SUBJECT: HC Changes for 2018-19 Season
In our continued effort to improve, Hockey Calgary and our member associations have been reviewing our programs to ensure we are meeting the needs of our members. At this same time the governing bodies of Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta have announced changes that will affect the way programs are offered in Calgary and across the country.
As we get set to open registration for another season below is a list of some of the major changes that will take place for the upcoming 2018-19 season:
1. ½ Ice Hockey for the Novice Program (2011 age group only for 2018-19 season)
Implement 1 Year Age Category for Novice Hockey for the 2018/19 season
2010 born players (8 year olds), who played Novice in the 2017/18 season, will continue to play full ice hockey for the 2018/19 season
2011 born players (7 year olds), who played Initiation in the 2017/18 season, will play ½ ice hockey for the 2018/19 season as per the recommendation of Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta. Topline structure of the game format is as follows:
Only 2 teams will be scheduled per each game slot
Teams will play split squad, ½ at each end
Games will be played 4 on 4 (plus goalies)
Line changes will be on the buzzer (length TBD)
No off-sides, no icings
1 official at each end
House League – Will be played under the ½ ice model. 2010 & 2011 born players in this stream will play in a mixed age category, under the ½ ice guidelines
See link with bulletin from April 23, as the program evolves more detailed information to follow over the summer months
o https://www.hockeycalgary.ca/page/index/id/533/
2. RIS Re-certification every 4 years/ Coach RIS Re-certification now part of program
In 2017-18 Hockey Calgary instituted re-certification of the RIS ‘Parent’ program with the goal of continuing to educate our membership
For the 2018-19 season Hockey Alberta has followed suit, and now will require the same 4 year re-certification for all parents within Hockey Alberta
Hockey Alberta has also implemented that the RIS ‘Coach’ Program be re- certified every 4 years. Therefore, all coaches within the Hockey Calgary program who certified with RIS prior to the 2015 season will be required to re-certify this as well (Speak Out is no longer grandfathered for RIS Coach)
Recertification will be required every 4 years beginning in the 2017-18 season
The recertification process was activated on May 1, of each year, and those who have not taken the course over the past 4 years will be required to recertify prior to registering for the upcoming season
See Attached Hockey Alberta memo
i. https://www.hockeycalgary.ca/assets/file/1713_-_Respect_in_Sport.pdf
3. Pee Wee League Structure
In 2016-17 HC piloted a new Atom league structure, in 2017-18 we modified the structure and implemented. This structure proved to be very successful and we will continue with it at the Atom level
At this same time HC and our member Associations feel that the ‘Atom’ structure will benefit the Pee Wee Age Category, therefore for the 2018-19 season we will be aligning the Pee Wee structure to that of the Atom structure
Pee Wee will move from 12 divisions to 7
Associations will be required to have 2 equally balanced teams in select divisions (as per a pre-determined tiering grid)
Some divisions of Pee Wee will be structured in a North/South division alignment, similar to the Atom structure
4. Alberta One Standardized Tiering
Over the past couple of seasons Hockey Alberta has been looking at ways to standardize tiering to improve the competitiveness of play throughout the season and at provincial play down time.
In April Hockey Alberta released a ‘Standardized Tiering Model’ for all tiers ‘below AA Hockey’ that all Minor Hockey Associations will be required to follow for the upcoming season (in Alberta AA hockey exists in PW, Bantam & Midget)
As a member of Hockey Alberta, Hockey Calgary will be required to follow this tiering grid for the 2018-19 season for all age categories (atom – midget) that fall below AA programs.
With our new league structures Hockey Calgary is mostly aligned, but will require some associations (based on size) to have an increased number of teams at higher levels based on the HA tiering grid, more details to follow.
See attached Hockey Alberta memo
i. https://www.hockeycalgary.ca/assets/file/1712_-
We thank you in advance for your support of these modifications. Change is never easy but it is often necessary if we hope to improve the state of the game within Hockey Calgary. We look forward to another exciting season in 2018-19.
See you at the rink!!