IHF News - The New Face of the IHF!



From: Jay Piz 
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011
To: 'Undisclosed List'
Subject: The New Face of the IHF!


Dear High School Roller Hockey Fans;
I'm writing to you today to introduce you to Mr. Scott Duffner, the new face and president of the IHF. Effective today, Scott is heading up the operations of the Board and the IHF League. 

A busy executive, Scott is Vice President of Construction & Development for the Yard House Restaurants headquartered in Irvine and is a longtime roller hockey fan who started his volunteer coaching with teams for his sons, John & Jordan, at the Laguna Hills outdoor facility and later at Irvine. Along with his wife, Sharon, Scott has been a part of the El Toro Chargers' roller hockey family for years, and in 2008, volunteered for his role on the IHF Board of Directors. From hosting events to participating in every process and program of the IHF since, Scott epitomizes the volunteer spirit and advocacy that is the backbone of this organization. I am confident that the IHF's future is secure in his very capable hands.

On February 3rd, Scott and the IHF Board of Directors, comprised of Andy Smith (Villa Park HS), Bill Schaible (Santiago HS), Eddie Limbaga (949 Roller Hockey Ctr.), Michael Curran (Laguna Hills HS), Stephen Berger (Canyon HS), Toma Ghiran (Trabuco Hills HS), and Tracy Robinson (Mission Viejo HS, retired), accepted my resignation as president of the IHF. Having joined the Board in 2005 to represent Northwood High School, today - the first day of the IHF Spring League games, I will be assisting the Board in transition as I join the ranks of fans & spectators and remain forever an endeared fan of high school roller hockey. 

Moving forward, Scott and the Board, and indeed this league, will need your support for the challenges ahead more than ever. There has been a significant decline in scholastic hockey enrollment over the past two years and the forecast ahead is gray. From an enrollment high in the 2007-08 season of 56 teams and nearly 700 student-athletes, the IHF league has been in steady decline since. The 2010-11 fall/winter season enrollment was down to 32 teams comprised of 400 student-athletes representing 23 high schools, and this only after having taken bold measures and implementing drastic changes. Relying on the graduation years of eligible student-athletes in our data, the forecast through 2015 portends an alarming drop for subsequent years. While the new IHF Spring league has set a record for enrollment, volunteerism and creative thinking are needed to help turn around the decline for the future. It is my hope that each of you will gather your resources to enhance awareness and bolster advocacy to this worthy cause and to also understand the challenges that the volunteers that make up the IHF Board face on behalf of the sport and those student-athletes it represents.

Thank You one and all for your participation with the IHF and with High School Roller Hockey. It has been my sincere privilege to work with you.


Best regards,
Jay Piz



“IHF” (Interscholastic Hockey Federation) High School Roller Hockey
www.IHF-HOCKEY.org | ihfhockey@gmail.com 

Playing with classmates for the school colors and mascot is an important part of the roller hockey experience growing up. Please help us to keep our student-athletes on the rinks!