Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What does my registration pay for?
  2. Well, you've paid your registration. Now what?
  3. Where does the money from Conditioning Camps go?
  4. Is all my ice time at the APM Centre?
  5. What is the difference between AAA, AA and A?
  6. Should my child play rep?
  7. When we go away for a tournament, what does the team budget typically supply to the coaches?
  8. Becoming an Official

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does my registration pay for?

Registration fees pay for:

  • Insurance of players, coaches, and volunteers registered with Hockey PEI through NRMHA;
  • Player development by funding coaching and trainer (Safety Person) certification and Speak Out courses for all team staff;
  • Administration; costs
  • Sweaters and other equipment; and
  • Ice time* and officials (refs and scorekeeper).

* Each team is allocated 20 one hour game times which are supplied with referees and a scorekeeper and 10 hours of practice time over the 22 week season. "A" level teams usually share practices with another team so they both receive 20 shared practices over this period. "AA" teams often practice by themselves and are required to pay an extra fee to the Association to cover the cost of practicing alone.

Some "A" teams may prefer to practice alone but the Association mandates that this is not to happen because the team would have only 10 practice times all season and the Association believes that practices are the most important factor in player development. Practices are important because in a game a player is on the ice for an average of 10 - 15 minutes and may have the puck on their stick for as little as 1 - 3 minutes but players are on the ice for an hour during a practice and they have a puck on their stick for most of it.

2. Well, you've paid your registration. Now what?

Minor hockey traditionally starts the 3rd weekend of October and ends the middle of March. There are conditioning camps and/or tryouts in all divisions but Tykes. Please refer to the ice time schedule posted, just inside the rink and on the Association's web site - http://northriverflames.ca

You should refer to the posted schedule, in the rink, on a regular basis as ice times can and do change.

Do not assume anything!

3. Where does the money from Conditioning Camps go?

Money goes to the teams to help pay for the ice time and any minor officials used during this time. Any money that is left stays with the teams to help with expenses. Should a team not pay these costs, associated with conditioning / tryouts, by December 1, it will be deducted from that time allotted to them by the Association.

4. Is all my ice time at the APM Centre?

Depending on the number of teams in any season, home games should be at the APM Centre, weather permitting.

Due to limited ice time at the APM Centre (we are not the only users of the facility - Figure Skating, Public Skates (family and adult), Cornwall Thunder, North River Junior C, IWHL, Adult Rec Hockey, Tournaments, Special Events, etc) and ice times cancelled due to Inclement Weather all teams will be scheduled to practice in both Crapaud and the APM Centre.

It costs the association extra money to play a game in Crapaud. Only NRMHA authorized league games will be permitted in Crapaud. Any league / make-up games played in Crapaud must have approval from the executive, or the teams will pay any and all extra costs associated with it.

Teams choosing to play exhibition games, in Crapaud, will pay any costs associated with it.

5. What is the difference between AAA, AA and A?
  • Male

    1. AAA is the highest level of Rep Hockey in PEI and is found in the Atom, Peewee, Bantam and Midget divisions. Players who make this team usually practice a minimum of once a week with a home and away game. They often purchase extra ice time for extra practices. Players who make these teams are required to be there for all games and practices. Depending on the Division they are in, players can be expected to play in 3 or more Island tournaments and 1 or more off Island.

      This season, North River, South Side, Kensington and Rustico have amalgamated to create the Matrix. This is for AAA hockey only and hopefully will make us more competitive in the AA and A divisions. The Matrix governing body is made up of representatives from each association and will act as a separate and distinct entity , with its own policies and rules.

      The Bantam and Midget teams will alternate out of Kensington and the APM Centre, while the Atom and Peewee will alternate out of Crapaud and Rustico. Parents will be required to help fund-raise, sell 50/50 tickets and volunteer as needed. These teams pay rep fees to the Matrix Association along with team fees to the team. The Matrix AAA can affiliate with up to 19 players from all four Associations. Player who make the Matrix this year and don't next year go back to their home association. No release is needed.

    2. AA is the next level of rep. All associations have AA team or partner with another association to have one. Players who make this team usually practice a minimum of once a week with a home and away game. They often purchase extra ice time for practices. Players who make these teams are expected to be there for all games and practices. Depending on the Division they are in, players can be expected to play in up to 3 Island tournaments and 1 off Island. Parents will be required to help fund-raise, sell 50/50 tickets and volunteer as needed. These teams pay rep fees to the association along with team fees to the team upon making the team.

      We have AA teams in Novice, Atom, Peewee, Bantam and Midget. Novice are not permitted to play in any tournaments or games off as set down by the Hockey PEI.

    3. A is really house league. All associations have an A team. Players who play on this team usually have a shared practice once a week and play up to two games per week. Players who play on these teams are encouraged to be there for as many games and practices as possible. Depending on the Division they are in, players can be expected to play in up to 3 Island tournaments and 1 off Island. Parents are often called upon help fund-raise, sell 50/50 tickets and volunteer as needed.

      We have A teams in Novice, Atom, Peewee, Bantam and Midget. There is also a division called Tykes, which is developmental.

  • Female

    1. AA is the highest form of Female Rep Hockey on P E I and is found in the Atom, Peewee, Bantam and Midget divisions. Players who make this team usually practice a minimum of once a week with a home and away game. They often purchase extra ice time for practices. Players who make these teams are required to be there for all games and practices.

      Depending on the Division they are in, players can be expected to play in 3 Island tournaments and 1 or more off Island. Parents will be required to help fund-raise, sell 50/50 tickets and volunteer as needed. These teams pay rep fees to the association along with team fees to the team upon making the team.

    2. A is the next level of rep. Most associations have an A team, but not in all divisions. Players who play on this team usually practice a minimum of once a week with a home and away game. Players who make these teams are expected to be there for all games and practices.

      Depending on the Division they are in, players can be expected to play in up to 3 Island tournaments and 1 off Island. Parents will be required to help fund-raise, sell 50/50 tickets and volunteer as needed. These teams pay rep fees to the association along with team fees upon making the team. We currently have A teams in Atom, Peewee, Bantam and Midget.

6. Should my child play rep?

It is important that you understand what a rep team expects from you, how it will affect school, other sports, holidays etc. This decision should be made together. Ask questions. Find out what the expenses will be, the time commitment and is your child ready to play at this level. Not everyone is suited or prepared to play AAA. Maybe your child belongs in AA or in A. Ask questions, get answers.

Remember it's the child who is playing rep not you, the parent.

Sample Question: I wanted to play AAA, but my friend got sent to AA. I made the AAA team, but now I want to move back to AA. Is this possible?

Answer: It's not always that easy. What happens if the AA team has been picked, no one will move up to AAA and the coach is happy with his numbers? Your child goes to A. The association will not permit a child to be cut, to make room for another player, once the team has been picked. The coach would have to keep you as an extra player. Most teams will not do this and the association will not force them to.

7. When we go away for a tournament, what does the team budget typically supply to the coaches?

Off-Island Tournaments

  • Meal expense per day $30 per coach
  • One or two coaches one room for each night
  • Three or four coaches two rooms for each night
  • Cost of the gas for one car
  • Cost of the bridge/ferry for one car

If a parent is coaching the team or if a coach wishes to take their spouse, then the expenses are usually 50% of above. ie team pays for one night and the coach pays for the other. This is a team decision and every situation is different.

This should be voted on by the parents. ie what happens if there is an over nighter on the Island - Mill River?

8. Becoming an Official

Contact Referee in Chief:
Dave McQuaid
628-6284
Ref Line: 393-2867

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