Regional Bantam AA: East Valley Twisters 2017/18
Purpose:
We have created a Bantam AA team out of the east side of Pembina Valley with the cooperation of Macdonald, Red River and Altona Minor Hockey Associations. This team plays in the Eastman AA League.This is a multiple age team.
With the changes made by Hockey MB at the AGM there is an allowance for up to 5 associations to join to create AA teams. In 2015 PVMHA endorsed our participation in this league.
Within PV there was a motion passed in the spring of 2017 that proposed “all players having the opportunity to play AA Bantam have the right to go to the AA team without the consent of their home association”. At the same time, the PV Board decided that there would be a third team created from the communities that did not have an AA program. The impact of this motion on the Twisters is discussed below.
Rationale for the Twisters Program:
Provide an opportunity to play competitive hockey in a cost-effective manner with minimal travel.
This would help players develop and ideally will keep kids playing as there will be better opportunities and access to better competition.
Team Size:
The team will roster out of one of the involved communities. It is anticipated that the team will be 16 (14 skaters plus 2 goalies). There exists the potential to AP from all other team(s) from all associations.
History of Eastman AA:
Eastman stocks these teams from multiple associations.
This has been done several associations that have done this in the past but they have done it as sole associations (Morden/MacDonald). It has been only when an association had an unusually strong group that this was possible. These teams never won the league but were middle to top third.
With the implementation of the AAA Regional Program there were questions about whether Eastman would continue with the AA league. They have decided to participate in AAA but continue with the AA and it has continued to be successful.
Teams in the league:
In the past there has been from 6-9. In 2016-17 there was be 10 (Kenora/ SE Blizzard/SW Jets/Seine River/ Winkler/Northern Knights/East Valley/ West PV/ Central Plains /Interlake ). One team (Springfield) from Eastman did not enter a team. It is anticipated that in 2017-2018 it will be the same 10 teams but Winkler will be a Regional team (with Morden/Carman /Miami). This means that the farthest travel is about 2 ½ hours and very few overnight trips. It is about a 20 game schedule plus playoffs.
Regular League Season ended Feb.15 in 2016/ Feb 12th in 2017.
Playoffs end in late March dependent upon Provincials and series lengths.
Proposed operations
2014-15 was the first year this program was run with the 3 Associations. It went very well with the Twisters winning the League and coming in 2nd at Provincials.
It was operated in the following manner and we anticipate that it will be run in a similar fashion this year.
Split practices(Altona/Morris/Rosenort) and games (Altona/Morris / Rosenort/Sanford). There was a bias toward the Morris and Rosenort rinks due to ice availability and cost. The intent will be to use Morris for Tryouts and as soon as Rosenort is open practices would start there (anticipating Oct 16th). The plan is to use it exclusively for practice. St. Jean and the Macdonald rinks can be used if needed. These rinks were used a couple of times. Practices are 90 minutes. Dryland once a week (before practice 30 minutes then 15 min to dress and on ice). We generally practice Mon/Wed or Tues /Thurs and our intent will be to go 7:30 to 9:00. For 2017/18 we are currently booked for Rosenorton Mon/Wed 7:30-9:00.
The option for other games (exhibition) exists. It is unlikely there will be many other rural AA teams but the single age AA in Winnipeg(Weaker 14 AA teams and stronger 13AA) are options for exhibition. In 2015/16 about 5 games in 2016/17 there was 1.
In 2015-16 the team played 3 tournaments. This included Northern Knights(Bsjr), Morris and Kenora . The Morris Tourney was run by the Junior Twisters but there exists the opportunity for the team to run this tourney which we did in 2016. Provincials will be dependent upon qualifying (2 of 3 teams from PV). In 2016/17 there were two tournaments and provincials. It was recommended in the evaluation that next year we do 3 tourneys and Provincials. It is recommended that we run the Morris tourney again (likely use 2 rinks (Rosenort/Morris).
There will be the need to get parent volunteers to manage. Each year we look for sponsorship as well: this will be discussed at tryouts and after the team selection.
In 2016-17 Altona did not have enough players to allow us to draw from them. The team went with 13 skaters and 2 goaltenders and relied on AP’s from all 3 associations. At the 2017 AGM for PV they passed a motion that all participants have the right to go to a AA team if it is available. This means that Altona participants will be involved in 2017/18.
Jerseys: We have 2 sets, one new and one set a year old.
Selection process (and Proposed Dates)
Evaluation Plan
3 skates- Cut after 3.
Evaluation Tourney (Sept22-24th). Final cut. Discussion: We may do this as Stbch may not.
Coaching: Applications (Mac Board)
Name: East Valley Twisters
Skates: All at Morris Arena. (Tentative)
September 13 (Wed) 6:45pm (Register at 5:30-6:15)(Parent meeting 6:15-6:30)
September 16
September 17
September 20 :
Sept 22nd-24th : Likely in Morris/Sanford