Jan 31, 2011 | Charlene | 12537 views
Clippers to Request AA Status for Next Season
The WSMHA Board of Directors has approved a resolution to request that the OMHA change its base category from A to AA starting with the 2011-12 season. A Centre's "base category" determines the level of competition at which its representative teams compete. If Stouffville's application is accepted, the WSMHA will ice representative teams in the AA and AE (additional entry) categories starting next season.
The Board's decision to request a base category change followed a recent resolution by the OMHA to revise its residency rules to allow greater player movement starting at Minor Peewee. Prior to that revision representative players, with the exception of those competing at a AAA level, were required to play for the centre in which they resided. Under the new regulations, residents in an A centre such as Stouffville would be allowed to tryout, and if successful, play for a representative team in a nearby AA centre.
According to WSMHA President, Don Easter, the Board was already considering a possible move to AA within the next few years. The OMHA's decision and the potential loss of a number of its more highly skilled rep players to nearby AA centres caused the Board to advance its timetable. "We hope that if the OMHA approves our request, players who might otherwise have left our program in search of better quality competition will be able to find the same developmental opportunities playing for their hometown Clippers" said Easter.