Sault Major Hockey Association
269 Queen St. P6A 1Y9 Sault Sainte Marie, ON, Canada

Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy New Year!!!

Don't forget to get your Catch the Ace tickets online and support your local grass roots hockey.... www.smhaace.com

As we continue to strive to providing a safe return to hockey, a reminder regarding arrival time. Players are to report to the rink 20 minutes prior to their session time. We appreciate that traditionally teams have required players to be at the rink much earlier, this is not a traditional year, and that tradition does put us all at risk.... Why the change in tradition? - Having a more staggered arrival and departure allows for greater control on capacity limits. - Having dressing rooms vacated allows for rink operators to properly clean the dressing rooms and benches for greater safety. Players are not to hang around the arena prior to or after their session to socialize with friends. Parents are to be in designated areas, particularly away from dressing rooms and dressing room hallways.

The Ontario Hockey Federation, in consultation with its Chief Medical Officer have ruled that, persons who are exempt from mandatory quarantine due to COVID-19, are not permitted to participate as bench staff, on-ice volunteers or on-ice officials within the OHF. As per the Government of Canada, persons exempt from mandatory quarantine due to COVID-19, include: Individuals who are performing an essential job or function as identified in the Order. (Essential refers to trav...el for reasons that are non-discretionary and non-optional.) The decision was not an easy one and was made to ensure a safe environment for young athletes within OHF programming. Cases in the US and other countries are rapidly rising and the greatest risk to our membership currently, is the introduction of asymptomatic individuals to our hockey family. In order to protect the greatest number of participants, we believe this temporary measure is necessary. The OHF wishes to acknowledge the importance and value of those volunteers that have been impacted by this decision. We look forward to welcoming those individuals back into OHF programming when the associated risk has decreased. Individuals who believe they are low risk may make an application to the OHF to find relief in this decision. Any further questions regarding the involvement of persons who are exempt from mandatory quarantine due to COVID-19 are asked to reach out to the OHF office.

Week Four and the Ace eludes capture once again!! JackPot going into Week Five is $174 Congratulations to the weekly winners.... Week One...A-1151167 $238 Card #17, Jack of Clubs... Week Two...B-4822433 $242 Card #36, 7 of Diamonds Week Three...C-1917200 $218 Card #29, 2 of Hearts Week Four...D-4053701 $218 Card #21, 8 of Clubs Get your tickets online @ www.smhaace.com Tickets are... 5 for $5 15 for $10 60 for $20

To all SMHA participants: Please don’t forget that wearing a mask to the arena and at all times is mandatory! A face mask must be worn correctly, and must cover your mouth, nose and chin. Also, in order for hockey to continue everyone needs to respect the social distancing rules that are put in place. Please do not show up for your ice time more than 20 minutes prior. This is important in order for us to have the proper numbers. ... If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact your league directors!

Just over an hour left to get your tickets!!

The NOHA and the Great North U18 AAA league have received approval to form teams and play modified 5 on 5 hockey. The team will consist of 22 players, then be divided into 2 teams of 11 players for game play (similar rules to what SMHA have now in 3on3 play). The Sault Jr Greyhounds will be in a cohort with Sudbury. The team coached by Jamie Henderson and staff will travel to & host sudbury in double header games. Each of the teams of 11 players will play 2 games when the ...two groups meet. All APH & SPH rules will apply and will be made available in coming weeks, as well as the rules of the modified play. Evaluations will Start after Nov 15th, and run no later than Nov 27th. All players interested in playing for the Soo Jr Greyhounds must register with Jamie Henderson by emailing to [email protected] Evaluations will be limited to 30 participants including coaches so the evaluation schedule will depend on numbers and will be on this website. All participants must register by Nov 6th so that the schedule can be determined. Tryouts fees will apply to players not in U18 Tier 1 at present, and anyone not registered with SMHA currently is reminded that all releases and permission to skate forms are neccessary to participate. Details of the fees and evaluation schedule will be made available by the coaching staff.

With the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend and people travelling or returning home, we remind people to remain vigilant in terms of public heath guidelines. If Covid 19 has taught us anything, it is that hockey is a privilege and in order to continue to enjoy the benefits of going to the rink we need to remain vigilant at and away from the rink.

