This article is meant as a guide for where your child can play next season based on the players age and also answers the question, "Can I play full-ice in Atom?"
LTPD = Long Term Player Development
Q. Can we still play full-ice in Novice? Ans. No. No OWHA sanctioned association may play full-ice at the Novice level.
Age 6 (2013) players will not be permitted to play Novice half-ice. This is an OWHA rule (they will not approve the player roster). Those players born in 2013 may enroll in WGMHA Rookie Ravens or Rookie Ravens Plus. Rookie Ravens is our LTPD Fundamentals I program. Exception - If an association does not have enough Age 7 and Age 8 players to form a Combined Novice Half-ice team (18 players) age 6 players can be added to the team. The Ravens do not anticipate the need to do this next season.
Age 7 (2012) players should play Novice. You may enroll in Rookie Ravens or Rookie Ravens Plus if they are new to hockey, but it is recommended that they still enroll in Novice half-ice regardless of prior hockey experience. There will be a lot of first year hockey players in the Novice Program.
Age 8 (2011) players should play Novice. Many of these players are accustomed to playing full-ice and several parents have asked if their child can play full-ice by moving up and playing Atom. The Ravens encourage you to enroll in the Novice Half-ice program because it is better for development. Playing half-ice after playing full-ice is not a step backwards, rather it is an opportunity to play a different game that is better designed for the age group. Interestingly, several Age 8 teams playing half-ice last year (some associations began running half-ice last season) decided to remain playing half-ice rather than move to full-ice near the end of the season because they liked it better.
I still want to play Atom full-ice... Those wishing to play full-ice have 2 options:
1. You may attend tryouts at the Atom Rep levels by signing up for the tryouts. All WGMHA rules regarding playing up a division still apply. Refer to the WGMHA Manual of Operations for details.
2. Those wishing to play Atom HL need to register for Novice HL and then send an email request to the Ravens Director of House League emailDirHL stating the reason for the request (all requests are due by Friday, Sept 13th, 5pm). The Ravens LMC (League Management Committee) will look at each case and will need to approve the request. Even if approved by the LMC, the OWHA may not approve the player to play Atom HL. There must be a good reason for the player moving up an age group for the OWHA to approve it. This is the information we have as of 01Aug19. Note: It is highly likely that for the 2020-21 season no under-age player will be permitted to move up by the OWHA (Age 8 playing up in Atom).