We are very excited to introduce a development plan for the 2011 age group starting the 2020/2021 winter hockey season. Players from around the Greater Vancouver Area, Vancouver Island and the Interior/Okanagan will be invited to play in our HPL Winter Level Minors Development Program that will focus on skill and player development, in support of building athletes, rather than just chasing “hockey wins and losses.”
Teams
Our HPL Winter Level Minors Development Program will consist of four local teams, as well as the possibility of a team from Vancouver Island and another from the Interior/Okanagan.
The core of each team will come from existing Spring development programs to ensure the highest level of competition. Rosters will include 13-15 skaters and 1-2 goalies per team. Each team can include one 2012 born underage player on their roster, providing the player has received acknowledgement for exceptional status from the HPL Directors.
The Program
Each team in the HPL Winter Level Minors Development Program will receive a minimum of 18 hours of ice time, and an additional 4 hours of multi-sport activity, every month throughout the season.
The program starts the week after Labour Day Weekend and will run until the first weekend in March. There will be no ice times scheduled on the Thanksgiving and Family Day long weekends.
Each team will receive 60 hours of development ice time for the season. Teams will be scheduled three hours of development ice time each weekend, with two hours back-to-back on one day, and one hour on the other day.
Saturday Team Development (Example of Schedule)
September 12th, 19th, 26th. October 3rd, 17th, 24th, 31st. November 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th. December 5th, 12th. January 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th. February 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th.
Example: Bandits and Flyers would have two hours of development ice on Saturday. Lumberjacks and Beavers would have one hour of development ice on Saturday.
Sunday Team Development (Example of Schedule)
September 13th, 20th, 27th. October 4th, 18th, 25th. November 1st , 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th. December 6th, 13th. January 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st. February 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th.
Example: Bandits and Flyers would have one hour of development ice on Sunday. Lumberjacks and Beavers would have two hours of development ice on Saturday.
Each team will play 30 regular season games over the winter season. Teams will play three games every two weeks on a rotating schedule, with two consistent game nights during the week for the entire season.
Game Nights Proposed Monday Evening
Approximately 7:15pm 2011 Game
Approximately 6:45pm 2011 Game
Game Nights Proposed Thursday Evening
Approximately 7:15pm 2011 Game
Approximately 7:00pm 2011 Game
The schedule provides parents an additional free day from the rink, to allow for rest, other activities/sports and family time.
In addition to the HPL Winter Level Minors Development Program schedule, teams will be eligible to participate in one event outside of BC, including other parts of Canada and throughout the United States. Any costs associated with travel events outside of the HPL Winter Level Minors Development Program are the responsibility of the team.
Currently, HPL is working towards hosting a Winter Level Minors showcase event in Vancouver.
All games, practices and team events will be scheduled on TeamSnap.
Each team will be required to have a team bank account to cover additional costs and expenses such as extra development or tournaments/games outside of the HPL Winter Level Minors Development Program.
Coaching Staff
Each team will be assigned a professional coaching staff, consisting of a Head Coach and Assistant Coach. The coaches will be selected and approved by the HPL Directors, and will be required to sign a contract that will outline HPL coaching expectations, and ensure the highest level of standards, ethics and conduct are upheld by each coach.
Coaches will be expected to attend all games, practices and team organized events.
The coaching staff will be required to provide each player with a mid season and end of season evaluation. This evaluation will help players identify their strengths and opportunities for improvement.
Goalie Development
Our HPL Winter Level Minors Development Program will provide one goalie coaching session each weekend during scheduled team practice. Teams that choose to have two goalies on their roster will receive two goalie coaching sessions each weekend during scheduled team practice.
Goalie coaches will also attend four regular season games throughout the season (two games in the fall and two games in the winter) for constructive evaluation and development purposes.
Goalie coaches will provide mid season and end of season evaluations for each goalie.
HPL Player Fees
Players in the HPL Winter Level Minors Development Program will be responsible for an HPL Player Fee to cover the following:
- Team uniforms (home and away jerseys and game socks);
- Team branded bag, jacket, hoodie, joggers and a team and individual professional photo;
- Team homepage on the HPL website to post rosters, statistics and results;
- Cost of insurance for each player for 365 days a year
- Cost of program administration
The player fee is $695 and is payable before March 31st. All HPL Player Fees are paid directly to HPL.
HPL Team Fees
Each team will have their own budget and HPL Team Fees based on the number of players on their roster. Team fees will be divided equally amongst all the players on the team, and will be payable in five instalments: August 15th, September 15th, October 15th, November 15th and February 15th (to assist families with their holiday spending and expenses).
Example 1. A 13 player team with one goalie would have a per player cost of $3,710*.
Example 2. A 14 player team with one goalie would have a per player cost of $3,465*.
Example 3. A 15 player team with one goalie would have a per player cost of $3,250*.
Example 4. A 15 player team with two goalies would have a per player cost of $3,050*.
* these amounts represent the HPL Team Fees only. In addition, each player is also responsible for the $695 HPL Player Fee.
Any player who commits to the HPL Winter Level Minors Development Program and pays their HPL Team Fee in full before April 1st of 2020, will receive 10% discount off their HPL Team Fees.
All HPL Team Fees are paid directly to HPL.
Player Commitments
Each player will have until March 31st to commit to the HPL Winter Level Minors Development Program. Families will be required to pay their HPL Player Fee at that time.
Commitments will work on a first to commit basis. Every player/family looking to commit to the HPL Winter Level Minors Development Program will be reviewed by the HPL Directors before acceptance.
Team Volunteer Work
Each team participating in the HPL Winter Level Minors Development Program will be both encouraged and supported to participate in a charitable event in the community. We believe that having our kids volunteer their time will be a huge benefit to them going forward in life. Not only is volunteering a rewarding experience, it also gives our kids an opportunity to make a difference in their community.
The Lifestyle
The seasonal development schedule offered by HPL allows for every family to have more time as a family. With no hockey over long weekends, a longer Christmas holiday break, and a consistent game/development ice schedule, families can have a happier and less stressful hockey season. We have been told by many of our current HPL families that the consistency of our program scheduling has been a welcome and appreciated benefit beyond the on-ice hockey development.