The fourth annual SMHA Skills competitions will be held on Feb 6 and Feb 8.
Feb 6, 2012 Rankin- Bantam (AAA, AA, BB, CC)
Feb 8, 2012 Rankin - Midget (AAA, AA, BB, CC)
The 5 events include Puckhandling, Fastest Skater, Shootout, Shooting Accuracy, Hardest Shot.
AAA & AA players form the A division. BB & CC league players form the B division. Champion plaques will be awarded for each of the two divisions for each event.
Each team in SMHA is guaranteed 3 skaters, as submitted by their team staff. Goaltender participants are nominated by their team staff and then selected by an SMHA committee.
This is an exciting event for the participants and the fans.
No gate fee again this year. We will be collecting used equipment, jerseys and socks to send up north to some less fortunate communities.
Further details are forthcoming.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Update on Head Injury Policy ON HOLD
We recently posted information about a new SMHA head injury policy. Our new policy drummed up quite a bit of interest from a few key stakeholders who have provided us with some suggestions on how to bolster our policy and incorporate some local experts and care providers into the process. We'll be posting an updated policy within a few weeks.
This is serious business. We want to get it right for SMHA and SSM.
In the interim, our new policy is on hold. Players with concussions must follow the basic Hockey Canada guidelines pertaining to returning to play. All suspected head injuries should always be assessed by a medical professional.
The second policy recently passed by the SMHA board remains in effect:: "Any player who sustains a blow to the head and requires assistance leaving the ice surface cannot return to play in that game."
Adam
This is serious business. We want to get it right for SMHA and SSM.
In the interim, our new policy is on hold. Players with concussions must follow the basic Hockey Canada guidelines pertaining to returning to play. All suspected head injuries should always be assessed by a medical professional.
The second policy recently passed by the SMHA board remains in effect:: "Any player who sustains a blow to the head and requires assistance leaving the ice surface cannot return to play in that game."
Adam
Thursday, July 14, 2011
July 2011 Summer Ramblings
Did the hockey season just end or is it just starting?
LOTS to talk about.
The SMHA board recently voted to maintain bodychecking in our Bantam and Midget CC leagues for this season. We'll reassess it after this season. The sentiment around the table had nothing to do with old school thinking, or a neanderthal approach to what 'REAL HOCKEY' is. It was all about kids bouncing between bodychecking and non-bodychecking year after year and the risks associated with not being prepared to get hit.
If you read between the lines, the major push behind OHF's bodychecking ban was all about recruitment. Attracting visible minorities to hockey in the GTA has been a well documented struggle. A lot of ethnic populations in TO believe hockey is too violent and won't sign their kids up. By giving kids a non-bodychecking option in all age groups there is hope that more kids will come and play for the first time. Not exactly an issue in Bantam and Midget in Sault Ste. Marie - in 2011 anyway. But as our population evolves to be far more multi-cultural, we may be faced with the same challenges. But right now, from a registration perspective, we're at capacity.
Soo Pee Wee's peewee C division will have no bodychecking in 2011/12. It will be a great test to see if its popular or not.
On another note, we made a bold move in reducing the number of Midget AA teams from 4 top 3. A couple of key reasons. The calibre of the three teams will be stronger than with four - sorry for stating the obvious - but this will help our teams compete better in tournaments, in the NOHA's, and the OHF's. In the past couple of years our calibre has slipped below what the rest of the province would consider AA calibre, and we owe it to the OHF to ice AA calibre teams. A second key reason for strengthening the calibre of play is to create a better development environment for players who intend to eventually play at a higher level - whether it's the Northstars or the NOJHL. Or in Matt D'Agostini's case (Root River Rangers 2002) the NHL.
Couldn't we just go with one AA team and be really strong? Sure. But they'd have no place to play and wouldn't develop as well playing only in tournaments. Our multi-team Midget AA system works. Just ask the Northstars, TBirds, Eagles and Beavers.
In 2011/12 our leagues will have fewer games during the regular season. Most leagues will drop from 36 down to 31 or 32. The CARHA World Men's tournament coming in March will occupy every rink in town for 10 days so we had to cut out some games.
I attended the fundraiser last week for our friend and mega-volunteer Tullio Porco. Tullio was in a devastating car crash outside of Sudbury and crushed his lower body. Lots of surgeries and lots of hospital time. It was a great fundraiser event at the Bushplane Centre. Great turnout. Thanks to Albert Giommi for captaining the effort and to all the volunteers who donated their time. And best wishes to Tullio for continued progress in his recovery.
