Big changes in the works for AAA hockey

For those who have advocated in favour of a single AAA hockey system in Greater Sudbury for the past several years, it is a step in the right direction.

The websites for both the NCHA (Nickel City Hockey Association) and the SMHA (Sudbury Minor Hockey Association) were recently updated with identical releases, outlining the fruits of the labour of the joint co-operation committee.

For the 2015-2016 hockey season, bantam AAA hockey within Greater Sudbury will be limited to just a single team at both the minor bantam and major bantam levels, with both of those teams being housed under the banner of the NCHA.

In return, the Nickel City Midget AAA Sons have agreed to take a one-year leave of absence from the Great North Midget League, allowing the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves to operate as the sole major midget AAA team in the area.

Furthermore, the NOHA approved minor midget AAA cards being issued to a maximum of four teams in Northern Ontario. In line with this announcement, the GNML also agreed to a motion that would see a minimum of two NOHA minor midget AAA teams, to a maximum of four teams, joining the well-established loop in the fall.

The scenario at the peewee age grouping has remained unchanged, with both Sudbury and Nickel City icing minor peewee AAA and major peewee AAA teams for the 2015-2016 campaign.

Despite all of the motions, there remains some fluidity to the situation, as there appears to be no guarantee that folks in Sault Ste. Marie are prepared to ice a minor midget AAA team for next year, despite fielding an elite AA team at the same age grouping for each of the past two seasons.

More detailed information included in both updates outline that “a Permission to Skate/Release for the 2015-2016 season only will be required prior to getting on the ice for the above noted tryouts.

Players will be returned to their home association for the 2016-2017 season, as this is only a one-year "leave of absence.'"