The members of the CMHA board would like to thank the parents of our younger athletes for their patience while we reviewed the Hockey Canada guidelines for programming for Players 8 years and under. After reviewing the guidelines and consulting with the OMHA we are pleased to announce that:
The CMHA will offer, similar to in the past, for players 6 and under:
Players 5 year old and under will register in Chips 1
Players 6 Years old will register in Chips 2
Players 6 years and under (or later) must remain in CMHA Chips programs. Per Hockey Canada and the OMHA.
Chips 1 and 2 will be implemented according to the Hockey Canada and OMHA Novice and below programming, Initiation Program (IP), guide (link available on CMHA website)
CMHA will offer Novice BB and Novice AE (Novice AE will be based on registration numbers / player ability / family(volunteer) demand)
The OMHA age of Novice Rep is 8 years old
CMHA, with support from the OMHA, will allow 7 year olds to try out for Novice Rep and make Novice Rep teams based on the OMHA criteria: "If deemed able by ability using parameters identified by the Association or where registration numbers require". CMHA ability criteria has been set that the player needs to be rated in the top half of the players on the team by independent assessors. This criteria has been agreed to by OMHA. CMHA/OMHA would both also expect that the majority of players on any Novice Rep team would be 8 year olds .
CMHA will run a House League (“HL”) program for the 7 and 8 year olds who do not wish to try out or do not make the Novice Rep teams. CMHA’s HL program will follow the 2019-2020 Novice season structure per Hockey Canada and OMHA Novice and below programming, Novice Program, link on CMHA website. This means that games and practice will use a half ice format at the beginning of the season and then transition to full ice beginning January 15th. CMHA continues to want to offer an option that does not require families to travel in this age group and those who wish to travel / play full ice have the chance to try out for Novice Rep.