Exploits Valley Minor Hockey Association

September 9^th, 2010

EVMHA Members:

On behalf of the 2010-2011 EVMHA Executive I welcome you to a fun filled year of Minor Hockey. The Executive has been busy with pre-season planning for what we hope will be the best year ever for the Exploits Valley Minor Hockey Association. While last year was admittedly a difficult one with limited ice time this year we are blessed with both the Windsor Stadium and Joe Byrne being in use immediately when we start our program on October 4th. This allows us to offer a full program for Female U12 and U20 whereby they will get the same amount of ice as other house league divisions, we will start the selection process for our rep teams immediately with a view to having those rosters named by November 1^st, much earlier than previous years. It will enable us to confine House League to the weekdays to avoid clashes with travel teams hopefully strengthening both programs and building on the success of last year’s Championship Day. We have an equipment list that we want to fill such as more goalie gear, ice dividers, and additional small nets for IP and Novice.

These exciting opportunities also present the challenges of paying without leaving the Association in financial hardship for those who come behind us. It is estimated that the increased ice costs alone will be in the range of $60 000.00 plus additional costs for referees etc. To meet this challenge we have increased House League registration from IP to Bantam by  $40.00 per player. We have also implemented a registration fee of $150.00 for any one wishing to participate in EVMHA Rep Hockey, this will guarantee each Rep Team a ninety minute ice session every week from the point of team selection to be used as they see fit for games or practices (excepting special events). Even with these increases we estimate that we will still have an $18 600.00 operating deficit which will be paid by last year’s surplus which was primarily a result of the lack of ice last year.

While no one likes to increase fees we do hope you understand the reasoning and recognize it as a necessity for the good of the Association. Our association executive and general members, both past and present, have lobbied hard for summer ice and earlier openings of both stadiums, all of which we now have. We think the best way to pay for this is for our association to continue to grow and be as inclusive as we can for as many as we can and to offer players of all skill levels a meaningful and developmentally rewarding experience in Minor Hockey.

Mark Griffin

President   2010-2011