Teams like the Midget AA Chill will be able to hold tryouts to finalize rosters, but they don't yet know when their season will start or what it will look like. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Trevor Redden

Hockey Returns

Minor hockey greenlights AA tryouts and house league start

Aug 25, 2020 | 12:21 PM

The Prince Albert Minor Hockey Association (PAMHA) has begun to set its course for a return to hockey this fall.

After Monday night’s meeting, and in accordance with the Saskatchewan Hockey Association (SHA), PAMHA has decided to proceed with AA camps in September, and all in-house leagues for players aged 13 and under can begin in November.

James Mays, technical director for PAMHA, addressed those who have been inquiring about the upcoming season.

“We’re fielding a ton of calls. Kids want to get back to the rink and parents want to get them back there. There’s still a little bit of apprehension but we’re just trying to clear the air and appease some people and let them know that especially for U13 and under, the kids are going to get their games, they’re going to get as much ice time as before and maybe even more,” Mays said.

At the U13, U15, and U18 AA levels, PAMHA has been advised to begin tryout procedures as usual, starting on Sept. 12. The plan is for these tryouts to be done by the weekend of Sept. 19 to have all teams finalized. At this point, no decision has been made regarding when any games can be played against teams from outside the city.

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Mays cautioned that any AA player not registered within 24 hours of their respective tryout beginning will be ineligible.

For all in-house teams in the U7, U9, U11, and U13 age brackets, which do not play outside of Prince Albert, the plan is to hold a normal schedule in terms of games and practices beginning Nov. 1.

Furthermore, PAMHA has added some extra sessions for some of these groups.

“We’ve added this year, for U9 and U11, a set of four developmental skates. All those kids will get four extra skates before the evaluations even start. Just a way to get them all on skates so that they’ve all played, they’re all starting on an even keel,” Mays noted.

As for the specific restrictions that may be in place once tryouts and other skates resume, Mays felt it would become second nature for players and parents alike.

“We’ll follow every guideline that’s out there, the city’s been pretty good at pointing out what we need to do and how things are going to work. I think once a parent and their child has been to the rink a couple times, it will just get to be a foregone conclusion that this is what we’re going to be doing for a little while, so let’s get at it,” Mays said.

Registration is currently open online, and the organization will be holding two in-person registration nights on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2 at Midtown Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. each night. Those who are not comfortable registering online can attend either night and bring a cheque if they prefer. All COVID-19 regulations will be followed, including physical distancing and cleaning.

Additionally, PAMHA is waiving the usual late registration fee, which should give a discount of around 15 per cent for all players.

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trevor.redden@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden