NMHA Tyke Division Plans for 2018-19 Season, News (Newmarket Minor Hockey)

We have almost formalized all plans for the Tyke (2011) and Mini/Minor Tyke (2012/13) programs for the NMHA for the coming season.  With the changes in the rules on how these leagues are to operate coming down from the Hockey Canada we have worked out how the NMHA will honour these rules for this season. 




NMHA has invested in mobile boards and smaller nets as outlined by the Hockey Canada guidelines and the home arena for these will be Ray Twinney 2.  All divisions of tyke will practice and play here except for the Tyke games which will be played at NTR on Sundays.  

Tyke Program:  

Tyke age group will practice at Ray Twinney 2 between 12:15pm and 2:15pm on Saturdays.  The games will be at NTR on Sundays – final schedule for this is not complete as we’re awaiting the contract with NTR for this ice.  As well, we have ice for up to 2 tyke select teams each week if there is enough interested players when select try outs come along.  One pad is RT2 at 3:15pm and the second is at NTR.  Games at RT2 will be played on half ice with boards drawn down the middle.  Should there be two teams, they will alternate the weeks that one is at NTR and one is at RT2.   

Mini/Minor Tyke Programs (Initiation Program):  

Mini and Minor tyke programs will be entirely at RT2 this year.  The RT2 ice will be divided up into 3 sections using mobile boards to allow for 6 teams on the ice at a time.  Ice times will be 9:15am-12:15pm on Saturday and 7:15am-10:15am on Sunday.  For the first month of ice time, NMHA will have mentor coaches on the ice to conduct the practices along with the team coaches.  The goal here is to get everyone used to the practice and game procedures and activities and ensure all kids are receiving the same level of coaching and mentoring as well as to assist the coaches in understanding the OMHA requirements for these two divisions (blue pucks, zones).  This mentoring program will be lead by our Coach Mentor Peter McBride and involve some of our more senior coaches through house league and rep hockey to ensure everyone is getting what they need out of the time involved.  

NMHA has also scheduled a Coaching 1 Clinic for Newmarket on October 14th.  Registration must be done through the OMHA website (www.omha.net).  Coach 1 certification is now good through Novice and is required for all coaches and assistant coaches in the 3 tyke divisions.  Mentor coaching will continue through October 14th to allow those that still need certification to receive it.  Program is first come first serve.  

Coaches who decide not to follow the required Hockey Canada guidelines for players on the ice will be asked to leave the coaching position.  

Select Program  

There is no select program for the Mini and Minor tyke age group, nor are they allowed to play up in the Tyke Select age group.  Tyke Select will be either 1 or two teams based on the interest expressed by the age group.  Ice has been secured for 2 teams but finalization of this schedule will come later in the year.  Coach selection and select try outs will take place during normal Select try out weekend for the league in September.  Players who make the select team(s) will not be playing in the NMHA House League but in the Select loop for York Simcoe.  (The league itself starts in November, with only practices from late September until that point).  Games will be scheduled with the other coaches/managers at a central meeting once selections are done. 

Thanks,  

Matthew Longland
VP – House League 
NMHA