The dog days of summer may still be going on, but, for those who love the game of hockey, the upcoming season can’t get here fast enough. Meadow Lake Minor Hockey registration is currently ongoing, and, according to MLMH president Trevor Dignean, numbers are once again looking strong as the 2024-25 season approaches. “Registration is open and, when I checked this morning, we had 224 registrations already,” Dignean said. “That’s a little bit ahead of where it normally is by this time of year.”
Registration opened June 1 and will continue until September. “I’m thinking, in the end, we’ll see about the same number of kids we saw last year – around the 270 mark,” Dignean continued. “We do see somewhat of a surge, however, near the end of the registration period. I’ve spoken with a few parents already and they like to wait until the last minute. They’re OK with paying any late fees and whatnot.” The minor hockey season will begin in October.
“As for changes to the upcoming season, we are still in talks with some other associations about creating a new league,” Dignean said. “This way we can actually tier our hockey players. The big advantage to that is it will allow the kids to play at the level they should be playing at. It will make things more competitive for all the players, whether you’re an ‘A’ or a ‘B’ player… It definitely benefits both when they are able to play at their respective level. This is especially the case when you get to the older age groups. Some kids are very highly skilled or fast, and others who are not. The whole province tiers their hockey teams and there is a reason they do that.”
As for any roles that will need to be filled in terms of coaching or other behind-the-scenes roles, Dignean said this will be determined once teams are in place and is also dependent on whether or not Meadow Lake can form the aforementioned new league. “On the registration form, you can note if you are interested in coaching or volunteering, but I haven’t looked into this too much yet,” he said. “If we go with the tiering system, the coaches will probably be selected after the teams are selected. We have have to hold of on the selection of these positions a little longer than normal this year.”
In closing, Dignean commented on the importance of promoting hockey amongst local youth. “If you’re a Canadian kid, you’re somehow connected to hockey,” he said. “The girls divisions are growing at a phenomenal rate, and it’s great to see there are definitely more girls teams popping up. Hockey is a Canadian game a lot of kids enjoy playing, and that’s what I want to do – promote hockey for kids as long as they are enjoying playing it.”
Registration information can be found online via the Meadow Lake Minor Hockey website at meadowlakeminorhockey.com.