Introduction:
Welcome to the 2022-2023 KMHA season. My name is Nathan Barwell and I have been a part of the KMHA since 2014. I have coached in both the House and Competitive streams and I am pleased this year to take another step as convenor. As the convenor for U-11 House League, I am responsible for the daily operation of the U-11 program encompassing players born in 2012 and 2013. I look forward to contributing to a successful season for all of this seasons’ players and volunteers and below you will find the information needed for us to get started.
Respect in Sport:
At least one parent or guardian from the participant’s household must take the online “Respect in Sport Parent Program” if they are “NEW” to HEO. If you have previously completed the course in another HEO District, you do not need to complete it again. KMHA would prefer this requirement by completed by September 1st, 2022. If the course is not completed by the end of House League sort-outs, the player will not be allowed to participate any further until the requirement is met.
For more information: https://kmha.ca/risk-and-safety/respect-in-sport/
To take the course: http://www.hockeyeasternontario.ca/pages/parents/respectinsport.htm
Important Information:
Further information regarding sort outs will be sent commencing as early as Sept 5, 2022. The message will be titled “KMHA – Welcome to U-11 House Sort Outs 2022-2023”. If you have not received this e-mail by September 8, 2022, please check your e-mail SPAM folder. If still no message, please contact the U-11 Convenor at: u11convenor@kmha.ca.
Pre-Skates Info
As the U-11 program follows the Hockey Canada Player Pathways Program, all players are required to have 4 hours of ice time before they can be evaluated. Pre-skate sessions are designed to reacquaint kids to the ice after the summer and to allow all players to get comfortable in the hockey setting once again. These sessions are mandatory for players.
These pre-skates will take place over two weekends, and you will be assigned an ice time each day.
- Weekend 1 will be Sat Sept 10, 2022 and Sunday Sept 11, 2022
- Weekend 2 will be Sat Sept 17, 2022 and Sunday Sept 18, 2022
Sort Outs:
The first two weekends of the season are dedicated to the evaluation of players and placement on teams based on player ability. The U-11 House League is currently planned to consist of:
- 3 teams at House A
- 4 teams at House B
- 3 teams at House C
Sort outs evaluations will be unbiased and based on pre-determined criteria. We will give our best possible effort to ensure that all teams are balanced within each level/tier to the best of our abilities.
Sort Out Structure:
The U-11 House League sort out process will consist of 1 hour of skills evaluation and 2 hours of games spread out over two weekends. Your sort out time will be assigned to you in the Welcome e-mail that you will be receiving shortly.
First Weekend (Sunday, September 25th, 2022) – Skills Evaluation Session
Each player will be assigned one hour of ice on Sunday Sept 25, 2022. The skills evaluation will consist of pre-determined drills that will assess skating, puck control, shooting and hockey sense.
Please note: Players that have registered to be full-time or part-time goaltenders will be evaluated separately from the skills evaluation for other players. This session will happen on September 24, 2022. Players who have registered as part-time goalies will be required to participate in both player and goalie evaluations.
Second Weekend (Saturday, October 1, 2022 and Sunday, October 2, 2022)
Each player will be participating in two games, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. We will be continuing to evaluate the players to determine the appropriate playing level. Both skill and game play will be evaluated.
Your ice times for this weekend will be posted to the KMHA website in the U-11 Sort Out section https://kmha.ca/atom-sort-outs/ by September 27th, 2022. You will be able to look up your player’s ice times via the randomly assigned ID number that will be found in the Welcome e-mail you will be receiving shortly.
Following Sort Outs:
Players will be assigned to their respective teams and contacted in short order with their first team practice times.
Volunteers:
Very simply put, volunteers are the core of the KMHA programs. None of this happens for our kids without you and your generous help. With that, I thank everyone who has stepped up in any capacity in the past and I will be looking to leverage your willingness to continue to help.
To ensure a successful sort out process, we are looking for volunteers to help in any capacity.
Pre-Skate Volunteers for each hour of skates (Sept 10, 11, 17, 18):
- Registration Desk (check in players)
- Ice General (Responsible for the on-ice flow of each on-ice session)
- Skill Station Coaches (details to be provided)
- On-Ice Shepherds (Assist at drill stations and player movement on ice)
- Trainer (Requires Level 1 Trainer Certification)
Sort out Volunteers for skills (Sunday Sept 25) and games (Sat Oct 1 and Sun Oct 2):
- Registration Desk (check in players, hand out pinnies, other tasks)
- Ice General (Responsible for the flow of each on-ice session, act as ref for games)
- On Ice Evaluators – skills stations (details to be provided)
- Off-Ice Evaluators – games (4-6 people)
- Bench Staff (Open and close bench doors to facilitate line changes)
- On-Ice Shepherds – skills (Assist at drill stations and player movement on ice)
- Trainer (Requires Level 1 Trainer Certification)
Season Volunteers:
To ensure all our teams have a successful season, teams will require volunteers that include:
- Head Coaches
- Assistant Coaches
- Goalie Coaches
- Trainers
- Managers
This is an excellent opportunity for high school students looking for volunteer hours! If you would like to help, please fill out the form at: https://forms.gle/NpuhqvXaFsKxTEFt5
For those that have submitted the application already, thank you very much. You will be contacted shortly.
Should you have any questions, I can be reached anytime via u11convenor@kmha.ca
Thank you,
Nathan Barwell
KMHA U-11 Convenor
E-Mail: u11convenor@kmha.ca