Greetings #CelticsHockeyNation,

Thanks to all members who have joined or returned to our Club for the 2023-24 season!  We are very excited about growth in overall numbers and new programs, ie. Girls U11.  Avalon’s first season-long Girls team will kick off their season in the Metro Girls League in next 2 weeks!

As a Hockey Canada / Hockey NL sanctioned Assocation, we have a mandate to follow Hockey Canada’s Long-Term Player Development Model involving specific Pathways for each Division.  In 2023-24 Hockey Canada also introduced a new policy requiring Associations to offer a minimum of 4 unevaluated sessions prior to the start of any tryout or evaluation in any Division – Avalon met this requirement.  Here is an overview of each Division and comments on updates for 2023-24;

U7 – ‘Learn to Play’

U9

  • 2023-24 season structure similar to prior seasons with 2 groups divided by skill level and, as in past, 2 x 50 minute sessions weekly on Saturdays and Sundays
  • Within 24 week season length and ice time limitations, Avalon is following the U9 Pathway (abridged); https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Coaching/u9-program/downloads/2022/u9-player-pathway-abridged-e.pdf
  • In line with the Pathway, we are adjusting U9 program, particularly in the initial phase of season, to deliver higher proportion of ice time working on skill development sessions, small area drills, modified scrimmages and a lower proportion playing traditional games

U11 – U18

  • In U11-U18, Avalon will place All-Star and Recreational level teams in related Leagues for the 2023-24 season
  • Per Hockey Canada revised rules, all Leagues will follow a Tournament format for year-end events vs. elimination / bracket style playoffs
  • Avalon All-Star teams will be placed in the Don Johnson Hockey League (DJHL) Club Divisions and play an approximate 24 game season.  Recreational teams will be placed in the Metro Club Hockey League (www.MCHL.ca), formerly IHL, and play a 20 game season + Year End Tournament
  • At mid-season all recreational players will be given an opportunity to tryout for Development Teams that will participate in 3-Day Hockey NL Provincial Tournaments during Easter Break (April 1-6 2024)
  • U11: 1 U11 All Star team has been selected – as in past, in consultation with Technical Director, Coaches, and Board, we plan to place in the Don Johnson Hockey League (DJHL) Club U11B Division this season.  We have rostered the Capital Mitsubishi Avalon Celtics U11 & St. John’s BMW Avalon Celtics U11 teams that will suit up in the MCHL
  • U13: 2 U13 All Star teams (A & B) will play in DJHL U13 Club A/B and the Capital Subaru Avalon Celtics U13 & Collision Centre Avalon Celtics U13 teams are placed in U13 MCHL
  • U15: 1 U15 All Star team will play in the DJHL U15A Club Division and we will place 2 teams in the MCHL: Capital Auto Centre Avalon Celtics U15 and Capital Hyundai Avalon Celtics U15
  • U18: We have rostered 3 U18 MCHL teams: Mini St. John’s Avalon Celtics U18, Genesis St. John’s Avalon Celtics U18, and Capital Collision Avalon Celtics U18 

 

A HUGE thank you to Capital Auto Group for expanding their jersey sponsorship and helping all Celtics MCHL teams looking great in new unis!!   

Additional Hockey Canada Pathways and other resources can be found here; https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/hockey-programs/players/essentials/downloads

We welcome questions, comments, and suggestions to be directed to Executive Director, Justin Clark, JClark@AvalonCeltics.com    We hope everyone has a fantastic season and we’ll see you at the Rink!

Go Celtics Go!

AMHA

 

Posted in Uncategorized