THE GUELPH MINOR HOCKEY ADVANCED LEAGUE:
Everything you need to know about this exciting new league!
WHAT IS THE NEW ADVANCED LEAGUE?
The 'Advanced League' offers an enriched hockey experience, enhancing competitiveness across two specialized programs, all within a structured, seasonal framework. Serving as a pivotal link between Recreational and Representative hockey, it provides players with an essential transition while upholding a consistent seasonal calendar that cultivates healthy competition among different associations, akin to the Representative program.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE ADVANCED LEAGUE:
The Advanced League, is a structured league managed and scheduled by TriCounty within OMHA, that is designed for 2 distinct programs to play against each other for the 2024-2025 season, which are:
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ADVANCED LEAGUE
FULL TIME
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An upgraded hockey program that offers players a more competitive edge and increased ice time outside the House League Program. It bridges the gap between Recreational and Representative A-level programming, participating exclusively in the Tri-County Advanced League for heightened competition and progression.
For GMHA, U12-U16 will tryout out for Advanced Teams for the 2024-2025 season. Select teams will not be on option unless the rules and regulations below are not met.
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ADVANCED LEAGUE
PART TIME
(SELECT)
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This hybrid program follows Select rules and regulations, combining participation in the House League Program and the Select program, competing part-time in the Tri-County Advanced League. It's designed for players seeking the House League experience with added ice time.
For GMHA, this will apply to U10/11 and possibly other age groups depending the rules regulations listed below.
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*AT GMHA, AGE GROUPS WILL EITHER HAVE AN ADVANCED TEAM OR A SELECT TEAM. THEY WILL NOT HAVE BOTH.
2024-2025 PLAYER PATHWAYS:
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INTRO TO HOCKEY
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FOUNDATIONAL LEARNING
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RECREATIONAL
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REP PREPARATION
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REPRESENTATIVE
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Learn to Skate
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Mini Gryphons
U6-U9
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House/Local League
U10-U21
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Advanced Development Program (ADP)
(U8 & U9)
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Representative League
(U10-U18)
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First Shift
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Advanced League
Part Time (Select)
U10-U16
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Advanced League
Full Time
U12-U16
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ADVANCED LEAGUE SCHEDULE & COMPETITION:
The Advanced League's season is set to kick off in early October and wrap up in late March, with a break over the Christmas period. Playoff plans for the first year will depend on the number of teams participating. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.
At present, major age groups are looking at around 8-9 teams, while minor age groups have roughly 4-5 teams for competition. These numbers are approximate and will be confirmed closer to September. Both Full Time and Part Time teams will face off against each other throughout the season, representing various associations. Just like Select and Rep teams, away games may involve travel of up to 60 minutes in any direction during the season. Currently, there are nine different associations that have joined the League.
ADVANCED LEAGUE: PART TIME (SELECT)
The Advanced League: Part-Time, is effectively the Select program. Select is offered in conjunction with our House League program, allowing House League players to try out for Select in their particular age group. U10/11 will have Select tryouts, while other age groups will be subject to the rules and guidelines provided below.
In addition to playing on your child's House League team, and should they be chosen for the Select team, the Select team is eligible to compete in 3 tournaments during the active season. These tournaments can not impact their House League game schedule.
Select players are divided equally amongst their House League teams and there is no body contact allowed in Select hockey, like House League.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
In order for your child to play Select, your child must partake in the essential tryout process, which takes place in September. (See below chart for tryout details)
If a player is chosen and agrees to join the Select team, the player still plays with their House League team as well as the Select team for the entire season. Travel is minimal (less than rep, more than House League), with the exception of tournaments chosen by the team and coaching staff.
ADVANCED LEAGUE: FULL TIME
The Advanced League: Full Time, presents a heightened hockey experience, with increased competitiveness and more ice time, all within a structured seasonal framework. Acting as a crucial bridge between Recreational and Representative hockey, it facilitates players' looking for further competition while fostering healthy competition across various associations, akin to the Representative program.
To join the Advanced League: Full Time team, players must first undergo tryouts in September. Once selected, players on the Team DO NOT participate in House League; instead, they form a separate team for the season. Advanced FT teams will have one private practice and one shared practice with a minor/major age group (ie: U12 and U13)
*Please see the chart below for a comparison between the Advanced team and the Select team.
HOW DOES THE ADVANCED LEAGUE TRYOUTS WORK?
In order for your child to play on an Advance League team (full time or part time), your child must register and partake in the essential tryout process, which takes place in September. If you have already participated in Spring rep tryouts, you are automatically signed up for Advanced League tryouts. Otherwise, Advanced League tryout passes can be purchased online once announced. Each age group is provided 2 (possibly 3) separate, 1 hour on-ice tryouts.
Tryouts for the Advanced FT Teams will be open to the following age groups: U12*, U13*, U14*, U15*, U16* and possibly U18* (to be confirmed closer to tryouts). Concurrently, Advanced PT (Select) tryouts will occur for our U11 (U10/11) category during the same timeframe.
Please note: U11, the U10/11 House League Division, will have Select tryouts ONLY. They will be not be an Advanced FT Team in this age group. This determination is made in recognition of the shift from half ice to full ice for numerous players transitioning from U9. Its objective is to afford them supplementary opportunities for skill development and hockey comprehension within a less rigorous hockey regimen.
COMPARISON FOR ADVANCED LEAGUE TEAMS SCHEDULING AND COMMITMENT:
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PARTICIPATION
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GAMES/
MONTH
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WHEN DO
THEY PLAY?
