North Shore
Female Ice Hockey
To all NSFIHA Association Members:
The North Shore Female Ice Hockey Association is pleased to welcome all new and
returning players to the 2006-7 hockey season, which is now just around the corner.
This season we will look to build on past success and help our players thrive in the fastest
growing sport in Canada – Female Ice Hockey.
With the season only a few weeks away, your Association is all ready to go. Here is
some of the news you may be wondering about for the new season:
NSFIHA Team Composition
With enough players now to ice 14 teams, we will have more players and teams to
support than ever before. Based on the members currently registered in the Association,
and available ice time, the current plan is to ice the following teams:
o Midget, Bantam and Pee Wee - 3 teams each
o Atom and Novice - 2 teams each
o Tyke - 1 team
At the Atom through Midget levels, we will be referring to teams as AAA, AA and A
teams (rather than A, B,C as in the past). Players will be assigned to teams according to
the player evaluation process that is outlined in the enclosed information package.
Precise team sizes will be determined by the number of players registered at the time of
the player evaluations.
Ice Time
Ice time is again in extremely short supply, particularly for a growing association.
However, teams should receive ice time allocations similar to previous years.
To accommodate our need for new practice times, we have had to take on a few more
early morning ice times. Allocation of practice ice times depends on many factors,
including coaches’ availability and players’ school hours. If your team is assigned to one
of the early morning times please accept your turn as necessary and in the interests of the
association as a whole.
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In addition to practices and games, hockey development programs will be made
available, at the members’ own cost, through Inside Edge and the Hockey Performance
Centre. Individual teams may seek out other programs as well. Sign ups for the
supplemental programs will be organized by team managers and coaches shortly after
teams are selected toward the end of September.
Player evaluations
Player evaluations will begin on September 5th. A detailed schedule, along with an
outline of the evaluation process, is enclosed. To give a full opportunity for every player
to compete for positions, evaluations will continue longer than usual, into late September.
The Association recognizes that evaluations can be stressful for everyone. Parents and
players, your patience throughout this process is requested!
NSFIHA Conditioning Camp
Canlan ISNS and Hockey Performance Centre will be operating a conditioning camp
exclusively for our Association’s members on August 28 – September 1. Sessions will
be in late afternoon and early evening.
Registration already has started and space is limited – register by contacting Canlan
directly at 604-924-0828.
See our website at NSFIHA.com for details.
Midget 1
Some changes at the Midget Tier 1 level are coming to our region this season, in an effort
to maintain competitive player enrolment at that level. The PCAHA will operate a
Midget 1 elite division on a trial basis for 2006-7, with five pre-determined associations
hosting the Tier 1 teams.
Based on our Association’s outstanding past performance, one of those teams will be the
NSFIHA Avalance Midget AAA team. Players from North Vancouver, West Vancouver,
City of Vancouver, North Shore Winter Club and Whistler will be eligible to try out for
our Midget AAA team, subject to availability of positions within our Association. We
strongly encourage our stronger midget players to stay and play within their age group.
Coaching Applications and Assignments
Our Coaching Coordinator Mike Pilon has started work on coaching assignments for the
upcoming season.
Anyone interested in coaching should submit an expression of interest (with
qualifications) to Mike Pilon at [email protected]. We are always on the lookout
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for more female coaches, and so anyone who is aware of qualified female candidates
please encourage them to contact Mike.
Coaches must have the appropriate level of Hockey Canada certification and therefore
cannot coach until that level is completed. See below regarding upcoming clinics.
Association Volunteers
Your Association is 100% governed and operated by volunteers, most of whom are
parents of our players. Therefore the quality of the players’ experience and the results we
see on the ice directly reflect the effort and energy contributed by those who are willing
to contribute their time.
At the beginning of the season, individual teams under the direction of their coaches will
assemble teams of volunteers, including managers, den mums and safety officers. In
addition, to help spread the workload, the Association will be looking for help at various
points along the way and may through our Volunteer Coordinator contact parents for
assistance at any time.
Any parents who have special skills or a willingness to help out with the work of the
Association should contact divisional coordinators (see the website for their contact
information).