New scheduler in SMHA this year. Welcome to Mike Creedon who we've appointed to our board. Mike's a familiar face around the rink, football field, lacrosse court(?) and was the scheduler for the Peewee a couple years ago. Mike's working hard to remedy some of the faux pas from years past.
Gotta go. I'll add more later.
LOTS to talk about.
The SMHA board recently voted to maintain bodychecking in our Bantam and Midget CC leagues for this season. We'll reassess it after this season. The sentiment around the table had nothing to do with old school thinking, or a neanderthal approach to what 'REAL HOCKEY' is. It was all about kids bouncing between bodychecking and non-bodychecking year after year and the risks associated with not being prepared to get hit.
If you read between the lines, the major push behind OHF's bodychecking ban was all about recruitment. Attracting visible minorities to hockey in the GTA has been a well documented struggle. A lot of ethnic populations in TO believe hockey is too violent and won't sign their kids up. By giving kids a non-bodychecking option in all age groups there is hope that more kids will come and play for the first time. Not exactly an issue in Bantam and Midget in Sault Ste. Marie - in 2011 anyway. But as our population evolves to be far more multi-cultural, we may be faced with the same challenges. But right now, from a registration perspective, we're at capacity.
Soo Pee Wee's peewee C division will have no bodychecking in 2011/12. It will be a great test to see if its popular or not.
On another note, we made a bold move in reducing the number of Midget AA teams from 4 top 3. A couple of key reasons. The calibre of the three teams will be stronger than with four - sorry for stating the obvious - but this will help our teams compete better in tournaments, in the NOHA's, and the OHF's. In the past couple of years our calibre has slipped below what the rest of the province would consider AA calibre, and we owe it to the OHF to ice AA calibre teams. A second key reason for strengthening the calibre of play is to create a better development environment for players who intend to eventually play at a higher level - whether it's the Northstars or the NOJHL. Or in Matt D'Agostini's case (Root River Rangers 2002) the NHL.
Couldn't we just go with one AA team and be really strong? Sure. But they'd have no place to play and wouldn't develop as well playing only in tournaments. Our multi-team Midget AA system works. Just ask the Northstars, TBirds, Eagles and Beavers.
In 2011/12 our leagues will have fewer games during the regular season. Most leagues will drop from 36 down to 31 or 32. The CARHA World Men's tournament coming in March will occupy every rink in town for 10 days so we had to cut out some games.
I attended the fundraiser last week for our friend and mega-volunteer Tullio Porco. Tullio was in a devastating car crash outside of Sudbury and crushed his lower body. Lots of surgeries and lots of hospital time. It was a great fundraiser event at the Bushplane Centre. Great turnout. Thanks to Albert Giommi for captaining the effort and to all the volunteers who donated their time. And best wishes to Tullio for continued progress in his recovery.
New scheduler in SMHA this year. Welcome to Mike Creedon who we've appointed to our board. Mike's a familiar face around the rink, football field, lacrosse court(?) and was the scheduler for the Peewee a couple years ago. Mike's working hard to remedy some of the faux pas from years past.
Gotta go. I'll add more later.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Bodychecking - The OHF Ban
Let me quickly clarify.
The new OHF ban on bodychecking in house league applies to SMHA's lowest division in both Bantam and Midget. These are SMHA's only carded 'House' leagues.
The ban does not apply to our AA & BB leagues. These two divisions will still have bodychecking - as per the direction of the OHF.
I was quoted in the Sault Star on May 9th as stating that we could opt to card our lowest leagues to allow bodychecking to continue. This is simply an option that we have. Not a decision we have made.
My interview with the Star covered a number of areas on both sides of the bodychecking argument. Not all of the conversation was captured in the Star article.
At this point in time we are not leaning either way. We will weigh our options and certainly consider the upsides, the downsides, and the perspectives of the OHF, the NOHA and our membership.
A decision will be made by our new Executive at some point this spring or early summer, following the election of our new Executive at our AGM on May 31st, as to how we will classify our various leagues.
SMHA's team/league structure is unique, due to our geographical location. We do not have single entry rep teams at multiple levels. They would have no other centres close enough to compete against. We, instead, have multiple teams at a few rep levels, AA & BB, that form their own leagues. These are not defined as house leagues, as per the NOHA and OHF. After we form our AA & BB league teams, the remaining kids form our House Leagues. These are the kids who would be affected by the new OHF ban on bodychecking.
I will update this blog with any new developments over the next few weeks.
- Adam
The new OHF ban on bodychecking in house league applies to SMHA's lowest division in both Bantam and Midget. These are SMHA's only carded 'House' leagues.
The ban does not apply to our AA & BB leagues. These two divisions will still have bodychecking - as per the direction of the OHF.
