Provincial Male AAA Adjustments
Before we begin to comment on the changes to the U13 and U15 AAA programs, here is the link to the changes . These changes are pretty darn big if you ask me!
At the Male U13 level, it’s all-new. Players will NOT be double carded in this age division like last year (will only play on 1 team – AAA OR DJHL). However, there will be a third AAA team introduced in the metro zone (no idea what the team will be called) AND there will be a draft. Which means more mock drafts at vhghockey.ca – more fun for you, more fun for me, everybody wins (maybe). The result of these changes – in my view – is a more competitive U13 AAA league. 3 metro teams will make it easier for teams like Western and Central to compete consistently – under the old format, these teams would be competitive once every couple of years in this age division. My only change here would be to the Provincial tournament – instead of having a one game, winner-take-all final game, have a best 2-out-of-3. Just imagine if Sam Pitcher had have made 200 saves against TriCom in April (Pitcher is very good) and Tri-Pen won the right to represent NL at the Atlantic’s? No offence to Tri-Pen, but Tri-Com were the best team in the U13 circuit last year and it wasn’t close. To me, anything can happen in one game but the best team usually wins a series.
*** note *** I spoke to Tim Power (good guy) and he informed me of the ‘no two teams’ in u13 this morning. I must have read it wrong. The Happy Gilmore ‘I was wrong, you were right… you’re the best I’m the worst… you’re good looking I’m not attractive’ scene could have played out over the phone!
The U15 age division sees change as well. Gone is the traditional ‘Hitmen-Thunder’ inside the overpass. It is a draft format similar to U18 Major (and now U13). Personally, I dig these drafts – they have been a hit at the DJHL AA level, interest can be conjured up about the event, and coaches get to have their ‘fantasy GM’ moment before the season begins. To make these drafts an equal playing field, coaches for the following season should be selected earlier in the year. This gives coaches a chance to do some ‘pre-scouting’ before the draft happens; but this probably won’t happen because of the popular being known as the ‘ID camp’.
All in all, kudos to Hockey NL for being proactive in making the above changes. The old adage ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ is very 1967, and making tweaks to create a better experience for all involved is a step in the right direction. I strongly disliked players playing on two teams full-time last year (as a coach at the U13 AAA level); I found 1 hour a week and a couple of weekend tournaments did not move my needle. The DJHL and AAA leagues weren’t that cohesive (see Rocky Harbour trip), which added another wrinkle to things. Can’t wait to watch this new format next year!
The Commitments Are O’Plenty
Program attendees Ryan St. John and Liam Kelly will be wearing new hockey jerseys next season.
St. John – the 2003-born St. John’s native – will be suiting up for the Bradford Rattlers of the GMHL (Jr A) next season. St. John has been a tremendous employee of VHG over the past season and will be missed in the mornings. The Rattlers add depth to their blue line with the signing of St. John, who absolutely loves hockey. Passion is important folks.
Liam Kelly has committed to the Timmins Rock of the NOJHL (Jr A) for next season. The 2004-born winger played 3 seasons of U18 AAA hockey with the East Coast Blizzard, compiling 50 points (28G, 22A) in 78 career regular season games. Kelly has a nice release and will continue to improve once he adds more thickness to his frame.
Related Content
VHG 2022-23 Commitment Tracker article – https://vhghockey.ca/2022-23-vhg-commitment-tracker/
VHG Commitment Tracker (All-time) article – https://vhghockey.ca/vhg-off-island-player-tracker-all-time/
2022 NL Provincial tournament reviews video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2jY6fbTlOA&t=737s
Tr-Com U13 Thunder best team in NL U13 history article – https://vhghockey.ca/vhg-boys-coaches-blog-tricom-thunder-best-u13aaa-team-in-nl-history/