MIDGET

MINOR JUNIOR
PROPOSAL
ODMHA SUB-COMMITTEE

AGENDA
-

Background

Key Note Address ODMHA President: Denis Dumais

Key Discussion Areas:

Combined midget age group

Governance
-

Registration, Discipline

Financials
Player Selection (Movement & Affiliation)
Ice Allocation

League Objective

Committee Findings

Appendices

BACKGROUND
o

Minor identified to the CCHL the midget level was suffering due to players graduating to
Junior @ age 16 disconnect between minor & junior.

The CCHL group has been researching for the past 18 months how to best provide a
program to help the midget level that benefits both minor and junior.

The CCHL commissioner submitted a proposal to minor for review, this included:
Numbers of OHL drafts with or without AAA
``Minor Midget Myth`` (career is over at age 15 if undrafted)
Providing more NCAA opportunity
Comparison study with USPHL Model
o The CCHL commissioner hosted a workshop with an invitation extended to minor to walk
through several presentations and collaborate on how the two groups could proceed
together. The committee reviewed the output of the workshop session.
o

ODMHA struck a committee to review the merits of the proposal

The minor junior sub-committee collaborated through many meetings:

o
o
o
o
o

sub-committee meetings
sub-committee meetings with Junior
sub-committee and midget sub-committee meeting
sub-committee with HEO, ODMHA Registrar
sub-committee with ODMHA zoning & constitution

KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Introduction from ODMHA President:
Denis Dumais

MINOR JUNIOR MIDGET AAA

Summary of Objectives for the minor junior midget AAA league:
To provide Midget players with a structured and competitive level of hockey to
ensure their continued development entering Junior hockey (clear path for
development)
To Allow players to advance at their own pace within a club system
Typically NCAA commits begin playing at Age 20-21
Many Junior A/B opportunities for players who continue to play hockey at Age
16 and 17*

Increases exposure to schools and opportunities within local junior clubs and
within Major Junior/NCAA
Ensure academics are a continued priority for student athletes
Set games/practices
Shutdown for exam week

Continuity of programs in the new development league same practice ice,

same off ice, etc(minimum team operating standards)
Development path is known for players within the system, they are able to set
their hockey goals
Radius criteria to allow as many players the opportunity to play as close to
home as possible

WHAT DO OTHER PROVINCES DO?

Quebec ligue de midget AAA (age 15, 16 et 17), 3 divisions with 15 teams, players AP to QC Major Junior, Population of Province
8,214.7 (by thousands stats can 2014)
Alberta Alberta Midget Hockey League AMHL (age 15, 16 & 17), the league consists of 18 teams split into the Dodge and
Chrysler Divisions, Population of Province 4,121.7 (by thousands stats can 2014)
Saskatchewan - Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL), U18 comprised of 12 teams, Population of Province
1,125.4 (by thousands stats can 2014)
BC BC Hockey Major Midget League BC MML (age 15, 16 & 17), League hosts 11 teams, Population of Province 4,631,3 (by
thousands stats can 2014)
Manitoba Manitoba Midget AAA Hockey League MMHL, League hosts 12 teams (age 15, 16 & 17), Population of Province 1,282
(by thousands stats can 2014)
Ontario - Leagues for Midget:
Eastern AAA Hockey League (13 teams - Barrie, Markham, etc)
Greater Toronto Hockey League GTHL
Alliance (13 teams in Minor and 8 teams in Major)
OEMHL AAA (5 teams in Minor and 5 teams in Major)
Great North Midget League GNML (9 teams - age 15, 16 & 17)
Population of Province 13,678.7 (by thousands stats can 2014)
East
- Nova Scotia major Midget Hockey League NSMMHL - Two divisions with 8 and 6 teams (age 15, 16 & 17)
- New Brunswick PEI Major Midget Hockey League, Major & Minor Midget
- Newfoundland Major Midget Hockey League NLMMHL, League hosts 5 teams (age 15, 16 & 17)

Finding across Canada the midget level is the combined age group except the GTHL and PEI.

GOVERNANCE
Minor governance, minor rules.
Proposed Minor Junior Midget AAA pilot project would encompass the
following, this is aligned with Junior:
The Executive Committee shall govern in a manner consistent with the Constitution, Bylaws,
Rules and Regulations of HOCKEY CANADA, HEO; ODMHA, League Constitution, the
Executive Committee shall administer the business and affairs of the League.
The Executive Committee of the League shall consist of an appointed committee for the
duration of the pilot project as approved by the ODMHA Minor Council, as specified below:
President and Chairperson of Board Meetings (representative from minor)
Vice-President (representative from junior)
Director of Risk & Discipline (representative from minor)
Treasurer*
Secretary*
*One of the two representatives above shall be represented from minor; the remaining position
shall be a representative from junior. Nominations from districts to be sent to Wayne for vote
at minor council.

