1. sports
2. hockey

AIM HIGHER. GO FURTHER.
REP HOCKEY
THE BETTER WAY
FOCUS ON
EDUCATION
NO
BOUNDARIES
AA-A/AE
NON-CONTACT
MORE
DEVELOPMENT
WITH PROFESSIONAL
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W W W.C I H F H O C K E Y. C O M | WWW.O NTARIO RE PHO CK E YL EAGU E.C A
X
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
HERE’S WHERE WE ARE...
Welcome Message
Rep Development Program
HERE’S WHERE WE’RE GOING...
League Expansion by year
Development Strategy
AAU Partner Leagues ‘Playing Politics’
Codes of Conduct
HERE’S WHERE WE ARE
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WELCOME
Welcome to the Canadian Independent Hockey Federation (CIHF). The CIHF was formed in 2011 as
a rep hockey program that offers unique opportunities to youth hockey players that has been missing
in mainstream hockey in Canada. It was clear there were a number of areas where the development
of young aspiring hockey players was lacking. CIHF recognized these deficiencies and created
programming that focuses on better hockey development using the European and NCAA model of a
higher practice to game ratio and much more off-ice training combined with professional instruction.
Our rep hockey teams will not have to deal with geographic boundaries at any age and scheduling
of our games will be done to minimize disruption to our players’ school studies. No games will be
scheduled weekdays (Monday to Thursday) to ensure school homework is completed. We recognize
the vital importance of education and for this reason have partnered with the American Athletic Union
(AAU) and will promote our players to the NCAA to deliver on our mandate.
CIHF currently has in excess of 1,000 members and AAU currently has in excess of 30,000 members.
These impressive numbers have been attained prior to the CIHF being formally announced as the
Canadian partner of AAU operating as AAU Canada Hockey.
The 2015/16 season will see the introduction of AAA/AA level hockey in the AAU. There will be a CAN/
AM showcase series with tournaments being held in Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Buffalo, including a
North American Championship. There will be ORHL league play (formerly the SRHL) with teams from
Toronto, Oakville, Niagara, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener, Guelph, Barrie and Buffalo. There are also
plans for a Northern Ontario Division with teams from Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay and Sudbury.
The game of hockey is and always will be an important part of Canada’s heritage. It’s now time that
parents of young, aspiring, talented hockey players have another option for their child.
We believe strongly in our model and understand the importance of credibility and integrity. We
also understand the importance of raising well rounded children. While hockey will be a career for a
select few, it will not be a career for most. We believe the CIHF model, with our focus on both hockey
development and education is leading edge and will meet all of you expectations.
ORHL – MISSION STATEMENT
To offer players the freedom of no boundaries, more development through professional instruction and a
focus on education. To provide youth hockey programs for all participants to have the physical, mental,
and moral development of young athletes and to promote positive sportsmanship and citizenship.
Through a core focus on player skill development and sound ideals of fair play and sportsmanship
players will learn the key to success is hard-work, self-confidence, dedication and respect.
ORHL – VISION STATEMENT
To offer youth hockey player(s) an opportunity to develop to their own personal highest level; through
a series of local, provincial and national network of hockey events/platforms. Through participation in
such events, we will achieve our goals as athletes and as valued citizens of our communities.
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ORHL
Rep Development Program
MISSION
The mission of the ORHL (Ontario Rep Hockey League) is to promote and provide a high quality organized
hockey experience for all of its participants.
ORHL will endeavor to continuously improve through the support and focused development of all participants in
their desires to become the best that they can be in their form of participation.
ORHL will provide this quality hockey experience all the while respecting the By-Laws, Rules and Regulations
and, where applicable, the philosophical ideals and the rules and regulations of the Canadian Independent
Hockey Federation (CIHF).
ORHL will provide this quality hockey experience with the highest standards possible within our means and with
reasonable regard to cost for the participants.
ORHL will endeavor to continuously find ways to measure its success in accomplishing this mission and vision.
VISION
Our grand vision of success would include the following:
• To have 100% of all participants in ORHL rate their experience as excellent
• To become publicly known in Ontario as one of the best youth development hockey programs in our
province.
CORE VALUES
ORHL and our participants will agree to and promote the following core values:
• Safety
• Fun for All
• Physical, Mental and Social Development
• Development of Hockey Skills and Hockey Knowledge
• Truth, Honesty and Integrity
• Fairness
• Goodwill
• Beneficial Outcomes
We will support and guide our Mission, Vision and Core Values through the application of
the following 4 Way Test
Whenever any participant in the ORHL is thinking, saying or doing anything with respect to youth development
hockey (and hopefully in his or her life) he or she will ask:
X
• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to All Concerned?
