Each year Hockey Alberta reviews environmental changes and trends from the past season to identify potential regulation changes for the future. As part of this process, recommendations for changes to the Minor Hockey Regulations are also solicited from Member Minor Hockey Associations (MHA’s), sanctioned Leagues, and operational committees. Prior to any decisions being made by Hockey Alberta’s management, recommendations are evaluated against the Vision, Mission, Core Values, and Strategic Direction of the organization.
Below are the highlighted changes and a full list can be found by clicking here: Bylaws & Regulation
Minor Hockey
Player Registration: When registering for hockey with a Hockey Alberta Member MHA for the first time, a Player may register with the MHA of their choice.
Rationale: Change from residency-based regulations (removing the boundaries between MHAs) to provide choice for customers (players/ parents), and to also provide MHA’s with the ability to succeed in a competitive youth sport environment.
Player Movement: “Primary MHA” means the Minor Hockey Association that a Player was last registered with for Minor Hockey (excluding AA and AAA), provided a Player Movement process was not accessed to register there.
A Player must obtain permission from their Primary MHA prior to being transferred, in the Registry, to a new MHA.
Rationale: Using “Primary MHA” aligns the regulation with the wording utilized in the Hockey Canada Registry and clarifies the registration process and pathway through the different categories of Minor Hockey.
Affiliation: If an MHA does not have access to eligible Players from a lower Division or Category, with the approval of the MHA that the Player is currently registered with, they may be able to register affiliate(s) that are registered with another MHA.
Rationale: Allows Teams that have less affiliate players to choose from, to access affiliate players from other MHA’s and eases the administrative work for those MHA’s working together to create teams.
Overage Players: Hockey Alberta reserves the right to revoke the eligibility of an Overage Player at any time prior to December 31, should that player be deemed to strengthen the Team they are registered with, or it is determined the Player no longer meets the required criteria (strengthening includes, but is not limited to, leading the team and/ or league in points).
Rationale: The deadline to revoke overage status was outlined in the process and policy but not in the regulations. Adding it to regulation for consistency and clarity. Defining criteria of “strengthening” was also important to help set parameters when a review of an overage player was deemed necessary.
Minor Female
Affiliation: A Female Hockey Team may affiliate up to a maximum of nineteen (19) Players from a lower Division or Category (properly filed affiliations must include the approval of the Player and the MHA that the Player is currently registered with).
Rationale: Allows Minor Female Teams that have less affiliate players to choose from, to access affiliate players from other MHA’s and eases the administrative work for those MHA’s working together to create female teams.
U11 ‘AA’
Tryout Procedures: Second tryouts may be permitted in cases where specific circumstances dictate the need for player movement to improve the competitiveness of another U11 ‘AA’ Team. Second tryouts are not guaranteed and will only be granted if it is determined that there is a need to enhance a team. Second tryouts will only be considered if:
(a) Prior to September 1, a U11 ‘AA’ Host MHA declared to Hockey Alberta that they need players due to a low turn-out of eligible players registering for tryouts; or
(b) Prior to September 15, a U11 ‘AA’ Host MHA declared to Hockey Alberta that they need players due to a low number of players attending tryouts that can play at the ‘AA’ level; and
(c) The player(s) requesting a second tryout did not make the first team they tried out for and were provided with a Waiver from the team ‘cutting’ them.
Rationale: Facilitating the movement of players in certain areas through a second tryout process will help improve the competitiveness of teams.
Team Registration: MHAs hosting more than one U11 ‘AA’ Team shall create their teams with the most equally balanced skill as possible. MHAs that do not create their teams as equal as possible may be disqualified from League play (including Playoffs and/ or Provincials).
Rationale: The addition of the requirement of MHAs to create multiple teams as equally balanced as possible will also help to improve the competitiveness of teams at this level.
