The RMMHA and our Fit in the Amateur Hockey Universe
Once you know how the various hockey organizations fit together, it makes reasonable sense, but for many hockey parents, and not just those that are new to minor hockey, it is a bit of a mystery. This is intended to unravel that mystery!
Hockey Canada
Formerly known as the Canadian Hockey Association (CHA), Hockey Canada is the sole governing body for amateur hockey in Canada. Hockey Canada makes major decisions such as player divisions (age). It has 13 branches, including the Ottawa District Hockey Association (ODHA). See more at www.hockeycanada.ca
Ottawa District Hockey Association (ODHA)
The ODHA is the governing body of amateur hockey in the Ottawa area, and in Hockey Canada context, is our branch. Included in this is direct management of the officiating program, development programs (including Speak Out - for bench staff), and other administrative responsibilities. The ODHA governs the junior leagues in the area directly (Central Junior A Hockey League (CJHL), The Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League, and The Eastern Ontario Junior C Hockey League). The Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association (ODMHA) also reports to the ODHA, and those two organizations share a physical office in Ottawa, as well as full time administrative staff. See more at www.odha.com
Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association (ODMHA)
Within the same region that the ODHA operates, the ODMHA governs issues specific to minor hockey. Many of the regulations by which we play (and administer) are decided here (eg. affiliation and transfer policies). The ODMHA directly governs the competitive A and B leagues in which the Goulbourn RAMS play, and the AA league in which the Ottawa Valley Titans play (more on those later). The ODMHA is divided into districts. Minor council meets monthly and is the decision forum in which the district chairs participate. See more at www.odmha.on.ca
District 4 (ODMHA)
We are part of District 4 (Rideau Carleton), which meets monthly, composed of district executive and the Presidents of the respective associations. District 4 is the link between all associations and both the ODMHA and ODHA structures. Most interpretation and enforcement of ODHA/ODMHA regulations takes place at District 4. See more at www.district4.monisys.ca/
Lanark Carleton Minor Hockey League (LCMHL)
As described above, competitive leagues operate at the branch level. Some associations participate there, and offer an internal house league as the only alternative. In our case, all of the associations within District 4, as well as the Kanata Minor Hockey Association, run the Lanark Carleton Minor Hockey League (LCMHL). This league has the mandate to schedule, operate, and track games, playoffs, etc. Richmond Royals teams from Novice to Midget play in LCMHL. See more at www.lcmhl.ca.
Goulbourn RAMS
The Goulbourn RAMS, launched in 1998-99, is a club, jointly operated by the Richmond Munster Minor Hockey Association (RMMHA) and Stittsville Minor Hockey Association (SMHA) to result in competitive A and B level teams, playing in branch leagues. Players from either association can try out for RAMS teams in September each year. See more at www.stittsvillemha.com/rams/main.php?page=newsfile.htm
Ottawa Valley Titans
The Titans operation is similar to the RAMS, but combines Districts 4 and 5 (Upper Ottawa Valley), to play in the branch AA league. RMMHA has 5 players on Titans in 2003-04, and this is a typical number for us. See more at www.ovtmha.on.ca/
417 League
The 417 League is purely a league structure, similar to the LCMHL described above. Our Juvenile team plays in the 417 League. This is a non-checking minor hockey league for those 18-21 years of age…a sort of transition between minor hockey and adult hockey.
Richmond Munster Minor Hockey Association (RMMHA) – This is us!
So…at last….what do we do within RMMHA? Your local association operates under the rules and regulations of Hockey Canada, ODHA, ODMHA, and District 4. We place teams in the LCMHL, and we have players take part in the RAMS and Titans competitive programs. Internally we rent and schedule ice, we arrange and nurture the development of officials, we select coaches and players for LCMHL teams, we set registration and fundraising fees and practices, we run the Richmond canteen, we host tournaments, and lots of other fun things. Each year, at our Annual General Meeting (early April) we elect board of director members (17) for a two year term…. some come up for election each year on a staggered basis. One additional (non-voting) board member, the Referee in Chief, is appointed annually. The board meets monthly. See more at www.richmondmunsterhockey.homestead.com
Richmond & Munster Representation in the Hockey Universe!
In addition to the volunteers that give so much to the RMMHA, we have a disproportionately high degree of representation in the other hockey organizations described above. Here are some examples:
·
Bob Pershick – District 4 Chair (Richmond)
·Don Wise – President LCMHL (Richmond)
·Al Miller – LCMHL Bantam Convenor
·David Hein – LCMHL Atom Convenor
·Rob Knight – General Manager RAMS (Munster)
·Dwayne Barclay – League Commissioner Eastern Ont. Jr. B (Richmond)
