WILLIAMS LAKE MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

 

 

As we look ahead to another hockey season, I want to take a moment to thank all of our players, families, coaches, volunteers, and supporters who make our association such a great hockey community. The excitement of a new season is already building, and we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the rink in September.

 

To help us make this season the best it can be, I am asking families to complete their registrations as soon as possible.

 

Registration numbers are more than just a count of players—they are the foundation of all the planning that happens behind the scenes. They help us determine how many teams we can offer, what levels we can support, how much ice we need, and how we organize coaches, volunteers, and resources. The earlier we have accurate numbers, the more opportunities we can create for our players.

 

One exciting possibility this season is the addition of a second U18 Rep team at the Tier 3 level. We are fortunate to have a strong group of players in this age category, and we would love to provide as many opportunities as possible for them to compete and develop. However, that can only happen if we have enough players registered to support both a healthy House League program and a competitive rep tryout process. At the moment, we do not yet have the numbers needed to confidently move forward with a second team.  If we can get these numbers up soon, we will be able to make some positive decisions.

 

We are facing a similar situation in our Female Hockey program. We know there are families still considering registration for one of our Female rep teams, and we are encouraged by the interest. However, registrations need to be completed so we can properly evaluate whether we can offer rep teams across all age divisions. If your player is planning to participate, registering now helps us make the right decisions for the program and for all the athletes involved.

 

I also want to remind everyone that registering does not mean payment is due immediately. Players registration simply needs to be paid before they take the ice. Registering now allows us to plan with confidence while giving families additional time to arrange payment.

 

One of the greatest strengths of our association has always been our ability to provide opportunities for local players to play, compete, and build lifelong friendships. To continue doing that, we need a clear picture of who plans to be part of the season. Team formation is a lengthy process involving ice scheduling, coach recruitment, league commitments, evaluations, and many other details. These decisions cannot simply be made in mid-September.  In fact, much of the work required to build our teams is completed well before August 15.

 

If you know your player will be joining us this season, please take a few minutes to register now. Your early registration helps us create the strongest possible programs and ensures we can offer the opportunities our players and families are looking for.  If you have questions, you can contact our registrar, Robin Ford at wlmha@telus.net, or any of your board members can help steer you in the right direction.

 

Thank you for your continued support of our association and our hockey community. Together, we can make this another great season for all of our players.

 

I look forward to seeing everyone back at the rink in September.

 

Sincerely,

Adam Cook

President, WLMHA