The Elite and Premier ice hockey clubs are in discussions about an alliance of the two leagues to create a nationally co-ordinated youth development strategy for boys and girls. 
At present the number of player registrations in Britain in all age groups up to 19 years, is on average less than 100 per ice rink, and the number of year to year registrations has been flat for many years - no growth. The development issue is not only confined to beginners, but also to the very high proportion of 15 and 18 year olds who quit the sport due to the absence of appropriate playing opportunities once they reach the age of 19. At present just as many teenagers are leaving the sport as children are joining ­ a treadmill that has been standing still.

The Elite and Premier clubs recognize that if a renaissance in ice hockey is to be realised then the issue of participation numbers and growth must be addressed in a constructive manner. This will not be resolved by merely reserving a few places at the senior level for local players whilst ignoring the root of the problem.

The club owners acknowledge that growth in youth registration numbers will in time create a larger pool of home-grown talent for Elite and Premier clubs to chose from, and will also translate into more fans at games as more hockey families are created ­ the commercial benefit.

This alliance, which could be formalized within the next few months, will bring together the current nine clubs of the new Elite League, together with the 10 to 12 clubs at the Premier Level. This will form a co-ordinated grouping of approximately 20 clubs (20 rinks in 20 communities) talking to each other and working to strengthen the game. Once up and running, other clubs and rinks will be encouraged to participate.

The development ideas being canvassed but not yet confirmed include:

(A) Elite clubs affiliating themselves individually with a Premier club on a North American style farm-team basis. This will allow players with promise at the Premier level to practice and occasionally play with the Elite team.

(B) Regional Training camps run several times per year for potential Elite and Premier hockey players to showcase their ability to coaches.

(C) Elite Hockey Camps for children run on the basis of a national hockey curriculum which will be prepared by this new grouping of 20 or so clubs. These subsidized camps would be run throughout Britain during school holidays, with trainers being provided by the Elite and Premier clubs.

(D) Schools Programmes run throughout the school year at rinks where mid-week day time ice is currently under-used. This concept, which has been very successfully implemented in Milton Keynes for the last two years and has been duplicated at two other clubs, is a learn-to-skate and beginners hockey programme run by the hockey club and its players, and is adopted by local schools as part of their physical education curriculum.

(E) The creation of a non-contact senior league or Junior league (ages of 16 to 21). This would address the high drop-off rate of 15 to 18 year olds who believe they cannot compete in the current senior leagues due to skill or intimidation, and consequently quit the game altogether.

(F) The introduction of Ringette into Britain. Ringette is similar to hockey but is non-contact and played using a straight stick (no blade) to pass, carry, and shoot a rubber ring to score goals. It is particularly suitable for beginner skaters and has been rapidly taken up by women as an alternative to hockey. See www.ringette.ca.

It is stressed that these ideas and others are at a formative stage, and that detailed plans will be revealed within the next few months. These root and branch discussions amongst so many clubs could bring about a period of stability in ice hockey, which in time will lead to growth, and the much hoped for renaissance of the game in Britain.

Category: Archive Posts » Elite Ice Hockey League |

............................................................................................................................................................................