I would like to thank all the kids for their interest in trying out for one of the Minor Novice MD teams and also all the families for making it possible for this program to exist. Since we are at the Minor Novice level, I anticipate that this is the first year that a lot of families will be involved with competitive hockey. To help everyone gain an appreciation for the the level of commitment required, I have prepared this "Season Preview" for
Team Black.Team Philosophy
In my mind, the purpose of this team is to provide kids with a fun and supportive environment in which to gain a knowledge and love for all aspects of the game of hockey. In addition to on-ice development, this program also teaches the kids what it means to be a great teammate on and off the ice through dedication, hard work, and being surrounded in a team-first atmosphere.
In My experience, the team lessons that are learned through sport at a young age carry over into their personal lives and help them grow in all aspects of their lives.
Tryouts
The tryout schedule has been posted on the West London website and will consist of a number of practices with some exhibition games which have been organized with other associations.
As shown on the website, there are two time slots for Minor Novice; once we have the final list of kids trying out, an email will be sent out indicating which session you should attend. You should expect to be notified within a couple of days prior to the first tryout.
Following the last scheduled ice time, the two teams (Team Black and Team White) will be selected and notifications will be sent out to parents.
Season Schedule
As indicated on the West London website, Team Black's regular weekly practice time will be on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:20 pm. Often there can be changes to practice times so please check the website regularly or subscribe to the online calender. In addition to the regular weekly practice, the team will have an additional one hour practice that will be supplied by West London every third or fourth week (day to be confirmed).
As a team, we will also be looking to provide an extra weekly practice with a focus on power skating, shooting/puck handling or team strategy. It is anticipated that a third party could be brought in to help lead the skating sessions.
Our weekly game will be held according to the online schedule; generally games are played on the weekend however, there may be instances where a weeknight game may be required due to scheduling conflicts with tournaments. All regular season games are played within City limits with the exception of an occasional game in Sarnia.
Team Black will participate in a total of four tournaments throughout the season. The dates and locations are as follows:
Strathroy Olympics REP MD and AE Tournament - Strathroy - October 27-30
Canadian Tire Classic - Barrie - November 25-27
Wayne Gretzky International - Brantford - December 27-30
West London Byron Optimist Tournament - London - January 27-29
More Details regarding hotels etc. will be provided once the team has been selected.
Financial Commitment
A detailed budget for the season will be completed once the team has been selected. It is understood that, in past years, the team operating budget is generally between $10,000-$15,000 and is comprised of corporate sponsorships, fundraising and individual player contributions. It is estimated that the player contribution will be in the range of +\- $600 however, that amount could change based on how successful fundraising and sponsorship initiatives prove to be.
In addition to the team fund, West London does charge each MD player an extra $375 upcharge. It should be noted that this fee is completely independent of the team operating budget.
Team Roles
To help foster an environment that is fun fun for the kids, which also promotes their chances of being successful, there are a number of roles that parents can fill:
Assistant Coach (2)
Team Manager (1)
Team Trainer (1)
Parent Rep (more information will follow on this role)
Keeper of the jerseys (1 or 2)
Social Coordinator
Note: Depending on the interest shown, some positions may require an interview prior to selection.
Again, I want to thank you all for showing interest in trying out for the Minor Novice MD teams and I look forward to seeing you all at the rink. If you have any other questions that I haven't touched on, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Coach Jon
ams and also all the families for making it possible for this program to exist. Since we a