This year SKMHA will be introducing a number of changes to teams and practice schedules in the the Novice, Atom and Peewee Divisions this year. Please review the following:
In an effort to offer AE programs for some divisions, SKMHA is making changes to the
traditional composition of teams and practice formats. Starting this season, most teams in
Novice, Atom, and Peewee will have rosters of 12 players (11 skaters and 1 goalie). The 12
player model is a targeted number, some teams may have more or less players.
SKMHA has not been offering AE for the past few years due to a perceived lack of sufficient
players who were capable of competing at that level. By reducing the number of players on
teams, we can begin to offer AE in the Atom division this season. The Atom division has
significantly more players registered than any other division in SKMHA. This is the reason AE
will only be offered in Atom this season. Based on current registration numbers, there could
possibly be AE teams offered in both Atom and Peewee beginning in the 2020-21 season.
Traditionally SKMHA had 15 players in each division playing in a competitive stream at the
Rep level. With these changes, SKMHA will now have 24 players in the competitive Atom
stream, between Rep and AE. If the program expands into Peewee next season, there would be
48 players in competitive hockey, instead of 30 if SKMHA had continued to only offer Rep
teams. Additionally, due to smaller rosters, players in these divisions will be on the ice more
during games.
Practice formats in these divisions will also change this season. We would not be utilizing our
ice times efficiently if we had full ice practices for 11 skaters. Due to small rosters, all regularly
scheduled practices in Novice, Atom, and Peewee will be a shared practice format. These are
not half ice practices. Through cooperation and collaboration of the coaches and players
sharing the ice, teams will be able to run the majority of each practice as one large group. There
has long been a desire from LL coaches to be able to have full ice drills in their practice plans.
With 22 skaters and 2 goalies, coaches will be able to incorporate both full ice and station based
drills in practices. There will be opportunities for teams to use open ice slots to occasionally
have a full ice practice.
Lucky Holmes
SKMHA President