The Nickel District League is unique.  It provides a league for teams from a very large geographical area to participate and compete against in a league which wouldn’t normally be available for teams carded from the ‘C’ level to the ‘AAA’ level together.

Smaller communities, with low enrolment in hockey such as Blind River, Manitoulin Island and Espanola are pleasantly surprising their opponents with competitive teams, placing well in the standings.  Hats off to these Associations, their team staff and players.

Many teams within our league have been very successful in tournaments throughout the province.  

Within the league, the standings are very competitive, however the Executive recognizes also that some teams are extremely strong for their division. The Valley East Major Atom team is an example of this.  Their success within their own age group has allowed the players to exhibit and develop individual skills and confidence in their playing, but also has provided a level of competition for the other teams and players in that division to strive for.

With the above success in mind, the ‘A’ centres in District two (Walden, Rayside, Valley East and Nickel Centre) are preparing to combine forces to put together one elite ‘A’ team, similar to a ‘AAA’ team, at the Minor PeeWee and Minor Bantam age groups next season.  (2010/2011 season)

·          Their desire is to apply to the Nickel District League with these elite ‘A’ teams who would play up an age group, similar to an ‘AAA’ team.

·          For next season, it appears that the Valley East Association would operate the Minor PeeWee elite ‘A’ team and Nickel Centre will operate the Minor Bantam elite ‘A’ team.

·          The four Associations in District two would continue also to have ‘A’ teams at these levels, competing at their own age groups as they do now.

·          In the 2011/2012 season, it is anticipated that all teams from District two would operate under the umbrella of a new Nickel City Hockey Club. (example Nickel City Devils for Walden).

While the NDMHL Constitution allows only ‘AAA’ teams to play up a division, the Executive is seriously entertaining supporting this idea because of the calibre of teams created from four Associations being involved.  In the past, the league has not approved teams requesting this format, such as West Ferris, however times are changing and if Associations can demonstrate exceptional calibre in their teams, the NDMHL community at large may have to consider this idea.