Enhance athletic performance and foster lifelong wellness by establishing healthy habits at a young age.

Fall sports have ended, and the hockey season is in full swing. Youth hockey is about more than just skating fast and scoring goals — it’s about building habits that create success on and off the ice. 

Young players should learn the importance of fueling their bodies with nutritious foods, such as lean proteins (chicken, fish, eggs), complex carbohydrates (whole grains, fruits, vegetables), and plenty of water for hydration. Avoid pregame meals loaded with sugar or caffeine.

Proper nutrition supports energy, focus, and overall well-being, including recovery. Combined with consistent sleep, mindfulness, and balancing school responsibilities, these habits help players perform their best and develop lifelong wellness, confidence, and resilience.

Our community is stronger because of the people who are a part of it. Here we'll feature the members who help make it so special. This week, get to know...

The Brighton Family

Why is it great to be a General?

Patrick: The word family often gets overused and feels cliché at times, but at Newark, you feel like part of a family. We met some of our closest friends at the rink because our kids played together. We regularly support each other when life gets too busy and our players need a ride. Our program is small enough that you get to know everyone, but large enough to provide all kids with ample opportunities at different levels of hockey. We also have the Lou and Gib Reese Ice Arena, a great local ice rink that has been our home since our creation 30 years ago. 

Click below to read the full family interview:

• 11/5 - 11/19 Holiday plant sales (fundraiser)
• 11/13, 11/20 Collection dates for Food Drive
• 11/9 virtual kickoff meeting @ 7pm for the 30th Anniversary Planning committee
• 11/11 & 11/12 Picture Day with TSS Photography
• 12/10 Plant order pickup date
• 12/26 Alumni game
• 12/29 & 12/30 Holiday Clinic with Denison Coach Jeff German. 8u/10u 4:15-6:15pm each day. 12u/14u 6:25-8:25pm each day
• 2/5 Senior night
• 3/6-3/8 Newark Invitational for 8U & 10U House teams
• 3/13-3/15 Newark Invitational for 12U & 14U Travel B teams
• 3/21 Save the Date for 30th Anniversary/Year-end Banquet at Venue 901 in Newark!

• Jersey order #3/FINAL: Order placed Oct 1st. Shipment is expected for delivery mid-late November
• Jersey order #2: Delivered
• Jersey order #1: Delivered

Interested in helmet decals or other Gens products & gifts? Click one of the buttons below to view selections!

• Special order from Perani's for coaches & managers is expected for 11/18
• Online stores for supporturlocal, Perani's, and GotGear4U will return for the holidays. Keep checking back for more great Gens apparel and gift options!

Help strengthen our community and become a volunteer! Our non-profit organization relies on volunteers to run our programs and to help keep costs down.

Please contact any Board member to learn more and get involved!

If you see someone wearing this pin, ask them what it means and learn how you can get one!

Join the Planning Committee for our year-end celebration!

We’re seeking volunteers to help plan this milestone event! Our virtual kickoff meeting will be held on Sunday, November 9th at 7:00 PM.

👉 Click here to join the meeting: Join the Teams Meeting

Whether you’re full of creative inspiration, great with logistics, or want to be part of the fun, we’d love to have you join us. This is a great way to get involved and help create a memorable night for our players, families, and alumni.

Holiday Plant Sale

NIHA is partnering with Foertmeyer & Sons for a Holiday Plant & Gift Fundraiser to help raise money for our End-of-Year celebration event.

Please check your player’s bag for a catalog featuring some of Ohio’s best poinsettias, plants, greenery, festive pots, and unique gift items — just in time for the holiday season.

Fundraiser Details:

• Sale Dates: 11/5 – 11/19
• Pickup Date: 12/10
• Where the Money Goes: Every dollar raised will go directly toward our 30th Anniversary & end-of-season celebration!

The player who sells the most will win a $100 gift card to Pure Hockey!

Please reach out to Summer Dougherty by text or email at

614-404-8589 or asdougherty85@gmail.com with questions

Download the Parent Letter below.

Click below to the online store if you would like to make a purchase but are not associated with a player.

Sign up for Kroger Community Rewards and link your Kroger Plus Card to the Newark Ice Hockey Association. A percentage of your spending will go directly back to the Generals—helping our players and programs grow.

✅ No extra cost to you

✅ Doesn’t affect your Kroger fuel points or rewards

✅ Just shop like you normally do!

👉 Register today at www.kroger.com/communityrewards and search for Newark Ice Hockey Association.