• Will it Build GOODWILL and Better Friendships?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to All Concerned?
REP HOCKEY – THE NEXT LEVEL – HOW WE ARRIVED HERE…
•B
uilt a grass roots hockey development program and developed our network of professional contacts. Similar
to what we have done in our Original Six, Premium Development House League and Griffins Select Hockey
programs through our partners at Wave Hockey.
•E
stablished a unique development based and fair play focused program for our teams and operate a league
with values to support this development focused effort.
• Identified key team members – Divisional Coaches, Directors and Player Development Professionals to execute
and support our Mission and Vision.
•P
rovide a development focused program, based on Core Values and ensure such program is brought to market
in a manner best suited to satisfy “market demand”.
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HERE’S
WHERE
WE’RE
GOING
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10
LEAGUE EXPANSION
BY YEAR
7 - Peewee
10 - Bantam
5 - Midget
League continues growth despite
Hockey Canada moving non-contact
to Peewee
Partner with AAU and GMHL
2014 - 2015
2015 - 2016
SRHL renamed Ontario Rep
Hockey League (ORHL) to better
reflect level and style of play
Expanded growth into Novice and
Atom divisions
ORHL forcast a 40 team league
AAA Hockey introduced
2013 - 2014
4 - Peewee
6 - Bantam
Teams are formed and play in first
non-contact Rep League
5 - Peewee
6 - Bantam
4 - Midget
SRHL season 2 experiences
moderate and natural growth
2012 - 2013
2011 - 2012
CIHF Formed
SRHL Formed
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DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGY
•O
ur Coaches will guide the players
in training and teach them to better
understand the roles and responsibilities of
their position in the game.
•W
e stress high standards and a strong
commitment to our players. We are
committed with every athlete to
development and the further progression of
their game to the next level.
•M
andate all teams to provide professional
development along with coach managed
practices as part of their program.
•P
ower Edge Pro Training with a focus on
puck control
• Powerskating Sessions
•O
ff-ice professional training sessions with
branded athletic trainers
DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY
• AAU Member to provide games and tournaments
• 30 game schedule; includes regular season and
playoffs
• Professional instruction
• Skating Treadmill Sessions
• Own age tournaments
•B
ase Hockey Shooting Academy lessons
• Weekend games so players can focus on school
• Paid coaches at AAA level
AAU PARTNER LEAGUES
8U Prep League
MA
8Uwww.nsyf.org
Chicago United Hockey League (CUHL)
Northern Illinois
8Uchicagounitedhockey.com
Canadian Independent (CIHF)
8U - 16U
Greater Niagara Amateur (GNAHL)
6U - 10U
Ontario
www.cihfhockey.com
Western NY
www.eteamz.com/greatniagaraamateurhockeyleague
Hockey Colorado
6U - 12U
CO & WY
www.hockeycolorado.org
Hockey Illinois
6U - 8U
IL & WI
www.aauhockeyillinois.org
Michigan Amateur Youth Hockey League
6U - 18U
Mid-Atlantic Hockey League
6U - 18U
Minnesota Made - Choice Hockey League
8U - 12U
MI & OH
www.mayhl.com
CT, MD, NJ & PA
midatlantichockey@gmail.com
MN
www.minnesotamadehockey.com
New England (NEAHL)
6U - 18U
MA, ME & NH
www.neahl.org
Rapid Fire Hockey League
6U - 14U
Redline Metros (RLAC)
6U - 18U
WI & MN
rapidfirehockey.com
MD, VA & greater Washington DC
www.rlacmetros.com
ALL CIHF TEAMS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
PLUS 55 OTHER TOURNAMENTS AVAILABLE
AIM HIGHER. GO FURTHER.
The CIHF is the Canadian partner of the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) one of the
largest sanctioning organizations in the world. They are the fastest growing Ice
Hockey sanctioning body in the world. They compete with USA Hockey and Hockey
Canada for members. The AAU provides Ontario Rep Hockey League and CAN/
AM AAA Hockey the opportunity to expand its horizons by playing games and
tournaments against many other programs who are sanctioned by the AAU.
14
X
“OUTLAW” OR “OUTSIDE THE BOX”?
One thing that hockey parents can almost always count on is
‘playing politics’ by the adults who control games designed
for children.
