A little over a week ago, the Hamilton Minor Hockey Council (HMHC), our governing authority, had their monthly meeting with all the Hamilton association's presidents and their HMHC executive members. During this meeting, they suddenly announced that they were having a vote regarding the future of how hockey in Hamilton would be played.  They then laid out their plan for how they believe is the best way to run hockey in our city, based only on their opinion. They didn't ask for feedback from the associations, nor did they ask for any player/parent input prior to the vote.  The result of the vote was 7 for, 2 abstained and 3 against. The 3 opposing associations of course were Rosedale, Mountain and Coronation. Chedoke abstained, Dofasco, Lawfield, Hamilton IP and Hamilton Huskies voted in favour of these changes (with the HMHC executive) 

They proposed a 2 tier system that will split house league and select players apart. If a player is in Tier 2 (Select),  they will not play Tier 1(house league).

Tier 2 (previously Select) Players can try out for Tier 2. If they make the team they will interlock and play ONLY Tier 2 and ONLY the other Tier 2 teams within the city (Mountain, Chedoke, Coronation, Dofasco). They also anticipate there would be no allowance for tournaments for 1-2 seasons to allow the skill levels to be assessed. 

Tier 1 (previously House league) - If a player does not wish to play Tier 2 or they do not make the Tier 2 team, they then play at House League level. Tier 1 teams would be interlocked with ALL the other city associations and be on a rotating schedule each week to play at different arenas and different teams all around the city. To be clear, the Tier 1 teams would not just play the other Rosedale teams and would only occasionally play a game at Rosedale Arena.

We also anticipate there will be further issues with regards to lack of coaches and goalie availability. 

This move by the HMHC is their way of eventually forcing the associations into a city wide program. City wide programming would mean that a Tier 1 player who is currently one of 50-60 kids in a Tier1 division, will instead become one of 350-400 or more kids combined. They will be assigned to a team, playing with kids from all over the city in all different locations. For Tier 2, instead of a player trying out against 20-30 kids for a spot, they will be trying out against potentially hundreds of kids from ALL of the associations for one of 17 spots on a team.

Basically players become a number. They will not play with their friends and schoolmates. Our Rosedale "Community based hockey"  which is mandated in the current HMHC constitution  will no longer exist.  

The HMHC has an upcoming Annual General Meeting April 18th.  At this meeting, they intend to ratify this new version of hockey in Hamilton and push their new program through to their governing bodies (Alliance etc.). The intention of the HMHC is to roll this out starting in the U9 division in the 2024-25 season, and then quickly expand to the other divisions within a few seasons.  We will have representatives from Rosedale Minor Hockey attending this AGM to vehemently oppose these changes. All coaches and bench staff are able to attend, be heard and have a vote.

Some of you may prefer this new method. However, I anticipate that most of our members will not be in agreement with these changes to the hockey format.  And although the HMHC indicated these changes would not take effect until the 2024-25 season (or even several season's before it rolls through all the divisions), these changes will completely alter the way hockey is played in the City of Hamilton for your child(ren).

I am proud to call Rosedale Minor Hockey Home, as I know many of you are. I'm disappointed in the HMHC and their actions. 

At the beginning of the pandemic, the HMHC tried to force our association to amalgamate with Lawfield (without reason)  and we fought back. We voiced our concerns and we stopped that forced amalgamation. Since then our community has grown exponentially. 

We are strong, and if we stand together we can influence this change. I urge you to contact the HMHC executive by email and provide them your opinion - the opinion that you deserved to have heard, but they didn't care to even ask for it.  Feel free to explain the importance of continuing community based hockey and the positive effects on your family and your children's physical, mental and social well being. Maybe ask them when was the last time they set foot in our arena? or Why do these "strangers", have the power or the right to implement changes that affect all players and parents, without consulting them first? Or why are they violating their own constitution?  Why is this up to them, when they don't even care enough to ask, listen or even visit the associations that they represent to see if those changes are even necessary?? 

If you are in agreement then let them know. The contact info is below. 

Peter Martin - Past Chair HMHC - pmartin@petermartins.ca
Fred Hamilton -  Recreational hockey league (RHL) Chair - 4fshamilton@gmail.com
Tony Martindale - Alliance Executive Director - Tmartindale@alliancehockey.com
Gerry Potter - Alliance Region1 Vice President  -  gerrypotter_1@hotmail.com

PLEASE SEND YOUR EMAILS. 

FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS. 

GIVE YOUR FAMILY A VOICE AND A CHOICE. #mykidisnotanumber 

Yours,

Carolann Laurie
Registrar
Rosedale Minor Hockey

For reference: 

The HMHC current constitution states their objectives are that:

The Recreational Hockey Leagues will continue to operate as individual house league organizations, maintaining their community base and ice time standards for recreation and select participants and being members of the Hamilton Minor Hockey Council, working with the H.M.H.C. Board of Directors for the betterment of minor hockey in Hamilton.  

And to: To develop and encourage sportsmanship, community spirit and good fellowship among all participants to the betterment of their physical, mental and social well-being.

And for: Recreational House Leagues will continue to operate out of their community based arenas where possible and practical.

The definition of “community-based” (per Cambridge University) is "used to describe an activity that is organized and takes place locally".  Rosedale Minor Hockey is community-based hockey. We are our own community. We (our families) make Rosedale Minor Hockey what it is..