Female Midget AA Sharks

Female midget AA SHarks

FINAL REPORT: 2016/17 SEASON

Thank You

The Battlefords Midget AA Female Sharks wishes to thank Battlefords Minor Hockey and Patricia Meiklejohn for all your help in establishing an AA Midget Female Hockey Team in the Battlefords. It would not have been possible without your assistance! Attached is Team Picture of the 1st Midget Female AA Team in the Battlefords for the Minor Hockey Office as a small token of our appreciation.

We started skating with potential players in August, 2016 and had a final list of potential skaters of approximately 30 with 27 that attended try-outs on September 18 & 19, 2016. Players were chosen and invited to join the team on September 19, 2016. There were players chosen from:

Battlefords - 10

Turtleford - 2

St. Walburg - 2

Meadow Lake - 2

Flying Dust - 1

Maymont - 1

Following the roster being set we were advised that Meadow Lake was going to ask for an AA Female Midget Team. This was confirmed at the league meetings the following weekend and with that being the case we lost 2 players that we had offered roster spots and who had accepted as Meadow Lake Minor Hockey refused to provide these players a release. The rule is that as long as there no AA Team in a centre those players are free to go to the nearest centre with an AA Team.

The next player from tryouts was offered a position and accepted leaving us one forward short and we were never able to fill that final roster spot. There were some players available in the region and we soon found out that SHA rules would not allow us to affiliate a player from another centre. We could however offer a roster spot to a female playing male hockey. There were two in our region, however to be able to play they had to pay full Battlefords Minor Hockey Registration Fee and that was a factor to some degree to them choosing not to play in the Battlefords.

At an AA Level it is difficult to play with less than 3 full lines and the commitment and competition level of AA hockey is very high. As a new team in this level of hockey this was something that some players and parents seemed unprepared for. We affiliated player’s from the Battlefords Sharks Midget A Team and co-ordinated schedules as best as possible. However, there were some games that conflicted and it was determined that there is a very good female hockey program in Turtleford that perhaps a case should be made to the Saskatchewan Hockey Association to be able to affiliate those players as well.

To ensure that there was a hockey for all levels both goalies and three players were rostered with the Midget A Team and listed as Affiliated Players with the AA Team. The understanding was that the 3 players that had made the roster with the AA Team would consider the AA Team as their home team and commit to AA Games and practice. They would also play with the A Team when the AA Team was not busy. We also developed a goalie schedule with the A Team and one was always made available.

The AA Program was successful as it attracted a number of players from outside the Battlefords to play with the AA Team as well as the A Team.

Development Plan

On ice practices were held twice per week with one in the Battlefords and the 2nd in Turtleford to bring the team to that area. Dry land training was held as possible and included team building exercises. The long term development structure originally submitted was generally followed.

Results

Attached are press releases detailing the team results and the team peaked at the right time over the final month of the season and playoffs. We went over a month without a loss and defeating the top three teams in the league to end up with a 9-11-4 record and 4th place. Elrose was defeated in the 1st round of playoffs and we just came up short against the Saskatoon Chargers the # 1 Team in the league losing the 2 game total point 11-9 in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

The team ended up with an 11-12-5 overall record and came within 2 goals of going to the league final. A hugely successful year for a brand new team.

We also entered provincials, however were unaware that overage players were not permitted until rosters were set. We lost out to Elrose in the 1st round by three goals. The Prince Albert Tournament in early January, 2017 was the only tournament we attended.

One player was affiliated with the AAA Midget Sharks and while the AAA Sharks did provide advice and equipment that was much appreciated there was also disappointment that there was no other players affiliated or asked to practice with them. That was certainly part of attracting players to the AA Team.

8 of our players went to Triple AAA Sharks Spring Camp with 3 making the inter-squad game and a number of others with the talent level to play at the AAA Level. Three players made the North U-16 SaskFirst Teams and one player made the North U-18 SaskFirst Teams. Two players were recruited to play in Alberta Junior Female league once the season was completed.

Recommendations

1.Continue with the AA program it is a great step for players that want to play at a higher level.

2.Have open discussions with Meadow Lake Minor Hockey to see if there is a way to combine Midget teams rather than fighting for players with one A team for the region and one AA Team.

3.Have discussions with Turtleford Minor Hockey to determine if there is interest in being able to affiliate players back and forth. If interest then approach Saskatchewan Hockey Association for discussions.

4.Continue to emphasize that AA is very competitive hockey that requires a large commitment.

5.Encourage female players from other centres that are playing male hockey to play with the Battlefords female teams by allowing a nominal registration fee as the full registration fee is a deterrent.

6.Encourage the AAA Sharks to develop a closer relationship with local players from the Battlefords.