Spring Tryout Structure - Number of Rep Teams
For the upcoming 2024-25 season spring tryouts, each age group will conduct evaluations to form four (4) representative (rep) teams: AAA, AA, A, and either B or BB (See below on pending approval from OMHA on Category Change of BB/B).
The decision on any potential additional teams in an age group will be made through summer by the Board of Directors, considering the following criteria:
- Balance/Equality: Ensuring each age category maintains an equal distribution of teams (5) across AAA, AA, A, B or BB, and Select.
- Size/Skill: Assessment on the overall number of players in tryouts and skills to support the addition.
- Ice Availability: Ice time availability based on allotted ice, total membership enrolment across the association, fulfilment of ice commitments to our core teams, groups and balancing facility requirements.
- Coaching: Availability of qualified and approved coaches.
- Competitiveness: Reviewing the performance, standings, and depth of previous years' age group across all levels (AAA to BB) to determine suitable entry levels for additional team.
- Player Commitment: As indicated below the determination of Contact vs Non-Contact Category is still to be determined by OMHA and could affect players willingness to participate.
Please note a team’s prior year participation as an additional entry at an age group does not guarantee a spot the following year. Evaluation of an additional team will occur on a year-to-year basis as stipulated above.
In the event the board makes the decision to enter an additional team, tryouts for that additional team will take place in September.Only players who participated in Spring tyouts will be eligible to continue with September tryouts for an additional entry.
All players at U14 and above must attend Checking Clinics prior to Spring tryouts in order to be eligible to participate. This includes all current U13 players entering their U14 season, as well as current U14 or above players who have not participated in a checking clinic in the past.
Changes / Name Changes to BB
OMHA is currently reviewing programming models to address the evolving needs of its members. For the 2024-25 season, the Board of Directors has decided the following regarding Representative programming below A:
Teams from AAA, AA, or A Base Category Centers, such as Guelph, will be classified as follows:
- U10 to U13: Designated as B
- U14 to U18: Given the option to choose between B (Body Contact) or BB (Non-Body Contact)
There will be OMHA Championships for B for Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 teams.
To facilitate discussions with OMHA, Guelph Minor Hockey will survey its membership to gauge interest in playing B (Contact) versus BB (Non-Contact). Additionally, decisions on categories will be influenced by interest from other Tri County teams for BB programming, potentially necessitating a separate division alongside Bowen, Smith, and Harrison divisions.
Please note: These above changes are still pending a vote at the OMHA AGM in June. Updates will be shared as we have them. See attached OMHA Bulletin:
240201-023-I OMHA Bulletin-Renaming of BB