Let's Make Hockey Great Again

I want to welcome all the new faces and the familiar ones to another great season of CDAHA  hockey!  

The board recognized early on that this year was going to present itself with certain challenges. We have always been able to offer and support house (rec) teams along with travel (Rep, Select) teams for our youth. This season we have had to make some tough decisions that best serve our association for this coming season. We are not a one size fits all, we have to ebb and flow each season.  Our goal for this year is to create a program that is fun and family oriented, also, giving opportunities to our players that they haven’t had in the past. 

Based on anticipated registrations, we are expecting to support  2 house teams for each age group (more for Mites). While House teams are the backbone of our Association, we also want to serve those players that desire a higher level of play. So, from the 2 House teams, we will pull a select group of kids to participate in extra tournaments and practices. Our hope that all players should strive to be the best they can be. The Travel/Select/Rep teams will be chosen by our head coaches and will be based on ability. Throughout the year, coaches will be watching closely for those players that have put in the extra effort and work to reach their highest potential. Spots will be offered for at least 2 select tournaments.  These selections are not necessarily set in stone, meaning that those players that don’t get chosen at the beginning of the season could be selected later in the season. The exception to this will be the Pee Wee age group, as we have the numbers to provide the typical 2 House and 1 Travel/Rep option. 

We are also going to our offer mini clinics throughout the year. Similar in design to our successful summer program, these mini clinics will include power skating, stick handling, defense, body positioning, and goalie support. Thus, offering individuals a way to improve in specific areas, that time may not allow for in the group practice setting.  

We want to offer as much as we can to all our family and players so that they have the opportunity to play the sport of hockey at whatever level they choose through hard work and dedication. 

I am very excited to get this year up and going and watching our kids grow as players and people. I am very confident in this Association, it’s board and it’s families. We may not offer some of the same things as other associations, but the one thing I can assure you there is no other association out there that cares as much about their players and people as we do. 

Thank you once again for playing the greatest sport on earth here at CDAHA!

Sincerely,

Bob Nelson

President