We appreciate that not all parents will hold specific volunteer positions in the
Association. To those members, we ask that you be ready and willing to help out when
called upon and patient toward those who do volunteer their own time for the benefit of
all of us.
Lottery funds
NSFIHA was successful in its application for lottery funding again this year, and
acknowledges the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia.
NSFIHA website
Our website at NFIHA.com needs work. The Executive is seeking members with some
expertise and enthusiasm in this area to assist with this project. Interested persons please
contact our Treasurer Lorna Winckers at [email protected].
Registration fees
Some members have not yet forwarded payment for their registration fees. Delay in
payment obviously affects our ability to operate. Because of high demand for roster
positions, members who do not make payment arrangements right away may lose their
memberships to wait-listed players.
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Clinics
Most positions in the Association, particularly those involving contact with player,
require Hockey Canada certification. For those parents and volunteers who need or want
those clinics, please set aside these dates:
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This year we are hosting a coaching clinic for HC Development 1 on October
14th and 15th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at ISNS. This level is for coaches
who already have completed the introductory level coaching certification and
it is mandatory for all coaches of carded teams.1
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We are not hosting an introductory level coaching clinic, which is mandatory
for all coaches at any level. See hockeycanada.ca for coaching level
designations and watch bcaha.org and our website for times and locations of
introductory coaching clinics.
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Speak Out program (mandatory for all volunteers having player contact –
coaches, managers, den mums, etc.) will be held at ISNS on October 5th at
7:00 a.m. to 11:00 pm at ISNS.
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HCSP (mandatory first aid course for designated team safety officers) will be
held on September 30th at 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at ISNS.
Playing Hockey For The Fun Of It
Our Association’s main goal is for girls to have fun learning and playing the great
Canadian game of hockey. The key to any hockey season, win or lose, is for players
and parents to maintain a positive attitude at all times. In this regard, please be sure to
review the enclosed Fair Play Code as a family and make sure that every player and
every parent understands and abides by these principles.
The Association expects, and demands from every member, respect toward each other,
the officials and opponents. We look forward to the highest level of enthusiasm and
positive energy from the first day of the season until the last.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the NSFIHA, we look forward to seeing everyone
in the fall.
Sincerely,
Mike Hewitt
NSFIHA President
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Carded teams are Pee Wee AAA, Bantam AAA and Midget AAA.
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NSFIHA
2006 PLAYER EVALUATION
AND TEAM ASSIGNMENT PROCESS
Procedures by Age Category
Tyke and Novice
There are no tryouts or formal evaluations for Novice and Tyke players. There will be
only one Tyke team. Allocation of players for the two Novice teams will occur a few
weeks into the season based on PCAHA coordination of team compositions.
These years are all about skill development, and most of all learning about the fun and
camaraderie of the game of hockey. Relax and enjoy.
Atom
There will be two Atom teams this year (AAA and AA). Eight players will be assigned
to the AAA team based on the formal evaluation procedure set out below, after three
sessions. The balance of the two Atom teams will be determined by the Atom coaches.
Atom registration was closed during the summer so as to protect against over-crowding
on these teams. There are currently no more available positions in Atom.
Pee Wee through Midget
There will be three teams each in Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget age groups (AAA, AA
and A). Those teams will be chosen according to the formal evaluation system set out
below, after at least five on-ice sessions per player.
Evaluation Procedures
Any player may elect to try out for a AAA team through the evaluation process. No
player interested in playing on a AA or A team is required to attend AAA evaluation
sessions. See the enclosed brochure titled Should I Try Out for AAA?
A group of knowledgeable evaluators will be chosen by the Coaching Coordinator for
each on-ice session. No person who has a child in the group or an inside interest will be
an evaluator for that group. There will be 4 to 6 evaluators for each session.
The evaluators will grade each player through a combination of skills sessions and, in
later sessions, scrimmages. A player’s score at the end of three sessions will be
determined by an average of her scores for the sessions attended. To ensure consistent
scoring, attendance at all three sessions is strongly recommended.
The scoring system is based on various categories such as: skating; puck handling;
shooting; positional play; and effort.