The growth of “independent” hockey leagues across Canada,
especially in Ontario, over the past few years sends a strong
message that displeased parents want to control where
their child plays the game and with whom. The word that
has been assigned to these alternative leagues is “Outlaw”,
suggesting that these leagues are somehow unlawful. Worse,
the term implies that independent leagues are misguiding and
tarnishing the futures of Minor/Junior Hockey players.
Generally, Independent leagues believe that allowing players
from outside Canada into our Junior programs is critical to
the growth and excellence of Canadian Hockey. The NHL is
no longer a ‘Canadian’ dominated league so it only makes
sense that players have the opportunity to suit up against
players worldwide to help them achieve their goal of playing
in the NHL, AHL, or overseas.
This opinion piece is not meant to favour one option over
the other, but simply to make sure parents have the correct
information about the options available to them and to their
children. The biggest misconception is that once you play in
an independent league you can no longer return to a Hockey
Canada League. This is simply incorrect.
Many league operators, club owners, parents and players who
are taking advantage of these alternatives to conventional
leagues simply have a different point of view on how hockey
should be packaged and made available to players.
Below is some Q&A info that will help explain in more detail
the real facts about playing in an Independent league. These
facts reference Jr. A Hockey specifically, but they are the
same for virtually all independent minor hockey leagues.
Certainly there is nothing wrong with playing under the
Hockey Canada Umbrella, which a very high number of
players choose to do. But, increasingly, alternatives to that
traditional model are finding traction with parents and players,
validating the need for their operation and their spot in the
‘Hockey World’.
DOES PLAYING IN AN INDEPENDANT LEAGUE
NEGATIVELY AFFECT MY CAREER?
So what is it about non-conventional leagues that has
led to use of the derogatory term “outlaw” being used to
describe them?
There are really only a couple of variations between the
Independent leagues and the established leagues of Hockey
Canada. The major difference is that the Independent leagues
open their arms to players from the USA and the rest of the
world. Locally, the absence of address boundaries – which have
traditionally been used to restrict players from playing/choosing
their team or city of player – is the other major variance.
In the early days of independent leagues rumours spread
about the ramifications if players joined an independent
league (suspensions, expulsion, etc). However, the
Competition Bureau has mandated that Hockey Canada
requires a player to choose his team by September 30th
each season. A player can therefore move from Hockey
Canada to independent or visa/versa.
There are many examples of players from Independent Hockey
Leagues playing in the NHL, NCAA, OHL, OJHL and CIS.
If you develop yourself into a top player scouts will find you
for their team.
The current Hockey Canada rule 6.22.2 Sanctions states that,
“Any individual who participates (knowingly or otherwise) in “outlaw” programs
after September 30 of the season in question will lose all membership privileges
with Hockey Canada for the remainder of that season, and may only reapply for
membership with Hockey Canada after the end of the that season.”
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO
CANADIAN PLAYERS?
SO WHAT SHOULD WE TAKE FROM ALL OF
THIS INFORMATION?
If you participate in a non-sanctioned Hockey Canada league
or independent league, you are ineligible to play or coach in a
Hockey Canada league for the rest of the season.
In a sport where the number one concern should be the wellbeing of players and providing an opportunity to develop, the
politics should take a back seat. Let’s see hockey become
a real business, prepare your business plan, present it to
the players and let them choose where they play. Healthy
competition typically benefits the customer and in this
case young hockey players will be the benefactors which
is what we should want. The “outside the box” thinking that
Independent leagues bring forward provide more choice for
players and allow them more freedom, should they decide to
take that route.
The next year that player or coach can play or coach in
Hockey Canada and they cannot restrict you.
ARE AMERICAN PLAYERS TREATED
ANY DIFFERENTLY?
The courts in the United States in the United States wouldn’t
allow USA Hockey the same monopoly as Hockey Canada
and players can move interchangebly between independent
and USA Hockey leagues such as the WSHL, NAHL or USGL
at any time. Thus, Hockey USA is not allowed to sanction
any player who comes from or has played in an Independent
Youth/Junior Hockey Leagues’. This means you can play
independent Youth/Junior Hockey in Canada and return to
the USA at anytime wthout repercussions.
By increasing the options available for serious hockey
players looking for professional careers, talented young
skaters who hope to turn their abilities into a scholarship
and/or those who just want to enjoy their time on the ice,
non-conventional leagues fill a very real need and encourage
the necessary evolution of conventional thinking about
hockey. The growth of hockey broadly and the continued
growth of Independent leagues specifically, suggests that
there is room for both to continue developing together.
16
AIM HIGHER.
GO FURTHER.
PLAY
ERS C
OF CO ODE
NDUC
T
As a registered member of the CIHF-ORHL I pledge to follow the Players Code of
Conduct.
