Registration is now open for the 2020/21 season - check out the registration page for more details!

Elks Return to Play Framework (pdf copy)

Thunder Bay Elks Hockey Association is pleased to announce our Return to Play Framework for the 2020/21 season. Thank you to all six Associations within Lakehead Minor Hockey for coming together to come up with a safe way to get our kids back on the ice...looking forward to seeing everyone at the rink soon!

STEP 1 - DEVELOPMENT & TEAM FORMATION

• October 13th - November 30th
• Elks Minor Hockey Thunder Bay reserves the right to adjust the start dates based on player registration and ice availability.
• Player Registration through HCR website.
• Cost to be $100 (100% refund if Step 1 is cancelled due to COVID; 50% refund if Step 1 is cancelled with half or less of the sessions remaining due to COVID)
• Player bubble (50 or less players) will be determined by dividing players into U?, U9, U11 and U13 and further dividing based on where they register (A or AA). Players may be placed in a bubble with players from another association
• 10 - 12 sessions scheduled over 6 weeks (20 to 25 players per ice session sessions to be focused on skill development.
• for skill development with potential for small scrimmages at the end of the session per HNO guidelines for Stage 3 (Team Formation); on-ice sessions to be organized by Elks Minor Hockey coaches while screening/documenting protocols will be handled by Elks Minor Hockey Association.
• Coaches will be able to use the sessions for draft evaluations but limits on attendees are expected to be required due to restrictions on the number of people permitted inside arenas. Specific rules to be determined.
• U11 AA and U13AA team formation will be based on a city-wide draft format. Details to follow.

STEP 2 - COMPETITION STAGE

(*If restrictions are lessened and it is possible to go to Step 3 prior to November 1, Step 2 will be skipped with
draft rules remaining in place)

• If players did not participate in Step 1 they can still register for Step 2.
• A player can opt out of Step 2 after participating is Step 1.
• There will be a break between Step 1 and Step 2 to facilitate the formation of teams.
• December 1st to December 31st
• Cost to be determined
• Players who registered in U11AA and U13AA who do NOT make AA will be placed in the U11A and
  U 13A draft pool for either the North side of Thunder Bay (PAMHA) or the South side of Thunder Bay (Elks,
  KC, Neebing, Norwest and Westfort), based on where the player registers. It is possible that a player who
  has registered for U11 and U13 will be drafted on a team with a different association other than the one
  registered for in order to ensure all teams have a full roster, all teams are of equal competitiveness and to
  maximize ice allotments.
• Teams drafted per current guidelines in late November into 3 team loops.
• Game play and other rules to be determined
• If Step 2 commences, it will not end early and will continue until December 31st
• No games between December 24th and January 2nd
• No tournaments or jamborees will take place during this stage

STEP 3 - COMPETITION STAGE

• January 1st to a date to be determined
• This will be a continuation of Step 2 OR, if permitted, could combine the teams that were originally
  drafted and combine two 3 team loops into 6 team loops and play traditional 5v5 games
• Tournaments or jamborees *may* be possible during this stage

New Division Names?

At its Winter Congress this weekend in Montreal, the Hockey Canada membership approved a regulation change proposed by the board of directors to revise the naming of the age divisions used in minor hockey across Canada.  Following the recommendations of a task team, the age divisions will become U7, U9, U11 through to U21, impacting all minor and female hockey programs under the Hockey Canada umbrella.  More details are available on the Hockey Canada page.