I was quoted in the Sault Star on May 9th as stating that we could opt to card our lowest leagues to allow bodychecking to continue. This is simply an option that we have. Not a decision we have made.
My interview with the Star covered a number of areas on both sides of the bodychecking argument. Not all of the conversation was captured in the Star article.
At this point in time we are not leaning either way. We will weigh our options and certainly consider the upsides, the downsides, and the perspectives of the OHF, the NOHA and our membership.
A decision will be made by our new Executive at some point this spring or early summer, following the election of our new Executive at our AGM on May 31st, as to how we will classify our various leagues.
SMHA's team/league structure is unique, due to our geographical location. We do not have single entry rep teams at multiple levels. They would have no other centres close enough to compete against. We, instead, have multiple teams at a few rep levels, AA & BB, that form their own leagues. These are not defined as house leagues, as per the NOHA and OHF. After we form our AA & BB league teams, the remaining kids form our House Leagues. These are the kids who would be affected by the new OHF ban on bodychecking.
I will update this blog with any new developments over the next few weeks.
- Adam
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The ugly side of our game
A memo will be circulating to the members of our association. I have pasted the contents below. If you are an offender - please stop immediately. I hope this is the last time I have to write about this.
February 2, 2011
Re: Discriminatory Slurs
To: SMHA team staff and players
Over the past few months we have been made aware of a number of instances where a racial or discriminatory slur may have been directed toward an opposing player.
The Sault Major Hockey Association includes players from a variety of nationalities and backgrounds. We are by no means the GTA, but regardless, discriminatory slurs will not be tolerated on or off the ice by our association.
Hockey Canada, rule 9.2 (f)
Any player or team official who engages in verbal taunts, insults or intimidation based on discriminatory grounds (race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, language) shall be assessed a Game Misconduct penalty.
Notwithstanding the above, at the discretion of the Referee, a Gross Misconduct penalty may be assessed for any infraction to any player or team official.
And the 2010/11 Hockey Canada/OHF suspensions for this infraction:
GM63 Discriminatory Slur 3 games
GRM63 Discriminatory Slur 3 games
In addition to the on-ice officials, SMHA timekeepers and league directors will be responsible for helping to curb discriminatory behaviour.
Each of our League Directors have Executive approval to assess a league imposed 3 game suspension to offending players when guilt is not in question - whether the offence occurred on or off the ice.
The SMHA Executive reserves the right to increase a player or coach’s suspension based on the circumstances of each case. Offenders may be asked to appear before the SMHA Executive before they can resume play in our association.
We appreciate your support of this initiative.
Adam Caughill
President, Sault Major Hockey Association
February 2, 2011
Re: Discriminatory Slurs
To: SMHA team staff and players
Over the past few months we have been made aware of a number of instances where a racial or discriminatory slur may have been directed toward an opposing player.
The Sault Major Hockey Association includes players from a variety of nationalities and backgrounds. We are by no means the GTA, but regardless, discriminatory slurs will not be tolerated on or off the ice by our association.
Hockey Canada, rule 9.2 (f)
Any player or team official who engages in verbal taunts, insults or intimidation based on discriminatory grounds (race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, language) shall be assessed a Game Misconduct penalty.
Notwithstanding the above, at the discretion of the Referee, a Gross Misconduct penalty may be assessed for any infraction to any player or team official.
And the 2010/11 Hockey Canada/OHF suspensions for this infraction:
GM63 Discriminatory Slur 3 games
GRM63 Discriminatory Slur 3 games
In addition to the on-ice officials, SMHA timekeepers and league directors will be responsible for helping to curb discriminatory behaviour.
Each of our League Directors have Executive approval to assess a league imposed 3 game suspension to offending players when guilt is not in question - whether the offence occurred on or off the ice.
The SMHA Executive reserves the right to increase a player or coach’s suspension based on the circumstances of each case. Offenders may be asked to appear before the SMHA Executive before they can resume play in our association.
We appreciate your support of this initiative.
Adam Caughill
President, Sault Major Hockey Association
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Fallen Soldier
On Monday January 31st we lost a good one. Walter Wallace passed away while vacationing in Florida.
Walter was a longtime board member and current president of the Soo Northstars hockey organization. He'd been an active volunteer since way back in the Soo Legion days. He was still very active in Northstars operations and fundraising activities at the time of his death.
You may also know Walter from his work with Soo Legion Branch 25.
Walter's son Blaine has been a good friend of mine since our minor hockey days and I considered Walter a good friend as well. He was a great guy who played a big part in making the Soo Northstars the classy organization they are today. He was a good honest family man who gave his heart and soul to the community. I'll miss him. And so will the local hockey community.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Wallace family.
