The Battlefords Minor Hockey Association held its AGM last night at the Don Ross Centre. (Brady Lang/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Brady Lang

future of minor hockey

BMHA AGM fields spirited discussion on future

May 1, 2019 | 2:00 PM

The Battlefords Minor Hockey Association held its Annual General Meeting last night, with tons of discussion on the future direction of hockey in the Battlefords.

The meeting included all the executives, with President Kyle Kellgren quarterbacking the conversation throughout the night. At one point, discussion went to the open floor, and parents and executives debated on association issues.

Kellgren highlighted the successes of the year, while touching on the lows through the 2018-19 season. The success of the Midget AA Barons season, as well as the championships of the Northwest Sharks Bantam club, the novice team that won the S.T.E.P. league, as well as the overall competitiveness throughout year was nice to see, he said.

“We had a very good year,” Kellgren said. “It proves that we are developing kids, even at the younger ages.”

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The night also included the introduction of the board, which changed slightly with parent executives moving around, along with a secret vote to decide the new vice-president role within the organization. Chris Brown was re-elected, beating out former President Jenni Wuttunee.

Opening the floor

Parents brought up that the out-of-town representatives outnumbered the local contingent at the Future of the AA Program Meeting, held on April 8. There will be a meeting in the future to discuss what should be done in terms of that specific program for BMHA. The date has not been set in stone yet, says President Kellgren.

“We’re not going to please everybody,” he said. “It’s not about destroying what we’ve made; it’s about making it better, and more inclusive.”

Battlefords to the Hockey Super League

What started as a miscommunication in talks about the AA program soon turned into a discussion on the Hockey Super League. The unsanctioned league has been expanding at a rapid rate in Alberta, where it was established in the winter of 2017.

The parents said it was an option they’d be open to looking at, but at the same time, there were some opposed. Kellgren said when it comes down to it, this Super League is not sanctioned by the Saskatchewan Hockey Association. With that, comes the loss of insurance for these players and the loss of other sanctioned hockey by the parent organization.

“(SHA) made it very clear that if kids or families choose (to go play) you will not get to play in anything SHA sanctioned,” he said. “People really have to take a look at what’s best for their kid.”

One parent suggested Hockey Canada could adopt the Super League, and that it seems to be in their plans “within the next five years.” While that may be the case, the discussion is still early on that front.

Competitiveness within the BMHA

A concerned parent brought forth their displeasure with the spread between the levels of hockey in the younger ranks. It was explained that there is a lull in the number of young athletes between the initiation and novice divisions, and with the lack of bodies comes a lack of tiering.

Without the bodies there, it would be tough to correctly put the kids in the correct divisions or tiers. That may create a spread, and hurt some of the development of players. One parent said the difference in coaching is also a problem, with every coach having different styles, and even a different number of help in terms of assistants or resources.

The loss of Atom AA Hockey is still being felt, some parents said. The struggle of the size of the BMHA will always be there, but the fact is, no association is perfect — especially when it comes from top to bottom in a sports association, Kellgren said.

“We’ve spent a lot of money on development,” he said. “You’re never done learning.”

The executives said the First Shift Program is going very well, and they’re seeing instant results in kids moving up to play organized and competitive hockey.

The spirited discussion wrapped up after many of the parents had to hit the exit doors a little early with the impending North Stars ANAVET Cup Championship game scheduled just two hours following the start of the meeting. The adjournment of the meeting was completed with a “Go Stars Go,” with many of the parents hitting the doors to grab their seat at the Civic Centre.

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brady.lang@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @BradyLangBFN