Cochrane hasn't processed the refunds yet, but in preliminary communications indicated that it would be less than a simple proration of cost/icetimes. They cited upfront costs, Eval costs and Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada Fees as the reasons.
I have to give credit where credit is due. Cochrane came through with a 70% refund, which seems quite a bit better than most. I wondered if it might be less than 50% since we hire outside evaluators for all ages Novice and up.
Cochrane hasn't processed the refunds yet, but in preliminary communications indicated that it would be less than a simple proration of cost/icetimes. They cited upfront costs, Eval costs and Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada Fees as the reasons.
Has anyone heard what Hockey Alberta is doing with the millions and millions collected from the WJC 50/50 money? Returning the Hockey Alberta portion of fee back to local minor hockey organizations should be at the top of the list.
I'm no longer involved in minor hockey, but from what I've heard for most hockey associations and sports organizations in general, 50% seems to be the going refund rate. This is what our curling club has done, with many people just donating their refund back to the club.
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Hockey Alberta fee was something like $27 per player and it mostly pays for salary positions and training programs for coaches. So I can understand why they could only refund a portion of their fee.
From what I understand the money from the world juniors 50-50 had rules around what it could be used for.
I can understand why some are upset about the association level refunds but you have to remember that these associations are volunteer run and they aren't banking profits. Plus the first two weeks of the season are the most expensive with equipment costs, evaluation costs, etc. Plus year long salaries for ice allocators or registrars depending on the size of your association and they got paid all year. During the shut downs they weren't sitting around either as there was plans to come back a few times and that required work from those behind the scenes to schedule ice, remake teams, plan for restrictions and other stuff like that. So I can understand why we only played a third of the season but paid around half.
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I'm assuming it will be at the AA level? I don't believe there is a U13AAA model for Alberta. Unless they plan to only play within Calgary because there would be no other teams to paly in Alberta.
Pretty sure it is AA only... In the comments, someone said that it is 3 per quadrant (which they thought was too many) which would be 12 teams. Checking the Hockey Calgary website, there were 14 AA teams this past year.
This is the most ridiculous idea around in my mind. "Elite" doesn't exist at that age, athletic development isn't linear.
Agreed 100%. But part of the issue is these independent 'leagues' have sprung up and are taking kids from the Hockey Alberta stream. When you have Atom teams marketing themselves as AAA the kids (and parents) buy into it. I think this is also part of the reason sports schools have really taken off - it givens parents another avenue to send their kids when they don't make the traditional elite teams. When my kids played we had three very good goalies in our system, all the same age. Obviously at two goalies per team one of them was not going to be on the top team. As soon as they hit bantam they all tried out for quadrant. One made the AAA bantam team, the other two were cut and immediately transferred to schools rather than go back to community. All three stayed in those respective streams for the rest of minor hockey and were drafted to the WHL (only one stuck with his team). Point being parents see these as viable alternatives and won't hesitate to yank their kids if they think it will get them ahead. Like it or not Hockey Calgary probably felt like they needed to do this to remain competitive.
Agreed 100%. But part of the issue is these independent 'leagues' have sprung up and are taking kids from the Hockey Alberta stream. When you have Atom teams marketing themselves as AAA the kids (and parents) buy into it. I think this is also part of the reason sports schools have really taken off - it givens parents another avenue to send their kids when they don't make the traditional elite teams. When my kids played we had three very good goalies in our system, all the same age. Obviously at two goalies per team one of them was not going to be on the top team. As soon as they hit bantam they all tried out for quadrant. One made the AAA bantam team, the other two were cut and immediately transferred to schools rather than go back to community. All three stayed in those respective streams for the rest of minor hockey and were drafted to the WHL (only one stuck with his team). Point being parents see these as viable alternatives and won't hesitate to yank their kids if they think it will get them ahead. Like it or not Hockey Calgary probably felt like they needed to do this to remain competitive.
Then those parents are idiots.
Also, kids don't get missed anymore, if a kid is good enough he/she is found. There are very few undiscovered hidden gems left in the sporting world.
A buddy of mine his boy is 15 and highly ranked in the province and will go in the draft, but he never played spring hockey, never played in the summer and only played Minor Hockey (granted he moved ino the AAA realm in Bantam). He is just such an athlete, things like Super League are a fool game.
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My kid plays super league because it's cheaper than our local minor league and we like having some free weekends. I also have family in Edmonton I can stay with if our weekend of games is up there and can drive to Calgary easily for games. The travel is actually better and cheaper than the year my son played AA.
Part of the reason these leagues have taken off are the egos in rural communities not seeing the bigger picture to let kids play where they belong (the morons running Didsbury Minor Hockey not merging with Carstairs Minor Hockey for example) and having a single Tier 1 kid on a Tier 4 team and the team ends up in Tier 2 because two communities 5 minutes away from each other can't work together for the benefit of all kids.
I can't speak to the reasons why city parents would leave their association.
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Agreed 100%. But part of the issue is these independent 'leagues' have sprung up and are taking kids from the Hockey Alberta stream. When you have Atom teams marketing themselves as AAA the kids (and parents) buy into it.
Red Deer does this with their Atom teams, calling them AA even though that's just a provincial classification thing and not true AA hockey. But lots of jackets on parents with AA on them.
Also, kids don't get missed anymore, if a kid is good enough he/she is found. There are very few undiscovered hidden gems left in the sporting world.
A buddy of mine his boy is 15 and highly ranked in the province and will go in the draft, but he never played spring hockey, never played in the summer and only played Minor Hockey (granted he moved ino the AAA realm in Bantam). He is just such an athlete, things like Super League are a fool game.
I wish it was that simple... Given a baseline level of athleticism and drive, quality of coaching, ice time and level of competition makes a huge difference.
