Dear Mom and Dad:

I hope you won't get mad at me for writing this letter but you always told me never to keep anything back and ought to be brought our into the open.

So here goes...Remember the other morning when my team was playing and both of you were sitting watching? Well, mom and dad, I hope ou won't get mad at me, but you kind of embarrassed me.

Remember when I went after the puck in front of the net trying to score, and I fell? Well, mom I could hear you yelling at the goalie for getting in my way and tripping me. Shucks. It wasn't his fault. That's what he is suppose to do.

Then do you remember yelling at me to get on the other side of the ice? Well, I didn't know where to go then because the coach had told me to cover my man and I couldn't if I listened to you, so while I tried to decide, they scored against us. Then you yelled at me for being in the wrong place.

Boy, what really got me, mom and dad was after the game. You shouldn't have jumped all over the coach for pulling me off the floor. He's a pretty good hockey coach, a a real swell guy and he knew what he was doing. Besides, he's just a volunteer coming down all the hours of the day, helping us kids, just becuase he loves the sport...

Then neither of you spoke to me the whole way home. I guess you were pretty sore at me for not getting a goal. I tried awful hard. I guess I'm just not a good hockey player, but I love to play good hockey. It's a lot of fun being with the other kids and learning to compete in a real sport.

But gosh, mom and dad, how can I learn if you don't show me a good example? And anyhow, I thought I was playing hockey for the fun; to have a good time and learn sportsmanship.

I didn't know you were going to get upset because I couldn't become a star.

Love

Your Son............

What kind of so called "grown up" Are those who choose to trust.
Such mean and angry words of hate On little guys like us
We skate so hard to make that goal, Like we are told to do.
But folks yell "get him, kill that kid" And often start to boo.
We're told its sport not win or lose. But how we play the game,
If adults want to teach what's right, Why don't they do the same?
So Mom and Dad I ask you please Leave anger at the door and fill The Rink with BROTHERHOOD
That's really what it is for!

He Stands in the arena With his heart pounding fast, The players all waiting For his improtant pass. Mom and Dad cannot help him. He stands all alone. A goal at this moment, would send the teams home. The puck nears the net, He shoots and he misses There's a groan from the crowd With some boo's and hisses. A thoughtless voice cries, "You stink, you bum." His eyes fill with tears, The games no longer fun. Remember, he's just a little boy Who stands all alone. So open your heart, and Give him a break, For it's moments like this A man you can make. Keep this in mind when you hear Someone forget He's just a little boy, and Not a man yet ......

- I will not force my child to participate in hockey
- I will remember that my child plays hockey for his or her enjoyment, not mine.
- I will encourage my child to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence.
- I will teach my child that doing one’s best is as important as winning, so that my child will never feel defeated by the outcome of a game / event.
- I will make my child feel like a winner every time by offering praise for competing fairly and trying hard.
- I will never ridicule or yell at my child for making a mistake, or losing a competition.
- I will remember that children learn best by example. I will applaud good plays / performances by both my child’s team and their opponents.
- I will never question the official’s judgment or honestly in public.
- I will support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from children’s hockey activities.
- I will respect and show appreciation for the volunteer coaches who give their time to provide hockey experience for my child.

Owing to the many recent inquiries it has become obvious that there is not enough effective communication pertaining to movement from our organization to others at a higher level.

Any player in our organization who wishes to play higher level hockey may try out for the nearest centre that offers AAA. For Almaguin players this is the North Central Predators, or RAMA. They are located at a home arena called the MASK in Rama, near Orillia. Tryouts for these teams are in April every year and they welcome any new players to try out. To be eligible to try out, players must contact their centre President and acquire a "permission to skate" form from our organization.
There is a fee for these tryouts and schedules are on their website.

Many people have questioned NOHA, or North Bay as a closer option. Players may try out for AAA in North Bay only if they have received an F1 waiver release from Rama after trying out for that team. It is up to the Rama organization if they release a player or not and has nothing to do with AMHA. North Bay is part of the NOHA, North Ontario Hockey Association which is a totally separate governing body than our own OMHA, Ontario Minor Hockey Association. NOHA has the right to refuse an out of zone player if they choose.

Others have queried trying out for AA teams in NOHA. This is not allowed as only movement to AAA is sanctioned by OMHA to NOHA.

A recent change has allowed a NRP, Non resident passport, which allows players within OMHA to try out and play for their nearest AA or A centres. For Almaguin this is AA, Barrie and A, Orillia.

All movement must be done through a centre president and have the proper paperwork.

Hope this helps some. As/if rules change this site will be updated.

The following is an attempt to clarify for parents the biggest differences between Rep and House League within our Association.

REP

-Try outs happen at an extra expense to Parents.
-As this is competitive hockey ice time is up the the Coaches discretion. Coaches usually try and run rolling the lines but in play downs and in penalty situations will choose the players they feel will be most beneficial to the team at that moment. Ice team will be fair, but not equal.
- Teams play in the Muskoka Parry Sound League. The other teams in the league are, Parry Sound, Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Port Carling and Haliburton.
- There are 18 league games 9 at home and 9 away. There is also MPS Play Off games to play at the end of the season over and above season games.
- Teams play in OMHA play downs which include games against other like sized centers and may include traveling a fair distance for games. These are also extra games
- Most Rep teams go to at least one away tournament, some more. This is at the coach/parent level to decide. These tournaments are at an extra cost to the teams, not covered by the organization.
- Rep teams wear sponsored Jerseys for the year which are cared for by the team which is responsible for their condition. They are also required to wear team socks and there is generally a dress code for teams in the Rep system.
-Most rep teams have a rep fee they charge to cover costs of the team that year. ie tournaments
-Some teams have minimum fundraising requirements.
- When committing to a rep team it means committing to all practices and games. This is very important to work on systems and plays.


House League
- House league is run out of South River, Sundridge and Burks Falls only.
-House League is designed to be recreational and as such has a focus on fair and equal ice times at all times. Coaches should be dividing ice time equally among players.
-House League spans a larger age group but Coachs attempt when possible to keep kids of a similar age on the ice at one time.
-House League has set ice times, one week night, one Saturday which stay the same each week.
- House League coaches can take "select" teams to play other centres. This may be at extra cost but is optional.