Regional Bantam AA: East Valley Twisters 2016/17
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.
Rationale:
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 coaching and better competition.
Team Size:
The team will roster out of Macdonald. It is anticipated that the team will be 16 (14 skaters plus 2 goalies). In 2015/16 we carried 17. There exists the potential to AP from all other team(s) from all association’s.
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: There has been from 6-9. It is likely in 2016-17 there will be 8 (Kenora/ Stnbch/SW Jets/Seine Rvr/ Springfeild/Nrthrn Knghts/East Valley/ West PV) but there is discussion with as many as 3 other teams (CP/Interlake/Morden& Winkler). 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.
Playoffs ended by Mar.26 in 2016.
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 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 option for other games (exhibition) exists. It is unlikely there will be many other rural AA but the single age AA in Winnipeg(Weaker 14 AA teams and stronger 13AA).
In 2015-16 the team played 3 tournaments. This included Northern Knights(Bsjr), Morris, Kenora . The Morris Tourney was run by the Junior Twisters but there exists the opportunity for the team to run this tourney. In addition there are Provincials.
There will be the need to get parent volunteers to manage. Looking for Sponsorship as well but this will be discussed at tryouts.
Jerseys: We have 2 sets.
Selection process (and Proposed Dates)
Evaluation Plan
3 skates- Cut after 3.
Evaluation Tourney (Sept24-27 in Steinbach) . Final cut.
Coaching: Applications (Mac Board): To date we have no coach committed.
Name: East Valley Twisters
Skates: All at Morris Arena. (Tentative)
September 14 (Wed) 6:45pm (Register at 5:30-6:15)(Parent meeting 6:15-6:30)
September 19 (Monday ) 6:45-8:15
September 22 (Thurs) 6:45-8:15
September 24/25th : Tryout tourney at Steinbach.
Program cost: Estimates only
This will depend somewhat on fundraising
Selection $50 (25 participants): Breakeven (ice/selection/referees)
Coaches: not paid (gas allowance?): $600?
Eastman fees: $200
Ice: games and tourney (15 home/ 24 prac): 4650 to $5400
Jerseys/Socks: only socks in 2016/17 $600 (Jerseys 1 set in 2014 and new set at the end of 2016)
Referees: $2000
Tourney:2 ($2000)
Insurance: $40/player.
Cost/player: $750-850: In 2014-15 it was $500/player due to fundraising and reduced ice costs and 2015/16 was similar.
Questions or Concerns: Brad Day 204-266-2551