U18 Minor Hockey
What is U18 Hockey?
U15 (formerly midget) is the sixth and final age division in minor hockey. Goals for the U18 age category are fun and refining team play and strategy. Programing still has a strong focus on technical skills (35%) and individual tactics (15%), but provides more time to team tactics (20%) , team play (15%) and strategy (10%).
Recreational vs. Competitive
BMHA often only offers competitive hockey at this level, with neighboring Baie-des-Chaleurs hockey association offering recreational hockey. Players are chosen for competitive teams following a minimum 3-session tryout. Non-biased evaluators are chosen to provide scores for a set number of skills. Higher ranked players are chosen to fill a maximum of 18 skater, 2 goalie team.
The rules of the game remain the same in both recreational and competitive hockey. The only difference is the skill level found within these teams, allowing for everyone to play with and against players more closely aligned to themselves.
U18 competitive level contains checking. According to the New Brunswick Minor Hockey Operations Manual :
Checking shall be allowed in U15 and above divisions for those teams that play development (AAA) or competitive (AA, A or B) level of hockey except female hockey. In any games involving an all-female hockey team, no body checking is permitted.
What can you expect as parent?
Teams
You can expect your child to be a member on one of our U18 teams (in 2022-2023, we had 1 competitive team). Teams are divided (if necessary) to provide even skill level between teams within their division, facilitate travel for carpooling and a balanced number of players.
Letter designations ("AA", "A", "B" and "C") are used to label the divisions within the league and the team will be assigned a division through the Central Hockey League.
Gear
Competitive teams will be lent a game jersey and will be required to purchase matching socks (organized through the team manager). It is the responsability of the parent to ensure their child has the proper equipment (including neckguards!)
Hockey Canada’s equipment fitting guide states that in order to ensure player safety, all hockey players must have the following equipment:
- Helmet (must be CSA-certified)
- Mouthguard
- Neck guard (must be BNQ-certified)
- Shoulder pads
- Elbow pads
- Gloves
- Groin guard (jock/jill/cup)
- Hockey pants
- Shin pads
- Hockey socks
- Skates
- Hockey stick
- Practice jersey
- Equipment bag
Season format
u18 competitive teams play in divisions within the New Brunswick Central Midget Hockey League. This league can cover all of New Brunswick.
The season runs from October to March. There are often two weekday practices as well as ice time on Saturday and Sunday. In October, games will begin taking some of those weekend spots. The schedule can be found here and on the TeamSnap app. Please check it regularly as it can change on short notice. Some teams and divisions also like to put together a group to communicate on social media apps.
Volunteering
Parents are encouraged to volunteer. We need coaches, assistant coaches, on-ice helpers, off-ice helpers, team managers and cheering! Parents will also be asked to operate the game clock for home games.
Costs
In addition to registration costs, which covers all the expenses related to the minor hockey season (ice rental, officials, etc.), there will likely be additional team-based costs. Participation in tournaments (up to 3 a year) is likely and team managers will ask that each player contribute their portion of the fee to register the team (approximately 30-40$ each). As previously mentioned, matching game socks may also be purchased for an additional cost.
Teams may also fundraise to cover some of these costs as well as for other events during the year (year end party, souvenirs). Managers are transparent with the amount of money spent and raised, and all money will be disbursed within the hockey season.
Respect in Sport
Each player requires a parent to have completed Respect in Sport Parent Program. It can accessed through Hockey New Brunswick's Respect in Sport Parent Program portal.