On both sides of the border, there are plenty of AA players (and teams) that are way ‘better’ than many AAA, but there is a difference in a top end AAA program as far as development and opportunity.
Playing AAA is not always about the delusional parent, as my son has no real dream of playing in the NHL, or even college. He just wants to be on the best team possible. He is willing to work for it, so I do what I can to put him in a position to reach that goal.
By no means am I am expert, but I do have a front row seat to a player who truly has a ‘shot’. My nephew is projected to be top 2 in the ‘21 WHL draft. His drive, and what his family has done to get him there is incredible. I am quite certain that if he was on my Son’s AA, sometimes AAA path, he would not be in the same position.
There was a bulletin from Springbank Hockey today that stated that all City arenas will require vaccination. Springbank and Edge will not. (Spoiler tags for size.)
Spoiler!
September 19, 2021
The last few days have once again been extremely challenging for Springbank Minor Hockey. We were very pleased to learn that the Alberta Government’s latest public health restrictions will permit Youth Hockey Calgary to continue to operate programming. These announcements empowered facility operators who operate the arenas that we utilize to determine whether or not vaccines or a privately-paid negative PCR or rapid test will be required as a condition of access. Hockey Calgary and its member associations, including Springbank Minor Hockey (“SMHA”), are entirely dependent upon these facilities to operate our youth hockey programming.
Currently, SMHA has the following information:
all City of Calgary rinks, YMCA rinks, Winsport and 7 Chiefs arena have announced that they will adopt a Restriction Exemption Program (“REP”) as permitted under the Alberta Government’s latest public health restrictions and will require all eligible youth participants ages 12 and older to provide proof of vaccination or a privately-paid negative PCR or rapid test within 72 hours of the applicable event in order to access their facilities (at this time, the city has not made a decision about permitting access for those with health exemptions) . The REPs at these facilities will go into effect no later Monday, September 20, 2021.
Springbank Park for All Seasons (“SPFAS”) and the Edge School have elected to implement business capacity and operating restrictions for their respective facilities as permitted and outlined under the Alberta Government’s latest public health restrictions rather than adopt an REP for youth sports programming. Under these restrictions, no vaccinations will be required for youth participants under age 18, but youth participants must screen for symptoms, maintain 2 metre distancing (except while engaged in physical activity) and wear a mask (except while engaged in physical activity). Spectator attendance is restricted to 1/3 fire code capacity and must comply with all other physical distancing and masking guidelines. As with anything, there is a possibility for this to change.
Accordingly, SMHA will be required to follow the rules established by the facilities that we utilize which results in the following for our Membership:
Programming Participation
Participants under the age of 12 (not eligible to be vaccinated as a result of age) are not impacted by this announcement and programming can continue for the participants as is currently offered. Once a participant is eligible for a vaccination, they will then be required to follow the guidance provided below.
Youth participants ages 12-17 registered in our programming participating in activities at SPFAS and Edge, will not be required to be vaccinated as these facilities are not currently adopting an REP for youth sports programming. As a result, this participant group will not be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to participate in our youth hockey programming events offered at SPFAS or the Edge School. Please note that this approach is entirely the discretion of these facility operators and subject to change at any time.
All youth participants ages 12-17 will be required to comply with any applicable REP or other requirements in place at all other facilities (city or outside city) which may include providing proof of vaccination or a privately-paid negative PCR or rapid test within 72 hours of the event;
All adult participants ages 18 or older in our U18 or U21 hockey programs will be required to comply with all REP or other requirements in place at all applicable facilities which may include providing proof of vaccination or a privately-paid negative PCR or rapid test within 72 hours prior to the applicable event.
All non-participating attendees (audience) will be required to comply with any applicable REP or other requirements in place at the respective facility which may include providing proof of vaccination or a privately-paid negative PCR or rapid test within 72 hours of the event;
Withdrawal from Programming
Members who no longer wish to have their youth participate in our programming as a result of these restrictions may request to withdraw their participant(s) from SMHA prior to 11:59 pm MT on Wednesday, September 22, 2021. Withdrawing by this deadline will result in the following refunds:
o U7, U9 and U11 participants will be entitled to a refund of their full registration fees less $150 as such age groups have had previous access to and use of ice paid for by SMHA; and
o U13, U15 and U18 participants will be entitled to a refund of their full registration fees less $75 as such age groups have not had any significant access to or use of ice paid for by SMHA;
Any withdrawal requests received after this deadline (Wednesday September 22, 2021 at 11:59pm MT) will be processed in accordance with the current Refund Policy of SMHA which is available on our website;
Members who choose to withdraw for any reason are removing the youth participant for the entire 2021/22 season. Withdrawn members will not be permitted to re-register for our 2021/22 hockey programming should the applicable public health orders or applicable facility rules and regulations be modified or repealed;
• It is the expectation of SMHA that members who do not withdraw their youth participants from our youth hockey programming prior to this deadline are fully committed to participating in our programming at all applicable facilities, will comply with all applicable facility REP or other requirements and will not restrict their attendance to only those events hosted at SPFAS, the Edge School or any other facility not adopting an REP for youth programming. This conduct will severely compromise the efficient operation of SMHA and may be detrimental to the other players on these teams. This conduct may result in disciplinary action being instituted against these members and their youth participants in accordance with the Association’s bylaws.
We certainly understand how difficult this decision will be for some of our member families. However, any threats, harassment, or abuse of any of our volunteers or any facility staff of any kind will not be tolerated. Members engaging in these activities will be immediately suspended, their youth participants will be immediately expelled from all hockey programming, no refunds will be given per the Association’s bylaws and Refund Policy and registration for any future hockey programming offered by Springbank Minor Hockey may not be permitted.
We continue to appreciate your patience and understanding during this difficult time as we try and navigate the overwhelming complexities of this situation.