South Kent will be holding tryouts for both U9 MD1 and MD2 (Rep/Travel) teams starting in the middle of September on a date to be determined. Prior to these tryouts, we will hold preparation (prep) skates for all U9 players who wish to attend. Prep skates are optional and available to all players in U9. Players born in 2016 and 2017 are considered U9 for the upcoming season.
The tryout process will last roughly one week. A Tier 1 U9 MD Team will be selected at the end of this tryout process, and it will play in the Shamrock Tier 1 U9 League. We will then form a Tier 2 U9 MD team with the next set of available players who attend the MD tryouts. This Tier 2 team will play in the Shamrock Tier 2 U9 League.
After this U9 MD tryout period, the remainder of U8/U9 players will play in our Hockey Night in South Kent (HNISK) Saturday Night League where we will make 4 teams. Players were not able to AP (Affiliate) from MD 2 to MD 1 last year. We anticipate this to be the case this year as well. Therefore players from the HNISK program should be able to AP to either the MD 1 or MD 2 team. The U9 program has seen significant Hockey Canada and OMHA rule changes over the last few years so we will adapt as necessary if needed.
Jason Boersma will be the U9 MD 1 coach. We will be opening the application process for a U9 MD 2 shortly.
To summarize, we will have:
1 Tier 1 U9 MD Team
1 Tier 2 U9 MD Team
4 HNISK Teams
All 6 of the above listed teams will follow Hockey Canada’s U9 Pathway and play 1/2 ice games until the January 15th, 2025 transition to full ice date. After January 15th, all 6 teams will participate in full ice games. All 6 teams will be able to attend jamborees and tournaments.
The Board feels that this year’s version of the U9 Development Model builds on the overwhelming success of HNISK over the last couple of years. The success of both MD 1 and MD 2 last year also reinforces the benefits of the U9 Development Model that includes the HNISK program. Players develop optimally when the practice to game ratio is 2-3:1 and practice times are not lost to games. The U9 program in South Kent allows players to develop at an appropriate pace and in a positive local environment where they will have success and most importantly – fun!
If you have questions, please contact our U9 Convenor – Chris Cunningham.
* Please note all of the above team projections are based on adequate enrollment in our U9 Program. If you haven't registered already, please do so ASAP so that we can plan accordingly.
Looking forward to a great season,
Chris K.