As we await direction from the OHF and OMHA regarding the 2020-21 hockey season, our intention is to be ready to go when a foundation for hockey is established. Currently, ENSMHA is in the process of working with our local municipalities in planning for ice time and budgetary items.
In order to plan effectively, we have opened up the registration process. Our hope is to communicate our ice time requirements to the local municipalities no later than August 27, with ice tentatively scheduled to be available at Kingsville Arena on September 8.
In order to be eligible for participation in September skates, players must be registered.
Register online, through Hockey Canada, here. Payments will not be collected at this time.
NOTE: Any modifications to the 2020-21 season that reduces ice time or hockey programming will be reviewed by the Board and necessary fee adjustments will be made.
Highlights of the OHF Stage 3A Return to Play Framework include:
1. Flexibility on registering players for the participation in the 2020-2021 season and the cooperation between Associations and Members.
2. Processes put in place for new participants to register as: Participants and families become open to registering for hockey programming, and more arenas become available for use.
3. The opportunity for adjusted program offerings on a four-week cycle as the Government updates numbers for gathering and group participation.
4. To allow for staggered opening or closure of programming based on Ontario’s regional approach to reopening with minimal disruption to programs operating.
5. Individual and Group Training remains a focus in August and September with addition of participants.
6. No tryouts for the formation of Teams. Members to determine approach for tiered structure based on category of participation last year.
7. No affiliation or integration allowed between leagues.
8. May only participate in one league/team within the OHF.
9. The boundaries of the PHU will be a guideline for competition between teams.
From July 28 to August 31, the OHF will be in Stage 3A. In Stage 3A Member approved programming is based on Stage 1 and 2 requirements for participants who were registered with the association for 2019-2020 in geographic areas that the Ontario Government has deemed to be in Stage 3 of Ontario’s Reopening Plan.
Individual and group training allows for a maximum of 25 participants on the ice, including instructors, or a lower number if determined by Ontario Government, local PHU, the facility or Member. Physical distancing is required for the purpose of individual and group training and if a facility has further restrictions, all programming must comply.
Beginning September 1, the OHF will move to Stage 3B. Following a two-week development phase for any new programs, Stage 3 Modified Programming will begin. Essential to the safety of participants, modified programming is Member Sanctioned hockey programs in compliance with the requirements of Stage 3 operated within the Minor Hockey Associations or the Member including game play, scrimmage in practice and team practice drills.
Associations may begin to gather fees for programming offered in accordance with the OHF Return to Hockey Framework Stage 3A. The collection of fees must only be done for the purpose of Stage 3 programming.
In all instances the OHF Directors will make the final determination as to the active level within stage 3 of the OHF Return to Hockey Framework that a Member is eligible to progress to. This determination will be communicated by way of memo from the OHF to the Members and posted on the OHF website. The OHF will maintain an updated posting on its website of the OHF Stage that each Public Health Unit has progressed to. Associations will operate their programming in accordance with the framework of the Stage as well as the rules established by their particular Member, the Ontario Government, the local Public Health Unit and the facilities.