know matter who we play”.

Bantam 92’s
Head Coach Dave Zarem stays with the kids he started with in 07 and leads the most experienced group of the program. “These kids have turned into men in a few short years and we are pleased with their development on and off the floor” said Zarem. “I am very proud of the way these young men have carried themselves”. “After finishing 1st overall last year in the round robin out of 26 teams and losing in the first round, I feel these guys are very hungry”.

Midget 18u
This team has been formed so the programs players have a place to play all the way through all divisions. This completes the full spectrum of the divisions, Cub 6u all the way up to this division of Midget 18u. Dave Zarem will be in charge of guiding this team to Toronto.

Mens
Zarem brings his veteran players back from another successful season, which saw them; win their 3rd straight State Wars championship. Although they had to give up there 4 year rein at Narch due to some injuries and other commitments, the team is healthy and plans on getting the Narch cup back in this years finals. The players have combined for 16 Narch championships along with 10 USA ice hockey National Championships.

Pro
Mike Schnurr and Dave Zarem brought a pro team to Narch last year and had some people wondering if they may be the 08 Narch Champs. After coming from behind most of the round robin the team didn’t advance due to goals against. “I think some teams where pretty happy to see that they didn’t have to face us in the playoffs” said head coach Mike Schnurr. “These guys have been playing together since they where Mites” “We have won at every level expect pro” They look to change that at this years finals in Toronto.

DETROIT MISSION STARS ONLY YOUTH TEAMS AT NARCH FROM HOCKEY TOWN
Wednesday, 24 September 2008

Although the Detroit Mission Stars current pro team went into their 13th Narch final, The DMS youth inline roller hockey program can now call themselves veterans as well. After competing in a Estero, Florida in 2007, Mike Schnurr’s and Dave Zarem’s youth program had the first year jitters behind them. The program was proud to be the only Michigan teams representing the state in all youth divisions at this year final in San Jose, California. For most players in the DMS organization the experience of playing last year showed.

The program consists of Jeff Temples 10u, Rob Mortiere’s 12u, Dean D’Angelo 14u and Dave Zarem’s 16u team competed on July 10-14th. In all they went 10-5 in round robin play with 3 teams making the playoffs with the 10u finishing 3rd out of 15 teams, 14u finishing 8th out of 24 teams, and the 16u finishing 1st out of 27 teams in the round robin. The teams entered the playoffs with high hopes. Jeff Temple’s 10u team got by the first round with a 7-0 win. “This is where Narch gets tough and any level” said coach Temple. Facing a tough St. Louis Cobras team the Stars loss 8-2. This was not going to keep a very experienced group of players down. They game out with fire in the eye to take home some hardware in the bronze game, and beat a good Colorado team 5-3 to medal for the second year. Dean D’Angelo’s 14u team after struggling all year at home seemed to put it all together when it counted. Facing the always-tough Mission AKS team from Ca. they played DMS hockey controlling their own end and winning 2-1. Again getting deep into the playoffs at Narch is very difficult and facing the strong team of all ice hockey players from Columbia was going to be a challenge. Again playing DMS hockey the game was tied 1-1 through most of the 1st half eventually losing 5-1 to the 2nd seed.

Dave Zarem 16u team powered through the round robin only giving up 3 goals finishing 1st seed out of 27 teams. Even with Zarem’s experience over the years he wasn’t over confident knowing that they where the team to beat. Getting a buy in the first round and a good nights sleep they where ready for a battle against an all ice team from Edmonton Ont. An ice hockey game it was. Up and down. Good clean physical play. Both teams getting chances on the power play. Scoring went back and forth with DMS losing after a gallant flurry with their goalie pulled 4-3.

“This program as grown by leaps and bounds in two short years” said Zarem. “We plan on both growing with adding teams and playing at the higher level next year”.

Schnurr and Zarems pro team improved their line up from last year but failed to advance after the round robin due to the all-important goals against.

Game #1 was against local college stars Kryptonics. After going down 4-0 the Stars stormed back and ended up tying the game 7-7.

Game #2 was to face the veteran pro team Tour Mudcats. Again finding themselves down 4-1 came back with 3 unanswered goals and tied 4-4.

“Although winning is important we are very proud the way all the teams carried themselves, it was a total success.

Detroit Mission Stars / Press Release
Monday, 19 May 2008

Members from the Detroit Mission Stars roller hockey teams learned firsthand that commitment, courage and strength can come in many sizes and shapes. On Sunday, May 18, 2008 this group of young men and women met soldiers from the Army’s 783’d MP battalion and were treated to an amazing experience.

The players were there to donate travel packs to the soldiers to take with them on their mobilization later this summer. Players representing four teams and ranging in age from 9-17 years old spent an afternoon assembling bags with a variety of items and making posters in support of the troops. Mike Schnurr of Lipari Foods, one of the Co- Directors of Detroit Mission Stars, donated cases of water and snacks and donated the funds used to purchase items for the soldiers.

The players proudly wore their team jerseys and stood in awe as the entire battalion thanked them for their donation. 1SG Sergeant Michael Julvezan presented Dave Zarem, Co-Director of Detroit Mission Stars with a plaque that recognized the DMS program for their dedication to the armed forces, in turn Zarem gave a heartfelt thank you to the Army and all of the soldiers. Zarem then offered the support of their entire organization and dedicated the 08 season to them. It was an inspiring event to watch humble soldiers shaking the player’s hands and thanking them for the travel packs. The battalion leaders 1LT Paul Workman and 1SG Michael Julvezan made arrangements for a personal tour of the facility for all the players and their families. The highlight for the players was being allowed to try on actual soldier uniforms and taking rides in some of the military vehicles. The Stars were able to see and feel the dedication, pride and respect that the soldiers had and it was more than apparent it made a huge impact on these young men and women.

Detroit Mission Stars adhere to a strict code of conduct that promotes family, academic and athletic success. “Our program is more than just hockey” Zarem said. “Of course we want to win hockey games, but the focus is on preparing our players to become well rounded individuals”. Throughout the tour many of the players and parents noticed that every soldier had a patch of an American flag that was facing in the opposite direction on their uniforms. Julvezan informed the group that this flag means the battalion is always looking to move forward. The players will be traveling to San Jose, California this summer to compete in a national roller hockey tournament and have dedicated their efforts to the soldiers. They have vowed to stay in contact with the battalion and will continue to “look forward” to their safe return home.

Special thanks go out to Denise Cather (10u) for her help in setting this great event up.