ODMHA code of discipline to be applied.

FINANCIAL OPERATIONS
For the duration of the pilot program the sub-committee
recommends and Junior is aligned, all funds are centrally
managed through the governance model with a separate
bank account.

Club Fee Range = $4,700 - $5,600 per player

All teams would hold to a minimum operating standard.
Any teams requiring above $5,600 must have approval from the league.
Expectation, the League will attract corporate sponsorship to offset costs

PLAYER SELECTION AND

MOVEMENT
- Player Rosters will be set at 17-18 players per team
- Aggressive program for affiliation
- No trades/no imports
- Player Registration
- Requirement for players with their Home Association prior on-ice to
participation remains in effect, process to determine status and MOGS
to be setup between league and home associations
- Radius Criteria
Different than current minor boundaries or zones
The radius is measured by the players home address to the nearest
club arena address, this is measured by a tool currently in use by Junior
tool = RinkNet

Category 1 = nearest team to area residence

Category 2 = less than 100 KM
Category 3 = greater than 100 KM
Player Affiliation Path (using 19-player special affiliated list)
1st option unsuccessful players released back to their drafted club
2nd option each team allowed max of 4 Major Bantam AAA Cat 1 only
3rd option teams could fill out their affiliation list from 1 or 2 from within the local
residential district

ICE ALLOCATION
Does the new league require any ice from minor?
No, but any minor ice would help reduce the cost to play for
local practice ice by team.
At this time, the CCHL has ice available from the Sensplex east & west facilities,.
Games are hosted on Mondays at the Sensplexs and Saturdays at each home
arena 2X per season.

COMMITTEE FINDINGS
After careful review, the committee finds in favour of a 3 year pilot project as the
key areas of concern have been addressed:
o

Combined midget age group, governance, Financials, Player movement (roster size), Player
affiliation, Player boundary, imports, etc

Key Points
Its a minor hockey league governed by minor rules and discipline
All ice rentals from Sensplex come from their internal programs not any minor associations
There will be no imports and no trades (minor rules)
League will have its own 5-member executive with minor & jr representatives to govern the
league
Cost is based on current AAA model with enhanced schedule, coaching & training
Player sponsors are permitted/encouraged for registration
CCHL will modify protecting & drafting rules to the betterment of new league
CCHL2/Junior B is part of the development chain since not every player makes CCHL/Jr A
True partnership between minor & junior to provide 15-20 year olds a positive environment for
development - path for players is defined

Recommendation:
To proceed with a pilot project for 3 years, and the committee will assess the pilot
after Year 2.

FOR THIS SEASON

The committee has compiled drafts/outlines the following artefacts to host
the minor junior midget AAA league this coming season, they need to be
completed & vetted by the governance committee:
- Minor Junior Pilot Project
- League Constitution
- Operating Policies & Procedures
- Playing Rules & Regulations
- WBS (timeline)
- Communication Plan (all stakeholders)
Motion: A branch-wide Midget AAA league encompassing combined
players of midget-age will commence for a 3-year pilot in the ODMHA, for
the 2015-2016 hockey season, in accordance with the regulations and
policies drafted by the sub-committee under mandate from Minor Council.
Final ratification to proceed or return to current AAA would be determined
by vote at the 2018 ODMHA AGM.
Moved by Jim Powell, Seconded by Gary Hopkins

BACK UP MATERIAL

TOURNAMENTS
With regards to tournaments:
- Showcase Events (eastern based early / western based later)
- OHL Cup:
- the league in collaboration with the OHL Cup tournament chair
would send two all-star teams to the OHL Cup.
- Similar to the current Team NOHA structure in place today.
-

Note rulebook change for our branch required.

- Home Tournament:
- In collaboration with the sensplex east & west, for Year 1, we can
host a home tournament
- Boston Tournament:
- In Year 2, the league would look to collaborate with Boston for one
away tournament if there was continued interest in away
tournaments.
- NCAA Tours league would look to setup tours of NCAA schools with
exhibition games.
- Teams will be sanctioned as AAA for tournaments
- Associations that host tournaments: apply and receive exceptions
- (i.e. Leo Boivin Tournament 43rd year)

