NEW Competition Rules
2010/2011 Regular Season and Playoffs
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The aim of the Nickel District Minor Hockey League (NDMHL) is to provide hockey competition for the communities within the Nickel District Area and surrounding communities accepted by the league for REP teams carded within the NOHA.
The Executive of the NDMHL has always recognized that the league has provided the very best competitive environment for these teams and for this reason, it has been determined that the age groups should be reorganized for the 2010/2011 season, within the NDMHL, as it continues to offer participating associations progressive hockey and sportsmanship throughout the area covered by the league. This new structure is proactive and coincides with the changing times of competitive hockey.
New League Realignment:
The Atom, Peewee and Bantam Category will no longer have major and minor divisions. Each category will now compete in an “A” and “B” division format with stronger teams forming the “A” Division and weaker teams forming the “B” Division. Each team will be aligned through self identification by the Associations as to which division their teams will participate in. This process will initially be used to align the Divisions on a one-year test basis for the 2010/2011 season.
Rationale:
- Associations want closer competition as a means to improve and develop their teams and players
- Over the past 5 years the NDMHL has experienced a decrease in association membership and the number of teams being iced by associations.
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Some associations are only icing teams in select age categories or icing “major” teams only; other associations have dropped out as they no longer are competitive for REP competition.
- Hockey growth continues in the Nickel District Area, but it is in the houseleague not in REP hockey
By providing league realignment, the development and growth of REP hockey will be improved and maintained
Principles and Alignment of Divisions:
- The league will not run Major and Minor Divisions within any age group, although teams within the Associations will be carded through the NOHA as minor and major. Teams within minor or major years in any division will, for competitive and development reasons, compete in some divisions against each other.
- Associations will self identify whether any team they are applying for, for participation in the league, will compete at the “A” or “B” level within any age group
- The NDMHL will review all applications through the Team Review Committee
- The league will arrange a preliminary schedule to approximately November 30th in which teams will compete against each other
- Teams which are far too strong for a Division within an age group will be encouraged by the league to move “up” for the remainder of the regular schedule for development purposes and will compete within the new Division for playoff purposes
- Points will carry from the previous Division
- Teams which are too weak within a Division will be encouraged by the league to move “down” for the balance of the regular season for development purposes and will compete within the new Division for playoff purposes
- Points will carry from the previous Division
FAQs and/or contemplated planned restrictions:
- The Novice and Midget Divisions are unaffected by these changes as they already operate under the above system
- There is a possibility that teams could play out of their age groups
- Atoms teams will not move up to the Peewee Division due to body checking
- No team can move from Peewee to Atom for any reason
- Bantam teams will not move to Midget because of the Midget Division age disparity (3 years in Midget)
- Only teams with winning records could potentially move up
- Only teams with losing records could potentially move down
- The league has the final say as to movement and age group participation as it affects the number of teams considered reasonable to operate any division
- The league will review any and all recommendations proposed by the associations before the start of the 2010/2011 season in regards to the changes
