4. 2014-15: M-44 F- 9 Total Players 53
2015-16: M-58 F-21 Total Players 79
Increase of 26 Players (+ 49%)
Growing the Game
5. Jump Into Hockey (late start program)
• 3 sessions (1 fall and 2 winter)
• 40 Players total
• 30 Players participated in both sessions
• 1 Player joined regular hockey in January
6. Midget Review
Committee consisted of :
• Co-Chairs, Kevin Mitchell and Darren Cossar;
• Darren Sutherland (HNS Director of Development Programs)
• Mike Field (HNS Manager of Member Services)
• Randy Morgan (HNS)
• John Sellers (President- NS Major Midget)
• Todd Watson (President - NS Major Bantam)
• Brad MacKinley and Arnie Farrell (HNS Minor Council)
• Shawn MacKenzie and Brian MacInnis (Members at Large).
7. Midget Review Process
• Committee meetings;
• E-mail questionnaire to committee members;
• Comparisons to other Branches;
• Input from key stakeholders;
• Online membership survey; and
• Focus group (Bantam, Midget and High School
players).
Our Approach…
Identify who the customer is and what do they want from the
sport of hockey…
8. Midget Review “Proposal”
• HNS create a new “Elite” Midget Hockey league for 15
year olds and 16 year old players with late birthdays
(Sept-Dec) and limited full 16 year olds.
• Teams to be hosted/operated by MHA’s, Major Midget
teams or combination.
• In a perfect scenario there would be six-eight teams.
For year one if we could get 5 or six teams out of these
regions; Cape Breton, Cape Breton West/Highland,
Fundy, 3 HRM and Valley/Southshore.
9. Midget Review “Proposal”
• 30 Game schedule, plus tournaments (could play in
Maritime Midget AAA minor events).
• Mostly weekend play, similar to Major Bantam and
Midgets.
• Player budget, keep between $2-$3,000 Max.
• HNS to put out for expressions of interest from
MHA’s and Major Midget league with deadline of
June 30th, 2016.
10. Midget Review “Proposal”
• What happens with current or remaining Midget
structure. TBD – discussion.
• Major Midget
• “Midget Minor” (NEW 15-16 year old league)
• Midget AA – checking (2015-16 – 16 teams)
• Midget A – checking (2015-16 – 23 teams)
• Midget B – non checking (2015-16 – 13 teams)
• Midget C – non checking (2015-16 – 60 teams)
11. Atom Review
• End of Year two with removal of Atom AAA
and MHAs larger than 110 icing two Atom AA
teams
• More time is needed to monitor players who
have gone through this system and moved on
to Peewee. Hockey NS will also monitor
players via the U13 HPP
12. Atom Review
• Another 2 years will be needed to follow the
players through Peewee to see what impact it
had on their development
• MHAs with two Atom AA teams are, for the
most part, icing two competitive teams
• Does the 110 number work as the cut off?
14. Atom Review Goals
• We are meeting the intended goal of developing
more players at 9-10 years of age by having more
players at the highest level
• More teams at all levels of Atom allow MHAs to
play more games closer to home
• Atom teams will continue to be involved with the
DoC, not Provincial Championship Tournaments
15. Atom Review Continued Work
• The goal of Atom teams not travelling as
much can improve
• What can be done to reach this goal?
20. HNS New/Changing Initiatives
• HNS Semi-Annual Meeting
• Development Weekend
• RIS Lace-Up program
• HC Sports Schools
• HNS Officiating Initiative
• MHA make up (#’s and Teams)
21. HNS Semi Annual
Concerns Raised with HNS
• Bad timing
• Not enough time to address local
concerns
• HNS does not get out to local MHA’s
• Controlled by larger MHA’s
22. HNS Semi Annual 2016
• Business meeting for 21 Voting Delegates to
remain, last weekend of September.
• Workshops to be delivered in a series of regional
meetings to be held across the province. (early October)
• Meetings to be 3-3 ½ hours long and include HNS
presentations, discussion and Q&A with local
MHA’s.
• Meetings to be held during a week night and
coordinated with MHA’s
• HNS Board, Council and Staff members to attend
24. Development Weekend
• One of the most revolutionary moves made by HNS
and copied or envied by many Branches across the
country
• Concerns with timing and ability to attend
tournaments.
• Can we offer at the different time and have it add to a
larger break and be a better time for coaches, parents
and players to focus on Development programs?
26. Development Weekend
• As weather gets worse it keeps people close to home
in own association before Christmas
• Maybe cut down on injuries just before Christmas
• Seems to be lot of interest in tournaments first part of
November
• The same people who organize tryouts etc , seem to
be the same who organize development weekend, so
maybe give them a break between those events
• Halfway point of year, maybe chance to re focus on
development