New league in the works
Cape Breton Jets to play in newly formed minor midget ‘AAA’ league
Hockey Nova Scotia has formed a new minor midget league to help young players continue their development.
The Nova Scotia Minor Midget ‘AAA’ Hockey League was launched on April 7 and will begin play in September. The league will feature seven franchises, four from the Halifax Regional Municipality, one from Cape Breton, one from the Annapolis Valley and one from Pictou County.
Franchises will be made up of 15-year-old players and those who are 16 years of age during the entre playing season but are born after the Sept. 1 deadline. Teams are also allowed to have four 16-year-old players, if they remain that age for the entire season.
The island will be represented in the league by the Cape Breton Jets. The team will be available to players in all Cape Breton minor hockey associations, and will play
their games at the New Waterford and District Community Centre in New Waterford.
Jim (Fred) Head, spokesperson for the Jets, believes it’s important
to have a team in Cape Breton.
“We want our players to have all the advantages that other areas across the province have,”~
said Head. “We don’t want our young players to be left on the sidelines.”
Hockey Nova Scotia (HNS) originally planned to have the league this past season, but made the decision to fold last September.
Darren Cossar, HNS executive director, said the organization started a little late getting the league going, which is why they folded when they did.
“The teams were having difficulty attracting players (because) players had already made commitments and there was a lot of uncertainty around whether or not the league would actually happen,” said Cossar.
“The goal and the measurement of success for the league will be the number of players that move on to a higher level going forward – It’s a development league.” he said.
Cossar expects the league will be successful.
“I still think the league got some work to do and then to grow it to get where we truly believe it belongs,” said Cossar. “I think there’s a great number of both players and parents that are looking at this as a viable option.”
Head doesn’t think the new league will affect teams in the major midget or high school leagues.
“If anything this will only make those teams stronger in the future,” said Head. “It’s a stepping stone, but hopefully with greater impact for those major teams.”
Cossar said the new league will make the major midget league a bit older, which may help make it more competitive on a national level.
“It may also provide a very good group of players for that league (NSMMHL) to affiliate too, which should again make them stronger.”
The closest team for the Jets to play will be in Pictou County, however Hockey Nova Scotia would like to see another team in Cape Breton, something like the major midget structure with the Cape Breton Unionized Tradesmen and Cape Breton West Islanders.
“We would like to eventually have two teams on the island,” said Cossar. “Right now, the Cape Breton West area does not feel that they are ready to support it and we understand that. We don’t want anybody involved if they’re not fully committed.”
Head said he has received a lot of positive feedback for the team and has seen a lot of interest already.
The team will be running a spring and summer camp. Registration for tryouts will take place on April 25 and May 2 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre. The cost will be $140 and must be paid at registration.
Head confirmed Brandon Syms and Cameron Rankin will be the team’s assistant coaches. The head coach for the team will be announced at a later date.
For more information on the league and the team, contact Head at 902-565-5581 or by email at jim_head20@hotmail.com or Lisa at lisabm1970@gmail.com.