Cole Harbour Bel Ayr Minor Hockey Association Ice Scheduling Information 2024-2025 Season

Ice Allocation from the Rinks/Arenas:

The association has access to 3 ice surfaces based on the ice allocations provided by Halifax Regional Municipality. Halifax Regional Municipality determines the total number of hours each group receives. This season HRM determined that we were entitled to 60 hours at Cole Harbour Place and 14 hours at Shearwater. Cole Harbour Place is able to provide 59 hours this season (although we could get to 60 if we took more 6am hours). Cole Harbour Place has provided additional hours on some weeks when other groups will not be using their hours. Shearwater was able to offer 11.5 hours this season. In the past, we have been able to get a few hours from East Coast Varisty. We have been able to get 3 hours from East Coast Varisty this season.

Team Ice:

CHBAMHA for the 2024-2025 season (October-March) has 33 teams from U7 to U23. Each team in U7 is provided 2 hours of ice per week during the season with exceptions for tournaments and holidays. The U9 teams are provided with 2 hours of ice per week for either 2 practices (with one practice being a shared ice practice) or 1 practice and 1 game with exceptions for tournaments, holidays and conflicting games. The U11 AA, U11 A, U11 B, U13 AA, U13 A, U13 B, U15 A and U15 B teams average 1 practice per week that is 60 or 90 minutes and 1 hour for a game with exceptions for tournaments, holidays and conflicting games. The U13 AAA, U15 AA, U18 AA, U18 A teams average 1 practice per week that is 60 or 90 minutes and 90 minutes for a game with exceptions for tournaments, holidays and conflicting games. The U11 C, U13 C, U15 C and U18 C teams are provided 1 shared practice per week that is 60 minutes and 1 hour for a game with exceptions for tournaments, holidays and conflicting games. The shared practice can turn into a full ice practice when teams have conflicts and extra ice is available. The U23 team is provided with 90 minutes per week for a game. The differences in practices and games are charged to teams through the team billings. 

Here are the normal weekly hours allocated to CHBAMHA for the 2024-2025 season (October-March): 

Practices:

Practices are mainly scheduled for the weekends. The 6am and 7am practices always seem to generate the most discussion. There are 5 practices that start between 6am and 7am on Saturdays and Sundays.  The U11 AA, U11 A, U11 B, U13 AA, U13 A, U13 B, U15 AA, U15 A and U15 B share the 5 early morning practices. So, that is 10 teams for 5 practices so it ends up being an early practice every 2nd weekend. This is the best case scenario for the early practices. There will be times when a team has more or less early practices based on scheduling conflicts (ie. away games, tournaments, etc.). The U7 tentative schedule is Saturdays and Sundays 9:30am-12:30pm. The U9 tentative schedule is Saturdays 8:00am-11:00am and Sundays 8am-11am between Cole Harbour Place and Shearwater. The rest of the U11 to U18 will have their schedules rotated through the available hours.

Games:

The home games for U9 have not been determined but will fall within the current practice times. U9 games should begin in December. The home games times were based on 3 factors. First, is the times available at Cole Harbour Place as all home games are played. Second, is aligning officials with the right levels (ie. having a U11 B followed by a U18 AA requires officials with different qualifications). Second, CHBAMHA wants to allow teams to bring players up when necessary so it's important to separate the levels (ie. U15 AA plays on Thursday and U15 A plays on Mondays allowing U15 AA to call up U15 A players if needed). Third, is based on what works best for the various leagues that CHBAMHA participate in. Here is a list of the home games for CHBAMHA:

• U11 AA White - Thursday at 6pm in Scotia 1
• U11 AA Red- Saturday at 11am in Scoita 1
• U11 A - Monday at 6pm in Scotia 1
• U11 B - Wednesday at 6:30pm in Scotia 2
• U11 C Red - Saturday at 6:30pm in Scotia 2
• U11 C Black - Friday at 6pm in Scotia 2
• U11 C White - Wednesday at 5:30pm in Scotia 2
• U13 AAA Thursday at 7pm or Saturday at 1pm in Scotia 1
• U13 AA - Monday at 7pm in Scotia 1
• U13 A - Wednesday at 7:30pm in Scotia 2
• U13 B - Saturday at 12:00pm in Scotia 1
• U13 C White - Monday at 6:30pm in Scotia 2
• U13 C Red - Saturday at 5:30pm in Scotia 2
• U15 AA - Thursday at 8:30pm in Scotia 1
• U15 A - Wednesday at 8:30pm in Scotia 2
• U15 B - Monday at 8:30pm in Scotia 2
• U15 C Red - Monday at 7:30pm in Scotia 2
• U15 C White - Friday at 7pm in Scotia 2
• U15 C Black - Saturday at 4:30pm in Scotia 2
• U18 AA - Monday at 8pm in Scotia 1
• U18 A - Tuesday at 9:30pm in Scotia 1
• U18 C White - Tuesday at 8:30pm in Scotia 1
• U18 C Black - Thursday at 10pm in Scotia 1
• U18 C Red - Monday at 9:30pm in Scotia 2
• U23 - Monday at 9:30pm in Scotia 1

Extra Ice:

When CHBAMHA ice is available, CHBAMHA coaches and managers will be given priority to purchase the extra ice from CHBAMHA. A distribution list will be created with all CHBAMHA coaches and managers to send information about available ice. If you need extra ice, please reach out to the various facilities around HRM. 

If teams are purchasing extra ice, they need to contact the facilities and deal with the facility directly for all communications and payment. If proof of insurance is needed, the Ice Scheduler can provide proof of insurance.

Unused Team Ice:

When a team has a tournament they need to let the ice scheduler know as soon as possible to get games marked as 'To be rescheduled'. Teams do not reach out to the league and/or individual teams unless it is a last minute cancellation related to weather or another emergency. Teams are not always given home game times that are marked as 'To be rescheduled' as the times may be needed for make-up games for other levels. Teams away for tournaments is factored into the ice times.

If you have an association scheduled practice that the team cannot use, contact the ice scheduler and a trade may be facilited. If the ice scheduler cannot make a trade, the team can sell or trade with other teams. If you are making a sale/trade, it has be with a group that has a contract with the facility as they will already have proof of insurance with the facility. Under no circumstance can association ice be sold to individuals or private groups that do not have insurance. If an issue arises, be prepared to show proof you traded/sold the ice to a person/group with insurance (get the person or group to send proof of insurance and ask the ice scheduler if it is appropriate).