MAKING THE TEAM
Minor hockey tryouts could happen in September, but practices or games are not for certain
Peterborough Minor Hockey Council expects to hold AAA tryouts in September.
Although it’s not clear what tryouts might look like, PMHC president Mike Martone expects tryouts to be held after Labour Day.
When or if there will be leagues or games is not as clear.
“I had a call with the OMHA and they’re hoping to have tryouts after Labour Day,” said Martone. “Plan on that, they said, until further notice.”
Martone hopes his organization can get on the ice earlier than that if the province moves into Phase 3 of its COVID-19 recovery plan in July or August.
The Ontario Hockey Federation and Ontario Minor Hockey Association have a three-stage return-toplay plan.
“If we get into stage three here in the next couple of weeks then it’s up to our municipality and public health to determine if we’re going to put the rinks in because we could be using the ice,” said Martone.
Phase 1 of the OHF plan allows for training in small group while maintaining social distance.
“We’re allowed to go on the ice with nine skaters to one adult instructor,” he said, “but that instructor has to be either a 2019-20 rostered coach or the person has to have a developmental skills licence through Hockey Canada.”
The PMHC is paying for Chad Cavanagh, from Canadian Hockey Enterprises, to get his skills development licence in order to work with their teams.
Initially, Martone says only players rostered on 2019-20 PMHC teams will be allowed to participate. Once tryouts open, he said, it’s not clear how they will be conducted as often up to 40 players will attend.
“I don’t know what tryouts are going to look like or what they’re envisioning. There is no way you can have 40 kids on the ice at once and try to evaluate them. We might have to have them in groups in different sessions,” he said. “There are a lot of unknowns.”
As for league play, Martone said the OMHA doesn’t want to hold back communities with low COVID-19 numbers. At the same time, the phased-in approach will likely delay a start to league play.
“I’m optimistic. I think we’ll have tryouts after Labour Day. With our 2020-21 teams we will then go through the stages,” Martone said. “In September we’ll get small groups on the ice. In October maybe those numbers go up and by November you can get your whole team on. Then maybe the league starts up on Jan. 1. That’s my optimistic view of what’s going to happen.”
The PMHC holds three tournaments each season; the Pat Larock Memorial Earlybird Tournament in September for U12, U13 and U14 divisions, the Boston Pizza Icefest in October for U10, U11 and U15 divisions and the Steve Richey Memorial Tournament in January for U16 and u18 ages.
The OMHA is not currently sanctioning any tournaments for this season.
Martone says they’ve accepted that it’s unlikely they’ll be able to host their September and October tournaments but they haven’t given up hope the January event might get approved. In the meantime, they have refunded money to any teams which signed up for tournaments.
“We haven’t officially cancelled anything yet. We have just put things on hold,” said Martone. “The odds are we won’t have that early one and it doesn’t look good for our Icefest but we’ll work with the city and see when we have to let them know by. Hopefully the Steve Richey one in January still goes.”
Sweaters and equipment is ordered and ready to go but all other planning is on hold until green lights are given, said Martone.
“Everyone has to be patient,” he said. “The first and foremost thing we have to worry about is everyone’s safety and health.”
“There is no way you can have 40 kids on the ice at once and try to evaluate them. We might have to have them in groups in different sessions. There are a lot of unknowns.”
MIKE MARTONE PMHC PRESIDENT