• I am responsible for my conduct at all times. I will always be a positive representative of
CIHF-ORHL and my team.
• I will play for fun.
• I will work hard to improve my skills at practices and games.
• I will be on time for practices and games and will notify my coach if I will be late or
cannot attend.
• I will be a team player because the abilities to cooperate, communicate, respect and get
along with others are valuable traits in sport and in life.
• I will develop my skills of teamwork, sportsmanship and self-discipline.
• I will be modest in victory and gracious in defeat .
• I will learn the rules of the game and play by them.
• I will respect the rights and consider the safety of other players, coaches, trainers,
officials, administrators, volunteers and parents at all times.
• I will respect the integrity and judgment of game officials and accept their decisions
graciously.
• I will never swear, use profanity or make obscene gestures, or engage in any
inappropriate behaviour or conduct, at any time.
• I will never criticize other players, the coaches or officials. I will not blame others when
my team loses.
I WILL SPORT A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND ENCOURAGE MY
TEAMMATES TO FOLLOW MY EXAMPLE.
Signed,
x
Player
___________________________
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• I pledge to provide POSITIVE support, care and encouragement for the athletes of the CIHF
– Ontario Rep Hockey League (ORHL) following the Parents’ Code of Conduct.
• I will instill notions of fair play and good sportsmanship in my child by demonstrating
positive support for ALL players, coaches, and officials at every game, practice or other
CIHF-ORHL related event.
• I will place the emotional and physical well being of my child ahead of my personal desire
to win.
• I will recognize the importance of volunteer coaches. They are essential to the
development of my child and the sport. I will communicate respectfully and support our
coaches, in order to encourage a positive and enjoyable experience FOR ALL.
• I will refrain from coaching my child or other players unless I am an appointed coach of the
team. It is unfair to put my child in a position of having to decide who to listen to—his/her
parents or his/her coach.
• I will make every attempt to have my child attend every game and practice on time. As
team members, we must be fully committed to the team. I understand that if my child
wants to improve he/she has to attend practices-- not just play the games.
• I will remember that the game is for my child – NOT the adults.
• I will do my best to make hockey FUN for my child.
• I will embrace healthy and attainable goals for my childs’ participation in this sport.
Developing new skills, learning to get along with others, and dealing with the emotions that
come with winning and losing are important goals.
• I understand that officials are responsible for ensuring that the game is played in a safe and
fair manner for all participants. They do not make the hockey rules, they only apply them.
• I will applaud the good plays of both teams. I will NEVER engage in booing or taunting.
• I will never swear, use profanity or make obscene gestures, or engage in any inappropriate
behaviour or conduct, at any time.
• I will treat all players, coaches, officials, parents, and spectators with dignity and respect in
language, attitude, behaviour and mannerisms.
• I will insist my child treats players, coaches, spectators, parents and officials with dignity
and respect in language, attitude, behaviour and mannerisms.
I WILL LEAD BY EXAMPLE BY BEING A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL
Signed,
x
Parent(s)
___________________________
COAC
HES C
OF CO ODE
NDUC
T
As an appointed coach of the ORHL I pledge to follow the Coaches Code of Conduct.
• I am responsible for my conduct at all times. I will always be a positive representative of
CIHF-ORHL and my team.
• I will maintain an open line of communication with players and parents. I will explain my
goals and objectives for the team, as well as the rules of the game and the policies of the
league, to the best of my ability.
• I will place the emotional and physical well being of my players ahead of a personal
desire to win.
• I will motivate my players in a positive way.
• I will treat each player as an individual.
• I will do my best to provide a safe playing/practice situation for my players and ensure
they wear the required safety equipment.
• I will organize practices that are fun and challenging for all my players. I will use coaching
techniques appropriate for all of the skills that I teach.
• I will lead by example in demonstrating fair play and sportsmanship to all my players.
• I will be modest in victory and gracious in defeat.
• I will be knowledgeable in the rules of the game, and I will teach these rules to my
players.
• I will respect the game officials and their authority during every game. I will not
excessively argue any decisions made by them, or confront any referee or league official.
• I will never swear, use profanity or make obscene gestures, or engage in any
inappropriate behaviour or conduct, at any time.
• I will never yell at or humiliate any player for making a mistake or losing a competition.
• I will remember that the game is for the players’ enjoyment and not the adults’.
I WILL LEAD BY EXAMPLE BY BEING A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL
Signed,
x
Coach(s)
___________________________
20
PARENTS’ NOTES
X