MAXIMUM OPERATING EXPENSES

Club Fee Range = $4,700 - $5,600* per player
All teams will hold to the following minimum operating standard:
- Jerseys & Socks Home & Away, Track Suit
- 2 games per week, one home and one away (44 games)
- 4 hours of practice per week, exception exam shutdowns
- Off Ice Training
- On Ice Testing (Start & End of Season)
- Concussion Testing
- Coaching with STEVA Software
- Pointstreak Website for league
- Pointstreak Website for team
- Games on real time scoring and live streaming video
- League fees
- Equipment Packages optionally available for additional $$$
* Above $5,600 requires league approval

PLAYER AFFILIATION CHART

2015-2016 (19-PLAYER)
Level
2014-2015
Season

Affiliation Options

NotesSeason
2015-2016

Major Bantam AAA (2001)

Midget AA OR
New League Clubs
(2000/1999/1998)

Midget AA (2000,1999,1998)

New League Clubs and

(CCHL Jr B or Jr A)

New League Clubs

(2000/1999/1998)

CCHL Jr A (parent team) OR

CCHL Jr B or Jr C AND Major
Junior
CCHL Jr A AND Major Junior
Major Junior

CCHL Junior B
CCHL Junior A

Dual affiliation opportunity to both

New League Clubs and Jr B (max
10 games between both teams)
16 years olds may not AP to Jr C.

Player Affiliation Chart for Midget 2015-2016

Max 10 games per HC rule
19 player affiliation list
15 year old Midget Player can only play 5 games to Junior A and B, emergency conditions only, and the Junior team can only have
five (5) fifteen-year olds rostered. The player can join the team once their regular team has finished for the season.
16 year old Midget Player can affiliate to a max of 10 games. Junior A is allowed 2 players, Junior B teams are allowed 2 players,
and Junior C teams are allowed 1 local player. Again after the season of the regular team is finished they can join the Junior team.
17 year olds are allowed to affiliate a max of 10 games; they can join the team once their team has finished its season. Midget AA is
a max of 10 games through dual affiliation to New League Clubs /Jr B

PLAYER AFFILIATION
CHART 2014-2015
Level

2014-2015 Affiliation
Season Options
2015-2016 Notes
Season

Major Bantam AAA (2000)

Minor Midget AAA (1999)

Major Midget AAA

(1998/1997)
Minor Midget AA (1999)

Major Midget AA
(1998/1997)

Minor Midget AAA

Major Midget AAA

*Dual Affiliation minor & Jr

Jr B

**Max 5 games to Jr B or A

Jr A
Jr B

*Max 10 games to Jr B or A

Jr A
Minor Midget AAA

*Dual Affiliation

Major Midget AAA

**Max 5 games to Jr B

Jr B
Major Midget AAA

*Dual Affiliation

Jr B

**Max 5 games to Jr B

Jr A
Player Affiliation Chart for Midget 2014-2015
Max 10 games per HC rule
15 year old Midget Player can only play 5 games to Junior A and B, emergency conditions only, and the Junior team can only have five (5)
fifteen-year olds rostered. The player can join the team once their regular team has finished for the season.
16 year old Midget Player can affiliate to a max of 10 games. Junior A is allowed 2 players, Junior B teams are allowed 2 players, and Junior C
teams are allowed 1 local player. Again after the season of the regular team is finished they can join the Junior team.
17 year olds are allowed to affiliate a max of 10 games; they can join the team once their team has finished its season.

PLAYER MOVEMENT CHART

2015-2016 Season
2014-2015 Season
Major Bantam AAA
5 teams = 85 players
DOB 2000

Minor Midget AAA

5 teams = 85 players
DOB 1999
Major Midget AAA
5 teams = 96 players
DOB 1998/1997

Junior B
1998 = 36 players
Junior A
1998 = 9 players

311 players

12 Club Teams
2000/1999/1998 = 17-18 players per team

Minor Midget
5 teams = 85 players
DOB 2000

Major Midget AAA

5 teams = 90 players
DOB 1999/1998

District AA
Minor Midget = 170 players
District AA
Major Midget = 110 -170 players
Junior B 16 year olds
Junior A 16 year olds
Any additional players will draw from the following pools:
1-Minor retention of players who choose to remain in midget versus junior, currently
9 (Jr A) +36 (Jr B) 16 year olds 2014/2015 season
2-Retention of 17 year olds that will remain playing hockey as will be the feeder to Jr
instead of the perception around Midget AAA
3-Natural growth and spike in Major Bantam and Minor Midget
4-Broadened base of opportunity for AAA caliber players currently playing AA due to current
structure of less teams (more Midget AA drafts).
5-Development model will curb drop outs who usually revisit their plans after CCHL draft
(being expanded) and OHL draft (education about other options will motivate) is not
successful and other players in the same birth year advance.