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TOURNAMENTS
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FULL TIME
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Teams would only play in the
*AL – not HL
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approx. 5 games (4 scheduled games
plus 1 exhibition game)
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Weekend &
Weeknight
options
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3 in season
*Extra tournaments permitted during Christmas, March break and End of Season
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PART TIME
(SELECT)
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Teams would play in HL + Select within the AL
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2-3 games/mth
*2 home and 1 away
*1 away and 2 home
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Weeknights
Only
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3 in season tournaments that do not impact the House League Division games
on Sunday
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*AL = Advanced League. *HL = House League
ADVANCED LEAGUE FEES
Joining an Advanced League team incurs an extra fee, although it's not as steep as that for a Representative team. Parents should anticipate an additional cost ranging from approximately $500 to $1500 per player, on top of the GMHA registration fee (Advanced FT Teams fees will be higher due to more ice times). These figures may vary based on team fundraising activities, sponsorships, and other factors. Similar to Representative teams, the head coach and team manager will outline a budget for anticipated team expenses at the start of the season. The team might seek sponsorships or organize fundraising events to mitigate costs. This fee contributes to covering expenses for extra games and practice ice, additional training opportunities, tournament fees, and team-building activities.
INTERESTED IN COACHING? LEARN HOW:
Following the conclusion of B/BB tryouts in the Spring, applications for Head Coach positions will promptly commence. By the end of June, the selection process for a Head Coach in each age group will hopefully be finalized. This timeline enables coaches to prepare for Fall tryouts and arrange tournaments effectively.
The coach selection process will mirror that of the Rep process to ensure a fair and unbiased approach to appoint the best Head Coach for the players.
It's essential that all Head Coaches and bench staff possess the necessary certifications. Make sure to review your Hockey Canada profile to ensure compliance with certification requirements.
Interested in coaching in the Advanced League?
NOW OPEN! ADVANCED LEAGUE HEAD COACH APPLICATION FORM HERE
Rules and Regulations for the Advanced League Teams within GMHA:
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GMHA House League divisions must have a minimum of 4 teams to maintain program effectiveness. If a division falls short of 4 teams, players within that age group will have the opportunity to try out for an Advanced League Part-Time team (also known as Select) during that season within that age group. Advanced League tryouts for a Full-Time team will not be available in such cases.
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The U10/11 House League Division shall only be provided with an Advanced League Part-Time team opportunity for tryouts (Also known as Select). This determination is made in recognition of the shift from half ice to full ice for numerous players transitioning from U9. Its objective is to afford them supplementary opportunities for skill development and hockey comprehension within a less rigorous hockey regimen. Tryouts will partake in the Fall, along with the Advanced League Full-Time team tryouts.
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For age groups ranging from U12 to U16, a minimum of 25 players must partake in tryouts for GMHA to extend the Advanced League Full-Time opportunity to its members. Should the number of participants dip below 25, players will proceed with tryouts for the Advanced League Part-Time (also known as Select) rather than the Advanced League Full-Time team.
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In each age group, only one team, either Advanced Full-Time or Part-Time (also known as Select) (not both), shall be established, except for the combined U10/11 age group, which will consistently maintain an Advanced League Part-Time team (also known as Select) from year to year.
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Annually, the potential formation of an Advanced Team (Full-Time or Part-Time) for U18 shall be evaluated, and consider ice resources and relevant factors as outlined. There shall be no automatic renewal from one year to the next, should a U18 Advanced League Team be created.
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Tryouts for the Advanced League, Full-Time and Part-Time (also known as Select) shall occur in the Fall, specifically during the second/third week of September.
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Advanced League - Full Time teams shall adhere to the rules and regulations of the House League and are eligible for AP (Affiliate Player) status to the rep team upon formation.
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Advanced League - Part Time teams shall adhere to the rules and regulations of the House League AND Select program and are eligible for AP (Affiliate Player) status to the rep team once the Part Time/Select team has been rostered.
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Coaches for the Advanced League will be appointed through an application and interview process by the House League Committee, prior to the start of the season. For the 2024-2025 season, Head coaches are not affected by coaching time limits. However, this will be revisited for the following season.
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While our objective is to supply U10-U16 (possibly U18) with the opportunity to engage in additional on-ice competition through the Advanced League, this availability is subject to having enough players to safely create and facilitate those teams, as well as ice resources and adequate coaching staff. The decision to move forward with these teams will be at the discretion of the House League Director and the House League Committee while following the rules and guidelines outlined above and within our Hockey Operation Manual and Bylaws surrounding Select and House League.
HOW DO YOU TRY OUT?
How to register:
In order to tryout/play for the Advanced League teams (Full Time or Part Time (Select)), you must be registered.
Registration for House League is a first come first served bases, so register sooner than later before divisions fill. If you are a returning HL player you will use your Hockey Canada password and e-mail address to login and complete the registration. New players will create and account and then proceed with the registration. To register please go to our registration tab The registration site will set your child automatically in their correct division by age.
At the time you sign your child up for house league, in order to comply with GMHA and Hockey Canada Ruling all plays must be paid in full and 1 parent from each family participating in this program must complete the Respect in Sport parent program which is completed on line. This course only needs to be completed once. If you then have an additional child starting in the future you will need to go back into this course site to the child management section and add the addition child. These above two items must be completed before you will receive call or email to start the season. You will find the course link under the registration tab on our website. You will be provided a code to submit at the end of this course which takes care of the payment needed.
