2019-20 Season Update

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JV/16U team added

We will field a JV team for the upcoming season. The JV team will practice Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and Thursday mornings. MAHA voted in favor of adding a JV league, so our JV team will play league games and have an end of season tournament. Our JV team will be comprised primarily of 16U aged players, but as a JV rostered team, we will have the flexibility of adding 17 and 18-year-old players who are in high school.

Changes to Bantam/High School house league

The winter bantam/high school league will now play on Monday nights only. We will extend the season so that teams are receiving the same amount of games as in previous years and we will also be adding an end of season tournament that will feature out of town teams. The end of season tournament will be a no-check tournament and there will be no added charge for bantam/high school house players.

 

Safesport update

If Safesport training was completed in 2018-19 season, the training will be up to date through the 2019-20 season. Starting next year, an annual refresher will be required. Starting this season, if a player turns 18 at any point during the season, they must complete Safesport prior to the beginning of the season.

 

USA Hockey Player Safety, Fair Play and Respect

USA Hockey recently released its Declaration of Player Safety, Fair Play and Respect which includes examples of acceptable body checks and non-acceptable body checks. Please find more information in the links below:

Pat Kelleher on Player Safety, Body Checking and the Modern Game

Legal & Illegal Body Contact under Proposed USA Hockey Rule Change

 

 

Fee increases

We have increased travel team fees to better account for the costs of the travel hockey program. MAYHA also voted to add a fee for all user groups (hockey, figure skating, curling, junior hockey, women’s hockey) that will be placed into a Capital Replacement Fund. This fee will help contribute to the costs of operating in our current facility.

 

10U half-ice league coming in 2020-21

MAHA voted in favor of moving to a half-ice model next season (2020-21) for 10U travel leagues. There are many details that need to be worked out, but the intention is that at least some of the season will be played half-ice using the half-ice boards. This change will only be applied to MAHA league and tournament games. Local associations will have the option of running full or half-ice games during their regular tournaments. MAYHA will continue to run full-ice Squirt Blastoff tournaments.