Every swipe makes a difference. Thank you for supporting the Generals!

A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.

-John Wooden

UCLA Basketball Coach

The NIHA all-coaches meeting took place on 9/8 with coaches ranging from 8U through Varsity in attendance. They discussed rules and expectations for the 2025-'26 season, shared tips & tools for successful practice structures, game-day experiences, and more. Hockey Director, Jeff Laird, highlighted the importance of being a mentor and the benefits of positivity; "Not only do great coaches provide the technical knowledge and tactical guidance to improve an athlete's performance and lead a team to success, but they also teach young people how to interact, bond, grow, learn, and overcome adversity."

Next time you see one of our amazing coaches, please let them know how much you appreciate their time, effort, and energy.

2025-2026 marks the 30th anniversary of NIHA and Generals Hockey, so what better time could there be to bring back the annual banquet to reflect on our past season as well as honor players, coaches, volunteers, and alumni?

In years past, the NIHA community would gather to reflect on its season during an annual banquet. Over time, this event faded away, but it was never forgotten. In fact, it's remembered by Gens alumni as one of the highlights of the season. This year we are bringing it back, bigger and better than ever!

Event Details

Date: Saturday, 3/21, 2026

Location: Venue 901, Newark, Ohio

The 30th Anniversary Celebration & Year-end event will serve as:

• A season wrap-up recognizing the dedication and achievements of our players, coaches, and volunteers.
• A celebration of 30 years of youth hockey in our community.
• An opportunity to strengthen community ties through alumni engagement, sponsorship recognition, and family participation.
• A fundraising opportunity to support the league’s continued growth and future programs.

Picture Day with TSS photography

Picture days have been scheduled for the week of November 11th for individual and team photos. Lady Generals will take place later this season (TBA).

This will be the only opportunity for photos this season. No make-up dates will be scheduled.

Photos will take place during each team’s regularly scheduled practice times. Parents, please make sure players arrive on time and in the correct jerseys as noted below.

Tuesday, November 11th

• 7:40 PM – 8U House, 8U Select, & 10U House (Black jerseys)
• 8:40 PM – 12U House & 14U House (Black jerseys)

Wednesday, November 12th

• 4:20 PM – Varsity (White jerseys)
• 5:50 PM – Junior Varsity (White jerseys)
• 7:10 PM – 10U Travel & 12U Travel (Black jerseys)
• 8:10 PM – 14U Travel (Black jerseys)

The Newark Gens have teamed up with the Food Pantry Network of Licking County for a holiday food drive. Non-perishable items can be dropped off at The Lou on 10/23,11/6, 11/13, & 11/20 during Thursday night Fundamentals practices. Alternatively, scan the QR code to make a cash donation via Venmo, please note "food drive" in the comments. Join in to help strengthen our community this holiday season.

• Shed hours are from 6-8pm Wednesday nights, or by appointment. Contact Andy Hollis, Gear Coordinator
• Registration is ongoing for our 8U in-house program and 10U House division participating in the CBJHL
• Mark your calendars for Thanksgiving and Winter Holiday clinics! Dates and details to come.
• Reminder to all players, please make sure your USA number is uploaded into Crossbar, and players 17 or turning 17 this season need to complete the SafeSport player training.  

The Lou offers a six-week beginner adult hockey program. All adults who've ever had any interest in hockey are encouraged to sign up. Let’s grow the sport of hockey right here in Licking County. Besides, your kids might think you're cool if you try it! Second session details coming soon.

• Adult League playoffs start in December 
• Next session games start in January 
• Standing below:

Check out the cool new uniform for Three Tigers!

We are a beginner-friendly, small, non-checking, recreational hockey league for women of all skill levels (18 years and older). Whether you are new to hockey or a seasoned vet, we would love to have you join us on the ice!

Note: The NIHA women’s league has games just before the adult skills session on Sunday nights. Ladies, join both! We hope to see some moms out there!

Is there anything more fun than a teambuilder!? We encourage all Gens teams to collaborate on AND off the ice to develop a stronger sense of unity, which directly translates to better results on the ice and a more positive overall team experience!

Help us grow our image library by sending us a favorite photo or video clip to feature on our website and social media. We want to see players, families, and volunteers from all across NIHA, top to bottom, representing what it means to be a General on or off the ice.

Please send images as .jpg files and video as MP4. Bonus if you share a quote on what it means to be a General! Send to Nandi O'Dell a odellnandi@gmail.com or text to 614-563-3579