Return to Hockey - Registration Opens Friday Aug. 14th, 2020

 

The members of the RMMHA board, along with the others within district 4, have been working hard to ensure there is a hockey program for the youth of the Richmond Munster community this fall.  Obviously, it will not look like it has in the past and is dependent on what happens with the pandemic.  The continuation of the program is conditional upon direction from public health authorities, various levels of government, and Hockey Canada and Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO).

 

• The season will be divided into two stages:  Stage 1 will include skill development and the possibility of some scrimmages (no league play) while stage 2 will include competitive opportunities including game play.
• The season will be divided into two separate periods (September/October to December and January to March) with two distinct registration periods.
• We will be in stage 1 for the duration of the September/October to December session.
• Stage 1 will average two hours of ice per week with the exception of U7 (formerly IP) and U21 (formerly juvenile) which will receive one hour of ice.
• Advancing to stage 2 will only occur once we receive direction from public health authorities, appropriate levels of government, and Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO).
• Participants will be grouped into bubbles with a maximum of fifty players, coaches, and trainers but actual bubble sizes will be selected based on registration numbers.
• Officials (referees, time-keepers, etc.) will not be used in stage 1. 
• Participants can only participate in one HEO bubble group (no affiliations will be permitted).
• No intentional contact will be permitted in stage 1.
• Competitive organizations (Cyclones, Silver Seven, and Romans) will operate their own bubbles with more information on these programs provided on their websites.
• Players participating with a competitive club must be registered with the RMMHA.  Returning tier 1 and tier 2 players should see the note below under the "registration" heading.
• As mentioned earlier, all program offerings are at the discretion of public health authorities, levels of government, and Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO).
• Stage 2 will effectively return hockey to "normal" programming and will only begin once approval is given by District 4 in conjunction with Hockey
  Canada, HEO, the Province of Ontario and the local Health authorities.
• When we are able to return to stage 2, teams will be formed for league play.
• The vast majority of our ice allotment begins October 5th with a very limited amount of ice in September.
• The fall session will run until December 20th.

• Registration will open for all levels on Friday, August 14th.
• Registration fees have been determined based on a cost recovery basis including both fixed costs and variable costs (ice).  As a result, the RMMHA is unable to offer a discount this season for three or more registrants from within the same family. 
• The September/October to December period will include the players' HEO participation fee.
• Registration for the January to March session will be opened later in the fall season.
• The association must commit to our ice allotment by early in September and as a result we will make every effort to guarantee players who register by August 31st a spot.   Registering after September 1st may not guarantee players a spot.  This will be especially true if "bubbles" have already been formed and no space exists.
• There will be a limited number of spots available (sixteen skaters and two goaltenders) within the U21 division (formerly juvenile).
• Players who do not register for the September/October to December session will only be permitted to join the January to March session if space exists and they will be expected to pay the fee to cover the HEO participation fee.
• Throughout district 4, a common refund policy has been adopted by the house associations (50% refund if withdrawal occurs prior to the beginning of the session, 25% refund if withdrawal occurs prior to October 31st, and no refunds as of November 1st).
• If a significant shutdown is ordered by the municipal or provincial government, the RMMHA will explore refunding or crediting members.
• Returning competitive tier 1 and tier 2 (Cyclones or Silver Seven) players must pay a $25 fee to the RMMHA prior to the tier 1 and/or 2 try-outs.  Please contact the RMMHA registrar (registrar.rmmha@gmail.com) directly to arrange registration before proceeding to competitive clubs.
• As has been the case in past seasons, a payment plan is available to members with details provided when registering.