SMHA introduces new Peewee A & Bantam A Programs

SMHA INTRODUCES NEW PW A & BANTAM A PROGRAMS

SMHA will be implementing new Peewee A and Bantam A programs effective with the coming 2019-2020 hockey season.

Highlights of the new programs:

• Zones will be paired to draft their Peewee A and Bantam A teams; 

• The zone pairs are Aces / Bobcats, Flyers / Redwings and Renegades / Wild;

• Both the Peewee A and Bantam A programs will be brought closer in line to PWAA and Bantam AA programming respectively in terms of ice allocation;

• A city-wide goaltender skills evaluation for all Peewee and Bantam goaltenders (except AA goalies) will be conducted to provide a city-wide baseline for goaltenders.  

Purpose of these program changes:

• Similar to the city-wide AA tryout concept, provide the opportunity for the most capable players to play A hockey. Zones will no longer have to meet a quota of players, based on their required team numbers. If one zone in the pairing has more depth of talent, that zone will have more players in A hockey than a zone that is lacking depth in that age group.

• With just two zones paired, players will play with friends from their home zone along with meeting new friends from another zone as well.

• Create more competitive balance in A through C hockey.  By having each zone with the appropriate number of players in AA and now in A, the balance of play will move down through B and C hockey.

• Allow for SMHA to close the gap between AA and A programs in terms of ice allocation.

Some Details:

• There will be 12 Peewee A teams from the three zone pairs - four teams per pairing;

• There will be 9 Bantam A teams from the three zone pairs- three teams per pairing;

• These team number totals are similar to historical A team numbers;

• Tryouts for both Peewee A and Bantam A will take place September 20-22, 2019.

• An unevaluated pre-skate will also be provided prior to the tryout weekend;

• The City-Wide Peewee and Bantam A, B & C goalie skills tryouts will be conducted September 13-15, 2019. There will be no charge for the goaltender tryouts.

• Goalies will not be drafted on a city-wide basis - they will be drafted within their zone pairs.

• All players will pay a standard Peewee or Bantam registration fee to their zone.  Those that make an A team will then pay a surcharge to their zone to cover the additional ice time allocation for the A programs;

• A $100 tryout fee will be charged by all zones for the four-ice time tryout.  Players that make A will have their $100 tryout fee credited towards their surcharge.

• Each zone must have at least one Head Coach in each of PW A and Bantam A. 

SMHA looks forward to seeing these new programs implemented this coming season.

Thank you and have a great summer!