First, we want to thank you for your patience as
the executive has taken the time to prepare for this upcoming season. We know
everyone is eager to get back to the arena and back to developing their hockey
skills. We have spent lots of time reading and staying up to date with each
bulletin and each new piece of information from the OMHA, Hockey Canada and the
IHF as it has been provided to associations.
Our commitment and intention is to ensure we have hockey for all our members. We expect to be back on the ice on October 1st to begin another great season of hockey in Norwood. There is no question that hockey during a global pandemic is going to look slightly different than in past years, but we are hopefully that with everyone’s patience and cooperation we will be able to hold a great season of hockey for our NDMS players.
We know that this year has been financially challenging for many. With that in mind, one of the first decisions the Executive made was to not raise registration fees from last year, in fact we lowered them. It is also important to note that while our fees were decreased, our ice rental costs owed to the municipality will increase by 2%. And with new formatting we will require more ice time, so costs overall for the organization will rise. This means that as an organization we will be dipping into our organization savings in order to provide this one-time cost reduction for our membership rates. We hope this cost reduction will help ensure all families are able to support their players in returning to hockey this year.
Players will be structured into teams of 9 players + 1 goalie. OMHA has set out this regulation, so this may force us to move players around this year. Some players may be asked to play up or down a level to assist in accommodating this new structure. Once teams are set, there will be NO player movement for any reason. Teams will play in cohorts of 50 players for the season, meaning that this will be considered the players “bubble” and will hopefully achieve the goal of minimizing contact between players. Depending on the age level, our Norwood team of 9 players + 1 goalie may be part of a “bubble” that includes teams of similar skill from other centers within the Peterborough area. We are still working with other centers to confirm the exact approach, but we do expect that our older age groups will have the opportunity for competition against other centers. Younger players will be in a “bubble” also, but may play against other teams from Norwood.
Norwood Minor Hockey cannot guarantee that friends will have the opportunity to play together this year. It will take a considerable amount of coordination to ensure that we have all players on these small teams practicing and playing with other players of equivalent skills. Our priority will be to ensure that all registered players have an appropriate team to play on, but this may require some movement between age groups based on players skills levels.
In order to finalize our plans for the season, we will need to finalize and complete our registration. We are capping numbers for each team during the registration process. It is very important that if you have not yet registered that you do so immediately. Space is limited and once caps are met – additional players names will go on a waiting list. The caps for each team have been determined based on existing registration numbers, if waiting lists become significant we may be able to expand the caps and add an additional team.
The caps and availability on teams are as follows:
MITES - Registration open for Session 1 (10 weeks - 1 ice per week) Cap at 50 players
U7/U8 - Cap at 40 - 5 Spots Available
U9 - Cap at 10 - 3 Spots Available
U11 - Cap at 40 - 9 Spots Available
U13 - Cap at 40 - 4 Spots Available
U15 - Cap at 30 - 9 Spots Available
U18 - Cap at 20 - 8 Spots Available
As mentioned above there will be no regular league play, as in past years. Both the traditional Rep and Leo leagues are not operating this year, however in conjunction with other local centers, we are in the process of organizing a tiered level of play. Players will be sorted into Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams (where applicable) and play other teams of the same caliber. This is anticipated to start in November. Norwood Minor Hockey is currently working with neighboring communities to set this up and will base tiered level of play from feedback from last season's coaches
Each team will be on the ice a minimum of twice per week, just as in other years. We are committed to offering 1 practice and 1 game per week. Excluding Mite - which is a once a week 50 minute program.
At this point, the facility management has made it clear that COVID protocols will be in place and ONLY 1 PARENT OR GUARDIAN will be allowed into the arena with your player. There will be LIMITED dressing room use and limited bathrooms available. We are asking that Players arrive FULLY dressed, including skates when possible. You will enter through the doors at the front of the building and exit through the door at the dressing room hallway. Parents MUST stay on arena property while your child is playing in the event of an emergency or if your child needs to leave the ice. We will be following all arena and health unit protocols currently in place and we will adjust as needed if those change.
Each player will be required to complete a Covid-19 screening upon entering into the arena. An individual appointed by the organization will receive players at the door to ensure this assessment is done and other safety protocols are being followed. No entrance to the arena will be allowed if the assessment is not complete. Players MUST wear a mask when entering and exiting the arena.
Under the current OMHA protocols, a maximum of 22 people (including coaches) are allowed on the ice at one time. Physical distancing will be encouraged on-ice and on the bench. Every player is responsible for bringing their own water bottles, as they will not be provided by teams this year and they MUST be labelled with each player's name, as no sharing will be permitted.
NDMS Registration Fees 2020-2021
Mites $100/10 week Session
$50/10 week session Subsidized Rate for those who deem Norwood as Home Centre
U7/U8 $450
$250/Player Subsidized Rate for those who deem Norwood as Home Centre
U9 $575
$350/Player Subsidized Rate for those who deem Norwood as Home Centre
U11 $575 $125 decrease from 2019/20 rates
U13 $575 $125 decrease from 2019/20 rates
U15 $575 $125 decrease from 2019/20 rates
U18 $575 $25 decrease from 2019/20 rates
Registration Deposit of $175.00 is due by September 13
MITES registration deposit of $50 required. (this will be payment in full for players whose home centre is Norwood due to the registration subsidy generously sponsored by local donors)
Payment can be made via Credit Card using the link on our website
OR
Payment can be made via Etransfer to [email protected] Please use the password hockey
Players MUST be Registered and Deposit paid in order to go on the ice. ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS!
Any player who has not paid the registration deposit by September 13th will be replaced with someone from the waiting list.
Remainder of the season fees are due on or before November 1, 2020.
If you require financial assistance we recommend contacting NDMS President Greg Hartwick to make arrangements [email protected].
Please check our website often and subscribe to ensure you are getting current updates. We will post updates as required to both our website and Facebook page should situations change.