With the introduction of the OHF/OMHA return to play for
hockey 2020/2021 we felt it was important to make sure our members understand
what hockey will look like for this upcoming season. We have several members that are on current
waivers with other associations and we want to make sure they make an educated
decision on what their participation will look like this year.
In a message from OHF Director Phillip Mckee, in an article titled: No return to normal rep hockey until there’s a vaccine he said “This model (for reopening) is not built on representative hockey; this model is built on getting kids back on ice and masses of kids back on the ice”. Tryouts, travel leagues, tournaments and year-end championships won’t occur until Stage 4, Mckee said, that won’t likely come until the province moves into the fourth stage of its reopening plan. Mckee goes on to say “The key focus is about player development. Getting kids back on the ice. Giving kids the opportunity to participate with other players. Building good physical and mental health of individuals and to begin hockey in a safe manner". There are NO current plans for any representative tryouts at this time.
To read the complete article click here
The OMHA has given the opportunity for its members to sign up with the team that they played for last year or their home organization. The ability to sign up for your team from last year gives the players that played on waivers an opportunity to continue to participate within the zone. As per OHF guidelines, players have the option of remaining where they were in the 2019-20 season or returning to their home Association. Player’s cannot play for more than one association or league at this time and are not affected by the Public Health Units (PHU), but teams are and cannot play across multiple PHUs.
We are fortunate at KAMHA to have enough membership that running our program very similar to years past is very feasible except for travel to other centers. We will run our Tiered House League in appropriate participant numbered cohorts set out by the Province of Ontario - which currently is set to 50 people. We hope that will expand early in the year to allow larger groups. We will continue to focus on skills and development for this group along with enjoying competitive games weekly. This falls within the OHF return to play guidelines.
Click here for the OHF return to play document published on July 27th
Please note that if or when the OMHA gives the green light for travel hockey, you will be free to tryout with AAA - there is no obligation to stay with KAMHA or the Kingston Canadians once representative hockey begins.
We have opened registration for our members and the response has been overwhelming. Please do not hesitate to sign up if you are interested in participating this year.
We look forward to working with our members and the Kingston Community in these unprecedented times to bring hockey back in a safe and fun manner. We are all missing the game and excited to get back on the ice.
Yours in hockey
Steve Walker