Drumheller Minor Hockey is still looking at how best to implement new rules from Hockey Canada.
    Hockey Canada is adopting cross-ice games for five and six-year-old players. This is said to allow young players more touches, more puck battles, more passing and more shooting. This was discussed at  Drumheller Minor Hockey’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, April 11. Minor Hockey President Lyle Cawiezel says they will have two seasons to make the transition.
    “The first year, they allow teams or associations to transition to either go full in, and divide novice teams into major or minor teams,” said Cawiezel.
    He says Hockey Alberta has a couple of meetings coming up to work out the changes.  There has to be a decision reached league-wide, so they will all be on the same page. They also need the infrastructure, such as dividers for play.
    “There are a quite a few things to work out, but we hope to have some answers by fall to see if it will be a full transition, or if we can wait a year to get the bugs out and jump in next year. Nothing is mandatory until next year,” said Cawiezel.
He sees it as a positive, developmentally.
    “This is making the ice rink smaller, so it is a more confined game making it more apt for those ages. Developmentally it is supposed to help aid and develop these players,” he said.
It was a great season for Drumheller Minor Hockey. The Association successfully hosted the Bantam C Provincial Tournament, and the Yavis Atom Raptors won provincials. This year, seven out of eight teams made the playoffs and three went to the banner finals.
    “Overall it was a great success,” he said.
    There were four new board members selected at the AGM. Joining the board are Bern Mackey, Stephanie Holman, Lisa Jacques and Darryl Hern. Cawiezel explains they have made some changes to make way for two-year terms.
    “We switched over to create more continuity, so whatever happens we aren’t losing our whole board in one year,” said Cawiezel. “So this year, half of the new members were put into a one year term, and the other half will serve two. At next year’s AGM we will put them into two-year terms.”

    Soccer teams are getting ready to get back on the field and are looking forward to a strong season.
    Mark Olbrich of Drumheller Minor Soccer said this year there have been a few changes, including the end of the Adult Coed Rec League. Despite this, young people are eager to start playing.
    “We have two teams that are playing U19 for the kids and one team that is playing U13. So these are our travelling teams,” he said.
    He says province-wide, they have made the switch from even aged teams to odd. By switching from U18 to U19, it allows players in high school to complete the season even if they are 18.
    The travel teams are set because the rosters had to be finalized at the beginning of April. Olbrich says there are still spaces for players in the house league teams.
    “Numbers are down, but that is mostly with the house leagues, but we still have time to sign people up,” he said.  “For house leagues, we will never close the doors.”
    He says they are also looking for adults and parents to get involved in the Associations. The more help they have, the better the season goes.
    The Soccer Association is also making progress on its new clubhouse. Last season the building was raised and this year, they are working on the interior. They hope to have it completed in the near future.
    The other wild card for the season is, of course, the weather. Slowly the snow has disappeared from the field.
    “I am hoping by the end of this month we should have the fields ready to go,” he said.
    For more information on Drumheller Minor Soccer or to register contact Olbrich at 403-820-8269 or check out Drumheller Minor Soccer’s Facebook page.