Alliance Hockey FAQS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – OHF/ALLIANCE HOCKEY RETURN TO HOCKEY PLAN
The following questions/clarifications were provided by the OHF as of August 28, 2020. ALLIANCE Hockey has also added responses where possible, noting that information is subject to change as further information is received. It is recommended that the ALLIANCE Hockey Return to Play Plan and the OHF Return to Hockey Framework are referenced where necessary.
“LEAGUE” in Stage 3 refers to the cohort or bubble of 50 players that are eligible to participate in team/game play against each other and not any other team or players that are part of another League of 50 players.
“SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS” means programming that always complies with physical
distancing requirements and can include players from multiple Leagues, however, can not engage in any form of team or game play.
1. The OHF document indicates that the Member Partner will be able to determine the approach for the tiered structure under the modified programming during Stage 3. To what extent do we have the flexibility to create our own structure (vs what seems to have been socialized already by several organizations)?
OHF: Each Member has established Return to Hockey Frameworks based on the OHF Return Hockey Framework. Minor Hockey Associations should be working with their applicable Member Partner for approval of sanctioned activities.
ALLIANCE: Based upon feedback from the membership, we have provided further details in Appendix 8.
2. Is there any information available about team formation or tryouts following Stage 3e? What is the structure being discussed for transitioning from modified to regular competition? This will be important to understand and factor into any modified program structure introduced assuming we progress into Regular Competition at Stage 4.
OHF: A process for player evaluation and selection when transitioning to stage 4 has not yet been determined but is under discussion with the OHF and its Members.
3. The OHF document uses the term Public Health Unit (PHU). Does this not imply that beginning at Stage 3b modified game competition is allowed between teams in the same league? So, for example, a league could be established between 3 teams from different towns within the same PHU?
OHF: Each Member has established Return to Hockey Framework based on the OHF Return Hockey Framework. Minor Hockey Associations should be working with their applicable Member Partner for approval of sanctioned activities.
ALLIANCE: Stage 3b states that league maximums are established at 50 and leagues may be structured to comply up to the maximum.
4. At Stage 3d the OHF document indicates travel permitted between adjacent PHU's. Does this not imply that we are then allowed to travel for game competition between adjacent PHU's within our LHIN (i.e. Lambton & Windsor)?
OHF: Each Member has established Return to Hockey Framework based on the OHF Return Hockey Framework. Minor Hockey Associations should be working with their applicable Member Partner for approval of sanctioned activities. Players can cross PHU’s, but teams may not.
ALLIANCE: According to Stage 3d:
Leagues are a maximum of 50 or less depending on the PHU. The OHF will review the league maximum upon amendments by
the Ontario Government. • All Game Play is within local PHU and adjacent PHU. • All Game Play must be conducted in
conjunction with the local PHU and facility rules for the purpose of sanitation and physical distancing. Suggested programming structures are located in Appendix E with playing rules located in Appendix F,” therefore, we still need to work within the league maximum numbers as stated by PHU’s and Government mandates.
5. The OHF document indicates under Stage 3b "Competition (Game Play)”, that modified 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 with no physical contact may begin following a minimum two-week development phase. Does this allow us to have modified game play at that point in time?
OHF: Each Member has established Return to Hockey Framework based on the OHF Return Hockey Framework. Minor Hockey Associations should be working with their applicable Member Partner for approval of sanctioned activities.
The earliest that modified game play may begin if approved by your Member Partner is September 15 following a two-week development phase that begins September 1.
6. Progression Summary:
Stage 3b – OHF document indicates a maximum of 30 participants while an MHA memo indicates maximum of 25 participants.
OHF: Number of Participants is a maximum number outlined by the OHF for sanctioned programming, however, all participant numbers are dictated by the restrictions for gathering that have been established by the Ontario Government, local Public Health Unit, facility or Member Partner. Maximum numbers are based on the largest ice surface 100x200 and should be adjusted accordingly for smaller ice surfaces and/or age and size of players.
ALLIANCE: (i.e. EMC are only allowed 20 participants on the ice).
Stage 3c – OHF document indicates a maximum of 40 participants with game play of 3 v 3, 4 v 4, or 5 v 5
while MHA memo indicates a maximum of 30 participants with only 3 v3 or 4 v 4.
OHF: Disclaimer below the chart within the OHF Return to Hockey Framework: The content of the chart if there is discrepancy is superseded by the contents of the specific sections for each Stage in the OHF Return to Hockey Framework. The concept of proceeding to 5 v 5 is based on government mandates being lessened and the success of our programs to operate team and game play without physical contact.
7. What is the process for allocating coaches; new coaches selected for this coming season, coaches requiring certification, coaches who have moved up/down a level with their child, etc..