With the holidays upon us, SMHA executive has decided that anyone travelling to or hosting guests from a "hot spot" is to quarantine from hockey activities for a period of 14 days. This policy is effective immediately, to help keep the arenas and hockey activities safe. SMHA purposely delayed game play after the holidays until Jan 15th, so that players that do congregate with people from or in "hot spots" will only miss some practice time. SMHA appreciates everyone's adheres to this policy as it adds an extra bit of caution to help continue a safe return to play at the arenas.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN for 2020-2021 Season To all Parents of children wishing to play hockey in the upcoming 2020-2021 season, Sault Major Hockey Association has opened registration. With COVID-19 impacting our lives, there is still a sense of uncertainty as to what this season will look like and when it will commence. Sault Major is looking forward. Opening registration now will give our association an idea of registration numbers and will allow us to plan for the season. ...Although we are not yet in a position to give you specifics on when the season will begin, what pre-, post-, and in-game protocols will be established, and what the 2020-21 season will look like, we want to ensure you that we are working on various season scenarios to transition to once we receive the appropriate direction. We may start with non-traditional hockey initially and make changes based on the updates from Hockey Canada, OHF, NOHA and Algoma Public Health, as they become available. Please Note: 1. SMHA will follow the guidance of our local health unit and levels of government, along with Hockey Canada, OHF, and the NOHA for return to play and health and safety protocols. Safety of our players and hockey family is our utmost priority. 2. We are accepting registration at this time, but no payments please. Payment will be requested when we can confirm a start to the hockey season. 3. Registration can be cancelled at any time leading up to the start of the season, with no penalty. Thank you to all of our members for your patience and understanding as we navigate through all of this. We are all hoping to get our players back on the ice for the 2020-21 season. To Register please visit our website at www.saultmajorhockey.ca For those living outside of Sault Ste Marie, or those with questions or difficulties regarding registration, please contact Sault Major Hockey Association registrar: Angel Barbisan by email: [email protected]

The executive of SMHA would like to inform everyone that we are still preparing for having an AGM once things move toward our new normal. During this period of restrictions it is impossible to have the AGM (annual general meeting) so it has been postponed indefinitely. We have been allowed to postpone the AGM to a date within 120 days from the lifting of the restrictions. In the coming weeks, we will update the membership with timelines for amendments to the constitution and nominations to the board. All timelines will reference the lifting of the restrictions rather than specific dates. We want everyone that can, to stay home and stay safe. There will come a time for hockey to get moving again.

All the executive, players, parents, managers, trainers and coaches of the Sault Major Hockey Association would like to salute ALL the staff and players of the Soo Junior Greyhounds Major Midget AAA Team on their team success in the 2019/20 hockey season. As a result of a total team effort and successes of the team, three players were drafted into the Ontario Hockey League at the Ontario Hockey League Priority Draft on April 3, 2020. (D) Connor Toms Soo Greyhoun...ds 3rd Round (D) Mason Chitaroni. London Knights 5th Round (F) Devon Mauro Sudbury Wolves 11th Round Congratulations Connor, Mason and Devon. You represented the Sault Major Hockey Association Major Midget program as true sportsman, playing with pride and dignity. There is no doubt numerous other players on the 2019/20 Soo Junior Greyhounds Major Midget AAA club will be contacted by Major Junior and Junior A hockey clubs to attend future training camps. Good luck to all. The Sault Major Hockey Association would also like to congratulate Jake Kovacs of the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. During the 2018/19 season Jake played in the Sault Major Hockey Association with the Soo Thunderbirds Minor Midget Program. This past season Jake made the jump to the Soo Thunderbirds Junior A club and was drafted this past weekend at the Ontario Hockey League Priority Draft to the Barrie Colts in the 13th round. Congratulation to the Soo Thunderbirds, Jake and his family for this accomplishment.

Congratulations Jake!

In a time of daily bad news, it was a good news day for hockey in Sault Ste. Marie. Please join us in congratulating Connor, Mason, Devin, and Jake on being drafted to the OHL today! Sault Major is proud of you!

Congratulations Devin!

Congratulations Mason!

Congratulations Connor!