Expansion and Contraction of Teams: Hockey Alberta will establish annual review protocols and thresholds that will determine if expansion or contraction is required at U11 ‘AA’. If it is determined that expansion or contraction needs to occur, the U11 ‘AA’ Committee will proactively work with Member MHAs to implement the changes.
Rationale: Establishing annual review protocols and thresholds to determine if expansion or contraction is required within regional hockey programs, ensures that potential change remains a key focus for the committees. When it is determined that change is needed, the Committees will be able to act in a thorough and timely manner, engaging the impacted Members.
‘AA’ Hockey
Tryout Procedures: If a player does not make their Recruitment Area Team, they will be provided with an Elite Waiver from the Host MHA. After receiving an Elite Waiver:
(a) the Player can contact a second ‘AA’ team to request a tryout; or
(b) the Player can return to their Primary MHA to access other minor hockey programs.
Rationale: Removes a layer of process and administration that allows MHAs more autonomy to manage their own tryout processes, working with families that are seeking additional options. Opening second tryouts (instead of only being permitted based on a Team being in need) will provide more opportunity for players that have the skill to play at this level the ability to make a team.
Expansion and Contraction of Teams: Hockey Alberta will establish annual review protocols and thresholds that will determine if expansion or contraction is required at ‘AA’. If it is determined that expansion or contraction needs to occur, the Elite Hockey Committee will proactively work with Member MHAs to implement the changes.
Rationale: Establishing annual review protocols and thresholds to determine if expansion or contraction is required within regional hockey programs, ensures that potential change remains a key focus for the committees. When it is determined that change is needed, the Committees will be able to act in a thorough and timely manner, engaging the impacted Members.
‘AAA’ Hockey
Expansion and Contraction of Teams: Hockey Alberta will establish annual review protocols and thresholds that will determine if expansion or contraction is required at ‘AAA’. If it is determined that expansion or contraction needs to occur, the Elite Hockey Committee will proactively work with Member MHAs to implement the changes.
Rationale: Establishing annual review protocols and thresholds to determine if expansion or contraction is required within regional hockey programs, ensures that potential change remains a key focus for the committees. When it is determined that change is needed, the Committees will be able to act in a thorough and timely manner, engaging the impacted Members.
‘AAA’ & ‘AA’ Female Hockey
Tryout Procedures: If the player does not make their Recruitment Area Team, they will be provided with an Elite Waiver from the Host MHA. After receiving an Elite Waiver:
i. the Player can contact the second ‘AA’ team to request a tryout; or
ii. the Player can return to their last registered MHA to access other minor hockey programs.
Rationale: Removes a layer of process and administration that allows MHAs more autonomy to manage their own tryout processes, working with families that are seeking additional options. Opening second tryouts (instead of only being permitted based on a Team being in need) will also provide more opportunity for players that have the skill to play at this level the ability to make a team.
Affiliation: U18 ‘AAA’ Teams can Affiliate eligible U18 aged Players from any registered U18 Team in the Province. U18 ‘AAA’ Female Teams are eligible to affiliate five (5) second year (by age) U15 Players from any registered Team in the Province.
Rationale: Allows U18 ‘AAA’ Female Teams access to more female players from the younger division, aligning with other levels of hockey and providing greater opportunity for female players.
Expansion and Contraction of Teams: Hockey Alberta will establish annual review protocols and thresholds that will determine if expansion or contraction is required at ‘AAA’ and ‘AA’. If it is determined that expansion or contraction needs to occur, the Elite Hockey Committee will proactively work with Member MHAs to implement the changes.
Rationale: Establishing annual review protocols and thresholds to determine if expansion or contraction is required within regional hockey programs, ensures that potential change remains a key focus for the committees. When it is determined that change is needed, the Committees will be able to act in a thorough and timely manner, engaging the impacted Members.
Other
Officials Rates: As per the Officiating Games Fee Policy, a review was completed and a number of divisions and categories will see a slight increase. Full officials rates are contained within regulations.
