ATOM (U11) AND PEEWEE(U13) MOVING TO LOCAL LEAGUE, News (St. Thomas Minor Hockey)

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Feb 25, 2020 | STMHA | 15256 views
ATOM (U11) AND PEEWEE(U13) MOVING TO LOCAL LEAGUE
NOTICE TO ALL HOUSE LEAGUE FAMILIES.  Starting in the 2020-21 hockey season, STMHA will be switching our Atom and Peewee house league program over to local league.  This decision was not an easy one and much time and consideration went into it.  We understand this will not be a popular decision to some but registration numbers are dictating this.  More details will follow in the coming months. Below are some Frequently Asked Questions that will hopefully answer some initial questions.

1) What about Novice (U9) , IP (U7) and IP2(U8) hockey?
There will be no changes to these age groups.  STMHA will still offer in house games and development.

2) Our family cannot do the travel associated with Local League, what options do we have?
STMHA is working on a solution for this.  Our hope is to offer a Saturday morning pickup or shinny hockey solution.  For players that just want to play some games on Saturday mornings only, we will be providing an option to do so.  More details to follow on this.  This option will have no practices during the week, it will simply be games on Saturday mornings, refs and scorekeepers will still be provided.  

3)  Why was this decision made?
STMHA thought long and hard about this but the registration numbers for house league have been declining and we are finding it hard to have 4 team leagues with sufficient numbers on each team. House league registration numbers are not finalized until the end of September and if not enough players register it leaves the association no time to react.  Our Peewee (U13) division has 8 skaters per team this year and at times needs to be back-filled with Atom (U11) aged players.

4)  Where would new local league teams play?
Local league teams play in the Lambton-Middlesex Local League.  Please visit their website to see what centers we would compete against.  LOCAL LEAGUE WEBSITE

As we get more information and details we will be sure to pass on.  If you have any questions or concerns please email them to [email protected]
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