OHF: Coach selection is the responsibility of the local MHA and information for coach certification requirements will be forthcoming from the respective member with minimum requirements.
ALLIANCE: 2020-2021 ALLIANCE Hockey Requirements for Team Officials
8. What is the allowance for players who have completed residential moves and moved into a new Minor Hockey Association?
OHF: Player is eligible to return where they played during the 2019-2020 season or return to their home association. Please review Appendix C of the OHF Return to Hockey Framework for a player that has changed their primary residence to a new Minor Hockey Association.
9. What are the allowances for having ‘mini tournaments’ internally within our organization?
OHF: Tournaments are not allowed or approved at this time. Outside of tournaments, the MHA has the ability to determine program structure for the cohort of 50 players with the approval of the Member Partner.
10. How do we track Private Skill Developers? (i.e. If they are not rostered, how do we track them?)
OHF: Private Skill Developers are not required to be tracked as they do not fall into the 50-person cohort because their skill programs must comply with physical distancing requirements. Further, all ice sessions should include the completion of the contact tracing document which would list all coaches and participants on the ice.
11. Are there limits to the number of Team Officials on the bench during games in order to maintain physical distancing?
OHF: A minimum of two (2) Team Officials are required and a maximum of five (5) Team Officials if the facility location allows for physical distancing. Between the two benches, at least one (1) Team Official must be a certified Trainer.
ALLIANCE: Physical distancing must still apply.
12. Will coaches be permitted to coach more than 1 team during the season?
OHF: There is no restriction on coaches participating with more than one team. Coaches must always maintain physical distancing.
13. ALLIANCE Hockey-residing player who played in another Member Partner last year wants to return home. His home MHA is an A centre but since he played AAA, he wants to play in his home AAA Zone, can he?
OHF: Yes.
14. Player who played AAA moves residence to an ALLIANCE Hockey jurisdiction – the new residential centre is an A centre but since he played AAA, he wants to play in his home AAA Zone.
OHF: Player may go to his new AAA Zone or his home centre.
15. Can I take my children to an Association other than our home Association if the other Association is offering programming that I think suits my child better? i.e. our current Association provides ice 1-2 times a week, but surrounding Associations are advertising 3 times a week.
OHF: Player is eligible to return where they played during the 2019-2020 season or return to their home Association. Hockey Canada residency still applies.
16. Are coaches and officials part of the cohort of 50?
OHF: No, coaches/officials are not part of the cohort of 50 but must always maintain physical distancing. Members can restrict the number of cohorts a coach/official may participate in.
17. Can a player (female) who played in the OWHA last year move to their home ALLIANCE Hockey Association? OHF: ALLIANCE Hockey and Minor Members will work out situations where a female player wishes to transfer between minor hockey and female hockey or vice versa.
18. If a player participates with a ‘tournament team’ for non-sanctioned/private fall hockey, can they also play with our MHA?
OHF: Rules for non-sanctioned programming remain as stated - after September 30th, a player must make a decision as to which programming, they will participate with.
ALLIANCE: Participants may not participate in sanctioned and non-sanctioned hockey leagues at the same time, after September 30th.
19. What happens to first-year IP registrants, can they register for the 2020-2021 season? OHF: Yes.
20. What is the process if an MHA or Zone is still in Stage 2?
OHF: Refer to the Return to Hockey Framework. MHA’s/Zones must comply with the regulations that are
applicable for the Stage their PHU has outlined.
21. Can we AP a player who was not an AP player last year?
OHF: There are no Affiliate Players in Stage 3 based on the cohort of 50 players per league.
22. We have participants already registered with us who played in a non-sanctioned League last season (i.e. Red Circle, Cobras, etc.), do those kids have to return to where they played last season?
OHF: No, they can return to their residential centre or an association within their Public Health Unit providing sanctioned programming. Please contact your Member for specific cases.
23. Can we register players who played in our Association last season who have decided they no longer want to play at the level they played in the 2019-2020 season?
OHF: Yes. Facilitate them through to the proper tier of players.
24. If we put a coach in place for this season’s U16 team who did not coach with us in the 2019-2020 season, can they still coach? (Their son was on the team last season as an NRP player)
OHF: Yes and the player is eligible to return where they played during the 2019-2020 season or return to their home association.
25. We have selected a Zone coach for our Minor Bantam (U13) age A/AA team. His son did not play with us last season as an NRP player. Can he register with us and participate?
OHF: Contact your Member to facilitate the process.
26. For MHA’s who do not have any other ALLIANCE Hockey MHA’s within their PHU, may competition be set up
with an adjacent PHU?
OHF: No, not until the framework allows for cohorts to participate with adjacent PHU’s.
