Lucas Punkari
While actual games won’t be taking place until October, the Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association already is gearing up for a new season of action.
With online registration having opened up Monday on the FFMHA’S website, players in all age groups will have a chance to get some ice time and dryland training sessions starting this Sunday from 4-9 p.m.
The sessions then will continue from 5-10 p.m. on Monday through Thursday.
“Then after the Labour Day weekend is when we plan to start the tryouts for our ‘AA’ teams,” FFMHA president Wayne Strachan noted.
“The Atom and PeeWee tryouts will begin on Sept. 4, the Bantams will start on the following Monday [Sept. 10], and the Midget ‘AA’ tryouts will begin on [Sept. 17].
“Depending on the rink situation, our evaluations for the teams in the [house] league will start on [Sept. 24] and go for about two weeks,” added Strachan.
“Then the teams will be drafted and the season will start on the 15th of October.”
One of the biggest differences in the lead-up to this year’s minor hockey season is the fact there will not be a registration night prior to it getting underway.
Rather, all registration for the FFMHA will be done via its website.
“That’s something we, as a board, really want to get the word out,” Strachan stressed.
“Basically, all that the parents have to do is to go onto our website [fortfranceshockey.com] and follow the directions on the main page.
“It’s very easy to do, and it is definitely less of a burden and is more helpful to registers and treasurers to do it this way,” he remarked.
“One thing that we would like to note, though, is that [after] Sept. 1, it is considered a late registration and it will cost another $30 to register after that date,” Strachan warned.
Heading into the upcoming campaign, one of the things the FFMHA board is looking to do is strengthen the overall depth of the local Midget house league, which saw the two teams merged into a single squad late last season.
“It’s not that we don’t have the numbers as we have had two or three teams over the past couple of years,” said Strachan.
“But we are just looking at the ways of making the league a fun one to be a part of, and to keep the players interested in coming out for the whole year,” he explained.
“Having at least two teams is very beneficial to us as, obviously, we can have our own structured league here with the Bantam ‘AA’ team playing up a level to go along with an interlocking schedule with the teams in Emo.
“And obviously having more of a variety of competition won’t make things stale,” he reasoned.
Depending on what the numbers are, the FFMHA is encouraging those who will be suiting up for the Muskie boys’ program to also play in the local Midget ranks, which was something that occurred last season.
“I know that last year, [Muskie] head coach Shawn Jourdain was very encouraging about it and we had a number of guys come at the beginning,” noted Strachan.
“But it kind of filtered off towards the end of the year.
“We would like to make it so that they can skate all throughout the season and be a part of the league, and to also have some fun out there in something that can take their minds off of some of the competitiveness that goes on with their high school league,” he added.
Meanwhile, something else that will be new for the FFMHA is a program called “The Breakfast Club,” which will begin at 6 a.m. on Sept. 6 and run every Thursday morning over the course of the season depending on the number of people who take part.
“It’s a program that is being headed up by one of our coaches [Jamie Davis], and it’s one that will offer an hour of ice in which any kid in Fort Frances can come out, whether or not they are registered in any league,” Strachan said.
“Those that will be taking part will have a chance to play some fun games and do some drills to help with [their] skill development.
“And it’s a way to try and promote hockey for those players who do have some interest in playing but maybe can’t afford it,” he added.
“It will be free of charge and offered to anyone aged five-17, and the players involved will also be offered a breakfast before they head on to school.”
Strachan also noted those interested in coaching in the FFMHA this season are required to attend its coaches’ development weekend, which will take place Sept. 21-23.
“Those that will want to be a head coach will have to attend that weekend as you need to have your accreditation in order to have your team registered through Hockey Northwestern Ontario,” he stressed.
