Ottawa Junior 67's AAA Hockey Teams
Team Size & Make-up
The Ottawa Jr. 67's AAA promotes the concept that teams and players must be developed on an ongoing basis. Our coaches are asked to select a minimum 17 player roster. This is a reasonable, effective and responsible philosophy, in order that our teams will have an ongoing roster on which to draw year after year. A full team roster ensures that more players have an opportunity for hockey development.
The maximum roster size for AAA teams is 19 players for Minor/Major Bantam and Minor Midget and 20 players for Major Midget. The final roster size of the Jr. 67's teams is decided by our Coaches.
We also encourage each team to take as many Affiliated Players as possible, and to try to include them in practices as well as games provided the consent of the lower category/division team has been obtained.Imports
We believe that, in general, we should be able to ice very competitive teams from players exclusively within our area. Beginning in 2003/04, the ODMHA determined that player imports would not be allowed. As a result, the Ottawa Jr. 67's AAA imports to Zone 4 will not be sought, exemptions are at the discretion of the ODMHA
Releases
The Head Coach and a Board member are required to meet with each player and to be supportive and positive when releasing the player, but shall not forecast or guarantee the success of a released player with regards to subsequent tryouts. All players released after the official team lists have been submitted to our Registrar, requires the approval of the Ottawa Jr. 67's AAA Board.
Costs & Commitment
Playing 'AAA' hockey requires a major commitment from the players, parents and coaches. Players can expect annual costs of approximately $3,000.00 for the Club and basic team fees. Further costs for travel to out-of-town tournaments, bus rentals, accommodations and so on will be incurred. Teams can offset some or all of these costs through fundraising activities, but this also requires a commitment from team and family members. These costs and commitments will be explained by the coach and manager prior to each season and players who can not make these commitments will be asked to withdraw from tryouts before the team is chosen, unless acceptable alternative arrangements can be made. Once a player is signed to the Ottawa Jr. 67's AAA, they are expected to meet these commitments.
Code of Conduct
The Ottawa Jr. 67's AAA has implemented a Code of Conduct to ensure that all of its members, including players, parents, and team officials, act in a responsible manner during their involvement in Minor Hockey. This Code requires that all members refrain from inappropriate comments or behaviors towards others involved in minor hockey, including on-ice officials, team officials, Club/association officials and other members. All members are asked to read and sign a copy of the Code of Conduct at registration. Failure to comply with the Code can result in disciplinary action, such as suspension of a player's hockey activities or, in the case of a parent, that parent's access to arena for games and practices, through to losing the privileges that come with membership in the Club or being a member in minor hockey.
Team Official/Player Dress Code
Players who represent the Ottawa Jr. 67's AAA must attend games in proper attire. This includes a shirt & tie properly worn (i.e. "shirt tucked in, tie tied properly"), with dress pants or casual pants (excluding jeans) and belt and their team jacket and appropriate footwear to and from all games.
Team Officials, including Head Coach and Assistant Coaches who represent the Ottawa Jr. 67's AAA must attend games in proper attire. This includes a shirt & tie properly worn (i.e. "shirt tucked in, tie tied properly"), with dress pants or casual pants (excluding jeans) and belt and their team jacket and appropriate footwear to and from all games. Trainers may optionally, due to their duties, wear a clean Ottawa Jr.67's AAA approved "warm-up" suit.
Team Uniforms
Our home sweater will be white (predominant) with black and red with player's name and player's number and our away sweater will be black (predominant) with white and red with player's name and player's number.
Our home socks will be white (predominant) with black and red stripe and our away socks will be black (predominant) with a black and red stripe.
Team pants are black with the only manufacturer logos markings or decal allowed (e.g. Bauer, CCM, NIKE, etc.). Hockey gloves, skate laces and stick tape must be consistent with the Jr. 67's AAA color scheme (Red, Black and White). A players helmet must be a CSA approved black helmet with a Hockey Canada approved face shield.
Our policy in no way supersedes the requirements of the Hockey Canada with respect to required equipment. Failure to comply will result in the player being warned and reminded of this policy. Continued violation will result in suspension.
All items of clothing bearing the Ottawa Jr. 67's AAA logo (licensed to the Ottawa Jr. 67's AAA Hockey Club) must be approved by the Ottawa Jr. 67's Board of Directors.
Coaches
Our notification for coaching applications for a following season will be published in December of the current season. Coaches are interviewed, chosen and announced at the time of the Annual General Meeting held prior to May 15th each year. Head coaches must have Intermediate [or new Development 1/2] Level or higher coaching certification. Assistant Coaches must have Coach Level or higher coaching certification. Trainers must be certified at least Level II. All team staff must have taken the Speak Out certification and are required to submit a Police Record Check.
Our policy for coach selection is to have independent (non-parent) coaches. As well, to ensure all Board member's children are evaluated fairly, the Ottawa Jr. 67's AAA Board will appoint independent evaluators to verify the player's ability to play at this level.
We have no specific policy on coaches staying with a team for more than one year. We consider coach applications for all teams each year. If a coach has worked well with a team, has good relationships with the players and parents, and wishes to continue with them, we feel as long as the team is progressing well, that's a good thing. Many things go into the process of choosing our coaches, so we feel it is best to re-evaluate each year.
We feel it is important to develop our coaches as well as our players. We promote the use of a coach-mentor and arrange for our coaches to meet regularly to discuss things about their teams, such as successes and challenges.