The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) presented by Norfolk Minor Hockey to Delhi Minor Hockey, which would have seen our organizations cooperate for the 2022-23 season, is no longer being pursued.
Delhi Minor Hockey passed a motion at its recent AGM for them members to vote on accepting the MOU. As part of this process the OMHA was engaged for input, and the OMHA recently advised that their board meeting schedule for June was unfortunately missed and the short timeline between now and the start of the regular season did not reasonably allow for the approval and implementation of the MOU.
With this news, your Norfolk Minor Hockey Board will continue to dialogue and engaging all near and adjacent hockey associations with the intention of securing additional partners and members within the Norfolk Minor Hockey Association. The landscape around us continues to change as the OMHA looks to re-classify associations in an effort to also improve its overall operations, minimize travel times for families and to encourage cooperative discussions between adjoining rural associations (like that exercised in Norfolk and now in nearby Haldimand). Norfolk Minor Hockey continues (as stated in our end of season recap) the need to expand and grow our hockey programming for the benefit of our members and players that seek to grow within it. With this, we will continue to work and engage neighboring associations in partnership discussions in an effort to realize and expanded membership the 2023-24 season.
The fail of the MOU means we will work within our own means for the 2022-23 Season. At present we forecast the ability to offer B representative programming (subject to interest and talent evaluations) in some of our divisions. In those divisions where B programming cannot be offered, Norfolk Minor Hockey will work closely with its Local Associations to explore the option of a Norfolk Select program in an effort to continue to offer strong support our local league program while at the same time offering challenge and growth to those players who are capable and willing to continue to advance their skills.
As our focus now turns to the 2022-23 Season - Registration will open soon - please keep your eye on our website this announcement.