
2023-2024 SEASON - U11 Development is for players born in 2013-2014.
KMHA Under-11 (U11) Recreational and Development Programs
Kamloops Minor Hockey Association would like to welcome new and returning members to U11 hockey. U11 is divided into two groups, Recreational and Development.
U11 (Atom) Recreational: This is a recreational level of hockey. Players in the Recreational Program will be evaluated. Using these evaluations, the players will be drafted on to teams, with our best efforts to create balanced teams. The year will consist of a weekly shared practice with another U11 Recreation team, (rotating between Mon, Tues, Wed and Thurs in the past) and a weekend game. There will be one home tournament for the team and they may attend up to two away tournaments, if the coach and parents/team agree to do so. Due to the difficulty of being accepted into tournaments, there may be instances where a coach (or manager) has felt it necessary to apply to tournaments prior to team approval. Each team will have a team budget to offset expenses for the season. Typically, each player will pay a team fee of $200-$300, depending on tournaments and exhibition games. There is minimal travel, in the form of occasional exhibition games, and lower expense at this level; and players will experience great hockey while having fun. There is a competitive element to the league with playoffs being played at the end of the season with our two top teams playing in “The Night of Champions”.
U11 (Atom) Development: This is an advanced level of U11 Hockey. Players have to try out at this level, by doing evaluations in both skills and game formats. The total number of players that choose to try out for Development will determine the number of teams that we will have. There will be two goalies per team. Goaltenders in Development can only play that position and will not be able to play any another position during the season.
If you choose to try out for U11 Development, there are added expenses and expectations than those required in the Recreational league. You will be required to pay a tryout fee of $75.00. If your child is selected for Development, there is an additional fee to KMHA to cover the extra costs, including extra ice time, which is one extra practice a week. That fee is set at $350.00. The practices are one in the late afternoon/early evening and the second being on a weekday morning at 6:00am before school and it is expected that all players attend all practices. In addition to the extra costs, each Development team will have a team budget, voted on and approved by the parents, to offset expenses for the season. These teams travel on the weekends (but not every weekend), and incur expenses with travel and hotel stays. They may attend 3 out of town tournaments if approved by the coach and parents/team, and they host one home tournament. Players in Development are given extra ice time to improve their hockey skills in order to compete at this level, a full commitment is expected at all practices. It is best if all players and parents are fully aware of the expectations and expenses they can expect before they agree to try out, so that they are prepared for the coming season.