Aug 25, 2023 | Adam Howe | 681 views
2023-24 SEASON UPDATE
With the hockey season quickly approaching, Norfolk Minor Hockey are pleased to update its membership on plans for the 2023-24 season.
As many of you are aware Norfolk County elected to close the ice pad located at the Simcoe Recreation Centre in mid-2020 despite outcry from facility users. The closure of this arena has put an enormous amount of stress on minor sports organizations who rely on these facilities to offer programming.
Norfolk Minor Hockey continue to engage with Norfolk County to secure adequate ice time in ALL Norfolk County facilities that would allow a full slate of A, BB/C, and MD teams this season. In order to supplement available ice, Norfolk Minor Hockey has secured time outside of Norfolk County in Norwich and Brant County. This will mean that some practices will be held out of area, however, these practices will be distributed amongst Norfolk Minor Hockey teams so that such travel will be as infrequent as possible.
Should Norfolk Minor Hockey succeed in securing sufficient ice, the following teams will be offered:
Norfolk A Teams
Norfolk Knights U10 A through U16 A teams were selected following tryouts in spring 2023. These teams will begin regular team practices and exhibition games in September in preparation for an October start in the new Shamrock A League.
Norfolk Knights U18 A and U21 teams will hold preparatory skates and tryouts beginning in September. The U18 A team will also play in the Shamrock League, while the U21 team will play in the Beechy League.
Norfolk BB/C Teams
Preparatory skates and tryouts will be offered for U11-U18 BB/C teams. Norfolk Minor Hockey anticipate that these teams will be categorized as ‘C’ division teams that will play in the Southern Counties League. As ‘C’ teams, the U15 and U18 teams will include bodychecking.
Norfolk U8 MD / U9 MD Teams
In lieu of preparatory skates, U8/U9 players intending to tryout for Norfolk MD teams will first skate with their home association (Port Dover, Simcoe, Waterford) – tryouts will follow shortly thereafter.
During the 2022-23 season U9 MD successfully played in the Niagara League. Norfolk Minor Hockey MD teams will continue to play in the Niagara League for the 2023-24 season as the Shamrock League is not hosting an MD league for A centres.
Rostered Select Teams
Select Teams are formed and operated by Local League centres based on player interest and availability of ice. With Norfolk Minor Hockey intending to offer BB/C teams for the 2023-24 season and with significant challenges related to the availability of ice, it is not likely that Select Teams will operate this season. In the event that BB/C teams are not viable in certain divisions, the option for Select would remain available.
Norfolk Minor Hockey have heard from its membership that they want a second tier of BB/C programming and are excited to expand team offerings to meet that desire. Please refer to the Norfolk Minor Hockey Association website and calendar for more information on preparatory skates/tryouts along with their associated ice times.