Hockey Edmonton 2018-19 Novice Transition Program

May. 17, 2018

At the Hockey Edmonton AGM on Wednesday, May 11, 2018 Hockey Edmonton voted unanimously to implement the Hockey Edmonton 2018-19 Novice Transition Program, as developed and recommended by the Hockey Edmonton Novice Committee. This program was developed to strengthen age appropriate programming in Edmonton, with the athlete’s best interests in mind.

For the 2018-19 season, the Hockey Edmonton Novice division will be divided into Minor Novice (2011 YOB) and Major Novice (2010 YOB) sub divisions. The Minor Novice will be following new Hockey Canada half-ice program, while the Major Novice division will be following the traditional Hockey Canada full-ice program (with a few minor modifications). Please CLICK HERE for further logistical information on the new program. All other logistics will continue to be developed throughout the 2018 Spring/Summer.

Some of the numerous athlete benefits of the Hockey Edmonton 2018-19 Novice Transition Program include:

Birth Year Hockey (Minor and Major);
Improved Season Structure & Standards of Play (Minor and Major);
Improved consistency with practice/games locations time, etc. (Minor and Major);
Increased practices (6 more practices at Major Novice, 10 more practices at Minor Novice);
1 team per dressing room (Minor and Major);
Improved Tiering Model - Alberta One Model (Minor and Major);
Increased playing time (Increased shifts during game-time, less time spent at face offs - Minor Novice);
Increased puck touches, passes, shots (Minor);
Increased awareness/ability to play in traffic and tight spaces (Minor);
Increased shots on net for goaltenders (No full-time goaltenders) (Minor).

In 2019-20, in conjunction with the Hockey Canada Novice Program mandate, all Novice Divisions will be half-ice programming. Please utilize the Hockey Canada Novice Program website CLICK HERE to educate/answer any questions in the meantime. The Hockey Edmonton Novice Program website will be available by the end of the week and will continuously be updated throughout the 2018-19 season. Further information and bulletins will be made available in coming weeks. Please make note of the communication plan in the attached document.

A special thank you to the Hockey Edmonton Novice Committee, District and Operating Area Executives, Interlock Partners, and Hockey Edmonton staff for developing the Hockey Edmonton 2018-19 Novice Transition Program. We are very excited about the positive changes to the program and the positive effects it will have on the athletes involved.

Jason Strudwick was recently on The Jason Gregor Show and discussed the benefits of the program changes.