The Alberta Major Bantam Female Hockey League would be a great opportunity for the higher skilled girls to play at a very competitive level and develop their skills as players and young ladies.
I would like to hear from our membership on the interest within GHC to enter into the league. We currently have 5 Bantam A teams and 5 Bantam B teams and if we were to place two or three teams into the AAA Bantam league the remaining teams would be moved into the A and B Midget divisions of the Rocky Mountain Female Hockey League. That is assuming Cochrane, Okotoks and Airdrie would have Bantam A and B teams available. Costs of playing on a team in the AAA league will be similar to our AAA Midget program in the AMMFHL which has a registration fee of $2600 plus additional team fees and fund raising that can amount to another $2000. Fees could be reduced if the number of games were reduced.
Some of the questions we will need to answer before we can determine if we should join include;
- How much travel would we want to undertake? Do we want our 13 - 14 year old daughters on the bus to Grande Prairie? Maybe two divisions one in the north and one in the south with very limited interlock would be an option.
- Do we have additional ice for the longer games and additional practices?
- Will the creation of a AAA league damage A hockey in the smaller communities? Drawing girls away from their local A teams will reduce the numbers and will they find replacements?
Please post your comments here or send your comments to my attention at don.ogrady@shaw.ca
3 comments:
My wife and I have alot of respect for the work Girls Hockey Calgary does for hockey in the city. I personnaly feel that the creation of a Bantam AAA league is on the right track when it comes to developing top end players who want to play a higher level of hockey. Right now anytime our girls teams travel outside the city to play in tournaments they are finding it hard to compete with teams even though they play very hard, you can see the difference in how the game is played within the city limits and outside it is two different games. If we want to develop girls to compete for places on top end Provincial teams we need to look into getting this team or teams started. If we wish to remain an island onto ourselves then lets keep our girls and have them play within the city. I also agree that they have to establish two divisions with limited interlocking play so that travel is limited. As far as the costs for these girls to play anyone who has had boys who have played at a higher level know the costs that are associated with playing and are more then willing to foot the bills for this opportunity to play.
As far as drawing players away from smaller communities I believe that merging the Calgary Girls Hockey league with the Rockey Mountain Female Hockey League whether (AAA hockey)happens or not is still a good idea giving the girls the chance the play other girls from outside the city can only enhance their learning and development and young ladies and players.
Nick Parkyn
Don,
I had responded privatley but though posting this might inspire others to provide comments as well. I think the idea of a girls AAA Bantam program is great. My concern is whether Calgary is able to support 2 or 3 AAA teams when we have enough trouble fielding 5 A teams with diluted talent. Personally, I would make one AAA team of the most talented young ladies and then rethink how the GHC league could be restructured to accommodate the loss of 15-18 top quality players. I agree with limiting the travel as some of these athletes will be in Grade 9 and can't afford to miss much school.
Dave Rawlyk
Don, I believe the interest for a AAA Bantam female league in Alberta exists province-wide, and Calgary needs to a part of this and perhaps take a leadership role in its development and governance. Such a league has been discussed informally for the past 2-3years and I am glad that this may now actually happen. As stated, this league would be a great opportunity for the higher skilled girls to play at a very competitive level province-wide and develop their skills as players and young ladies. There will still be an opportunity for other girls to play A or B hockey and stay involved in a great game.
Travel will be a part of this league, no doubt. If there is a willingness, these logistical league issues can be sorted out. The very same questions regarding A vs AAA (especially rural) were likely discussed years ago for Alberta Midget female hockey. As we know, the AMMFHL is a very respected, competitive and highly scouted league. If the Alberta Major Bantam AAA male hockey league (founded 18 years ago) can have 22 teams and find the appropriate practice/game ice, the same should hold true for a 6-8 team female Bantam AAA provincial league (one team from Calgary). The time has come.
-Adrian Sakundiak
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