Oct 23, 2018 | Dave Tiffin | 991 views
Sportsmens Club Donates to WMHA
As
many are aware the OMHA and Hockey Canada have been making some major
changes to our hockey programs. Specifically to our Initiation and Tyke Programs. To read the entire article click here -
In 2017 Hockey Canada ordered that no child under the age of 7 would play full ice hockey. The reasoning behind this was that smaller ice surface for children that age meant more puck time in a smaller area which has proven to accelerate development and is just more fun for the kids. Until 2017 in Canada, hockey was the only sport that did not scale down playing surface and equipment such as nets for its younger participants. Soccer and Basketball being examples where younger children lean and develop on smaller playing surfaces with adjusted nets and other equipment to accommodate the smaller participants. In 2018/19 Hockey Canada and the OMHA have extended this program further. All children under the age of 7 will play only cross ice games while children the age of 7 will play only half ice games. In 2019 this will be extending further to half ice for age 8 for the first half of the season, followed by full ice play in the second half of the season. This is a mandated change to all minor hockey organizations in the OMHA. Along with these changes come the cost of new equipment such as nets for these youngsters to use. The Wingham Sportsmen’s Association has always been a strong support of Wingham Minor Hockey and other sports in this area. When they learned about these changes and the need for the new nets they stepped up by donating 4 new 52 inch nets. This generous donation will allow the players of Wingham Minor Hockey to have everything they need to develop and have fun in these new and exciting times for young hockey players.