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Goalies may be asked to attend and assist with additional sessions.
The top eight spots on each AAA team will be determined by the scoring system after
three sessions, and those players will be offered AAA roster positions at that time.
At least ½ of the total players competing for AAA positions (including those already
selected) will be invited to play two further intra-squad games. The specific players
invited to compete for the AAA teams will be determined by that team’s coaches.
Players no longer in competition for spots on the AAA roster after three sessions will be
so notified and will continue on to compete (if they wish to do so) for positions on the
AA roster by playing at least two intra-squad games with all players competing for the
AA team.
The balance of the AAA rosters and the entirety of the AA rosters will be chosen by the
coaches of those respective teams, subject to approval of the Division and Coaching
Coordinators. In addition to the factors listed above, coachability, attitude and attendance
are all factors that will be considered. Coaches also will have the option of selecting
players by position.
For greater certainty, final roster decisions may be made by coaches only after a total of
three evaluations and two games. Most final decisions will be made by September 23,
however coaches, in their discretion, may provide additional opportunities thereafter for
specific players to continue competing for positions.
Assignment Notification
As soon as possible after the end of evaluation session #3 in each age category, player
assignments for intra-squad games will be posted by the assigned player numbers used in
the evaluation process (no names) on the website at nsfiha.com. Where necessary phone
calls will be made to players as well.
The Association appreciates that this can be a stressful time for players. The utmost
patience is requested. Because decision-making and notification by our volunteers is
time-consuming, there may be unanticipated delays.
All inquiries after the evaluation process regarding the individual players’ evaluations
and assignments will be directed to the Divisional Coordinators. Divisional
Coordinators’ names and contact information will be posted on the website.
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SHOULD I TRY OUT FOR AAA?
What is Involved in Tier 1 Hockey?
With increased enrolment in our association again this year, we are now
proud to offer three levels of hockey from Pee Wee to Midget, and we have
two teams at the Atom and Novice levels. The growth of female hockey to
this extent meets an important objective or our association, and brings with it
a higher level of competition for players seeking roster spots at the highest
levels. It also means we have greater depth and strength on our other teams.
As most players know, all teams in the region go through a tiering process at
the beginning of each season. This year the objective of our AAA teams
will be to qualify for, play and succeed at the Tier 1 level for their age
groups. Those teams will be designated within our association as “AAA”
teams, and we hope to ice strong “AA” and “A” teams who will qualify at
the highest possible tiers as well.
The founders of our association maintained a focus on developing female
hockey for its own sake, and the skills of female hockey players. Many of
their goals have been met over the years, and yet our focus remains the
same. Our primary objective is to foster the development of skills,
camaraderie and the enjoyment of ice hockey for girls and young women.
With more options now available, the question for many players will
become: What level should I play at? Should I try out for the AAA? What
is Tier 1 hockey all about? What options are available for me at the AA and
A levels?
Generally speaking, our association’s approach to our AAA teams is as
follows:
 We seek to ice competitive Tier 1 teams for players who demonstrate
advanced playing ability, skill and the desire to excel and work hard.
 For players who do not start at the Tier 1 level, we encourage
development on our other teams to develop healthy competition for
positions and depth in our program as the years go by.
 Our Tier 1 teams work toward a goal of reaching the year end
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Provincial tournament, and compete in several tournaments
throughout the year, in some cases by traveling and playing through
holiday breaks.
 Teams through their own initiatives and additional parent funding (or
fundraising) arrange for extra on ice practices, off ice training and
conditioning such as treadmill, lacrosse boxes, gymnasiums and other
specialized hockey training facilities.
 Most AAA coaches will expect players to commit to attending the
vast majority of team functions with a view to supporting personal
development and team success.
All of these extras involve more financial and personal commitment.
Trying out is fun and good for development, and also provides all players
with needed ice time. Every player is always welcome to attend evaluation
sessions at every level. However, if you prefer not to play AAA or AA
hockey, you are not required to pursue those goals. If you wish not to be
assigned to a particular team, please let your Divisional Coordinator know at
some time during the evaluation process.
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