Walter was a longtime board member and current president of the Soo Northstars hockey organization. He'd been an active volunteer since way back in the Soo Legion days. He was still very active in Northstars operations and fundraising activities at the time of his death.
You may also know Walter from his work with Soo Legion Branch 25.
Walter's son Blaine has been a good friend of mine since our minor hockey days and I considered Walter a good friend as well. He was a great guy who played a big part in making the Soo Northstars the classy organization they are today. He was a good honest family man who gave his heart and soul to the community. I'll miss him. And so will the local hockey community.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Wallace family.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Dec 19 Ramblings
Some random thoughts and news....
SMHA had a bad week weekend Dec 8-11. Some wires got crossed and a bunch of scheduled games didn't have referees scheduled. We constantly juggle ice blocks with the city on a few days notice and make changes to our schedule and this time not everybody got the edits. Plus, we don't schedule the refs ourselves - the referees association does that on their own. For most of the games that weekend we scrambled and found referees. There were, however, a couple of games that we had to cancel at gametime. Anyways, our apologies go out to the teams who were affected. One team in particular, Northside Toyota AA Midgets got stung twice in 4 days. Sorry guys. And thanks for your support.
Our Steel City Tournament will run from January 6-9 at all six rinks in SSM. The tournament is full in all 6 divisions - Midget AA, C, and House, and Bantam AA, C, and house. Good luck to all of our teams. We definitely have some potential champions in all of our leagues. I'm setting the betting line at 2 titles and 2 runner-up finishes for SMHA teams. Any takers?
Let's hope the OHL Greyhounds go on a big run in the second half of the season. I'm a Hounds fan and want to see them do well - but I am also a 50/50 draw fan and we sell more tickets when the team is winning and the rink is full. Go Hounds.
Speaking of the Greyhounds, are you aware of how many SMHA alumni are on the team this year? I count 8. That's gotta be the most ever. Colin Miller, Brett Findlay, Brett Thompson, Dylan King, David Quesnele, and Chad Thibodeau. Plus Denny Lambert and Seamus Kotyk on the staff.
I blogged a while back about another alumni, Cody McClelland and his dad Glen, a trainer in SMHA, who gave Cody a kidney. Well they are back in the Soo and recuperating well. A happy ending. Merry Christmas guys.
As you are wrapping up your Xmas shopping, please give some consideration to shopping local. The businesses of Sault Ste. Marie support the local hockey community generously and really benefit when you spend your dollars in town. Even if it costs you a couple bucks more, please help support all those businesses you see on the fronts and backs of our hockey jerseys.
I'll finish off by wishing all of our SMHA families a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday season.
SMHA had a bad week weekend Dec 8-11. Some wires got crossed and a bunch of scheduled games didn't have referees scheduled. We constantly juggle ice blocks with the city on a few days notice and make changes to our schedule and this time not everybody got the edits. Plus, we don't schedule the refs ourselves - the referees association does that on their own. For most of the games that weekend we scrambled and found referees. There were, however, a couple of games that we had to cancel at gametime. Anyways, our apologies go out to the teams who were affected. One team in particular, Northside Toyota AA Midgets got stung twice in 4 days. Sorry guys. And thanks for your support.
Our Steel City Tournament will run from January 6-9 at all six rinks in SSM. The tournament is full in all 6 divisions - Midget AA, C, and House, and Bantam AA, C, and house. Good luck to all of our teams. We definitely have some potential champions in all of our leagues. I'm setting the betting line at 2 titles and 2 runner-up finishes for SMHA teams. Any takers?
Let's hope the OHL Greyhounds go on a big run in the second half of the season. I'm a Hounds fan and want to see them do well - but I am also a 50/50 draw fan and we sell more tickets when the team is winning and the rink is full. Go Hounds.
Speaking of the Greyhounds, are you aware of how many SMHA alumni are on the team this year? I count 8. That's gotta be the most ever. Colin Miller, Brett Findlay, Brett Thompson, Dylan King, David Quesnele, and Chad Thibodeau. Plus Denny Lambert and Seamus Kotyk on the staff.
I blogged a while back about another alumni, Cody McClelland and his dad Glen, a trainer in SMHA, who gave Cody a kidney. Well they are back in the Soo and recuperating well. A happy ending. Merry Christmas guys.
As you are wrapping up your Xmas shopping, please give some consideration to shopping local. The businesses of Sault Ste. Marie support the local hockey community generously and really benefit when you spend your dollars in town. Even if it costs you a couple bucks more, please help support all those businesses you see on the fronts and backs of our hockey jerseys.
I'll finish off by wishing all of our SMHA families a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday season.
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