League Update
Westlock Minor Hockey Families,
We trust that you are having a great Summer and are eagerly looking forward to getting back to the rink! We have already been planning for the season and have a number of things in store for our players.
We want to keep you updated on what has been happening with our league and what the future has in store for us. In mid July a NAI meeting was called where we were informed that the league executive was collectively stepping down. We would like to thank the NAI executive for all their hard work and dedication to the league over the last number of years.
Hockey Alberta stepped in and gave the member associations some options in light of these new events. One was to elect a new executive or have a Hockey Alberta assign one. The other option being to formally dissolve the NAI and the member associations join new leagues.
On July 27th we learned that over 80% of associations were in favor of dissolving the league and joining accepting new ones. These leagues include The All Peace Hockey League (APHL), The North East Alberta Hockey League (NEAHL), and the Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL).
The majority of the associations from the NAI will be accepted into the NEAHL, including Westlock Minor Hockey. We are excited to be joining this well run league with a commitment to limiting travel while having meaningful and competitive games.
The President of the NEAHL has indicated that the former NAI Teams will make up a West division where we will play the vast majority of our games. There is also the potential of tournament style weekends where teams league wide would meet in a central location to play a number of games over those days. We will be working closely with the NEAHL as they develop this.
For the most part nothing really changes for us, as far as the other associations that we will be playing, plus the added option to play new associations that present meaningful competition for our players.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. We will be updating all of you as more information comes our way. Have a great rest of your Summer, and we will see you at the rink very soon!
Nelson Jespersen
President
Westlock and District Minor Hockey Association
westlockmhapresident@gmail.com
