By Darryl G. Smart
Norfolk Minor Hockey Association took a giant leap towards being a reality this week.
On Wednesday, the Ontario Minor Hockey Association approved the rep partnership between Waterford, Simcoe and Port Dover’s minor hockey associations.
The group leading the NMHA charge presented its case to the OMHA on Saturday to its board of directors.
The green light allows the three local minor hockey associations to
amalgamate its rep programs for the 2020-2021 season. NMHA has been
approved to be an ‘A’ hockey centre.
“NMHA will complement the three
associations, allowing for a comprehensive hockey program that will
satisfy the needs of all hockey players and ensure our players have fun
and maximize development,” a press release reads. “Further, this change
will provide a higher level of competitive hockey in Norfolk and will
result in greater player retention, attraction of new players from
outside our area, and will keep our players playing longer, thereby
increasing enrollment immediately and growing it further in the longer
term.”
This approval has been years in the making, and certainly had its ups and downs.
Last year, Port Dover and Simcoe’s membership voted in favour of
getting to this point. While Waterford’s did not. And after the NMHA
committee met again with the three associations this season with more
information, all three gave the green light to go ahead.
Now that
the OMHA has approved the partnership, the next step is for the local
boards to appoint directors to form the NMHA board. This will take place
in February.
Also in that month, NMHA will hold its first board meeting, while communicating it to its members.
In March, coaching interviews will be held, with tryouts for U12 (formerly peewee) and above to take place in April.