27. Can ALLIANCE Hockey Associations work together to register and tier players within their PHU to provide some options for competition? i.e. HPL & Stratford MHA / Sun County & Windsor / Lambton & Sarnia HA
OHF: Refer to Member RTH Frameworks.
ALLIANCE: Yes, ALLIANCE Associations within the same PHU may work together to form programming.
28. Will we use game sheets for our "games"? OHF: Yes.
29. Will standard Minor Hockey penalties and suspensions still apply? OHF: Yes.
30. Will suggestions for structure/league be considered if/when the limit of 50 per league is increased by the province?
OHF: Local MHA’s can determine program structure within the respective cohorts they establish, pending approval from their Member Partner. If there is an increase, there will be communication of how that applies within the OHF.
ALLIANCE: Definition of league matches that of what the OHF refers to as cohorts.
31. Will there still be open boarders within a Member for U18 hockey?
OHF: Player is eligible to return where they played during the 2019-2020 season or return to their home association. OHF Regulations for formation of AAA Midget teams is not in effect during Stage 3 of the OHF RTP Framework.
ALLIANCE: We are seeking further clarification from the OHF.
32. Can players register with a MHA that they didn’t play for last season if their MHA does not have a U18 team?
If so, when?
OHF: No.
ALLIANCE: We are seeking further clarification from the OHF.
33. If Jr C and Junior B don’t offer programs, we may have many more players interested in U18 hockey this year. How will we manage this?
OHF: Within Public Health Units the Associations, Zones and Junior teams should be discussing what program is operating to ensure that there are options for all players that do want to participate in the case that
either a Association, Zone or Junior Team is not able to operate in the short term or the long term. ALLIANCE: Associations should collaborate on U18 Hockey to ensure that participants are skating.
34. Can this year's coach choose to not allow a player to register for their cohort if they do not want them on their team and send them back to their Home Centre?
OHF: The OHF RTH Framework Stage 3 is built on the philosophy of flexibility that is intended to get players registered and participating in development and game play programming in a safe manner and allow for registration of players when they feel comfortable to return. As coaches the intention should be to ensure that like skilled players are participating with like skilled players for the purpose of overall fun and development.
ALLIANCE: At this time, focus needs to be on participation. If we advance to Stage 4, then the focus may change from development to competition.
35. We had a player’s father tell one of our coaches at the end of last season, that his son will not be returning next season, how do we fill that spot? We also have a goalie not returning due to concussions, need to fill that spot.
OHF: Within your Association work to provide opportunities to have like skilled players participate together. This will provide opportunities for players to grow and develop and work with your Member and nearby Associations to find collaborative solutions.
ALLIANCE: We continue to work with the OHF on filling rosters at the Zone level based upon similar skill level.
36. Is billeting allowed to move a player into a different Zone/Centre?
OHF: At minor hockey there is not billeting as our programming is built based on residency of the players. At Junior Hockey with proper protocols in place there may be situations for billeting that would occur.
37. If a player enrolls in a hockey academy in a different Zone/Centre can they be considered ‘Tier 1’ and play in
the new Centre?
OHF: Player is eligible to return where they played during the 2019-2020 season or return to their home association. If they have moved to the jurisdiction of a new Zone/Centre then follow Appendix C of the OHF Return to Play Framework.
38. How many times are players to be on the ice in a week?
OHF: The U9 Player pathways will still be in effect for seasonal structure and Members have approved programming for those levels and others.
ALLIANCE: Programming is dependent upon what the local Association can provide (i.e. amount of ice time, etc.).
39. What is the predicted start date of the season?
OHF: Phase 2, Stage 3B begins on September 1st which means the earliest programming may begin is September 1 and games September 15 with the (two) 2-week minimum development phase. Members can progress at a slower pace if desired.
40. When and how are dressing rooms to be utilized?
OHF: Dressing room use is at the discretion of the facility. All programs should meet with their facility prior to participation to validate the processes the facility has put in place.
41. Are spectators allowed?
OHF: Please refer to the OHF Return to Hockey Framework and consult your local PHU’s and facilities who will determine these restrictions.
42. Are officials restricted to a cohort? Are they restricted to an OHF Member? Are we allowing them to allow participate in OHF and non-OHF hockey?
OHF: Officials are not included in the cohort of 50. They are not restricted to an OHF Member but will not be allowed after September 30th to participate in sanctioned and non-sanctioned programming; they must choose one or the other.
43. Cross Ice Hockey – when we state the maximum participate guidelines (i.e. <21) is that per group of players or participants on the ice. For example, if we set up cross ice hockey with boards, etc., does that permit 40 participants on the ice?
OHF: The maximum participant guidelines are established at 30 for Stage 3b which for practices includes the players and team officials and for games includes the players. Splitting the ice does not double the number of participants per facility as it would be considered the same room.