2005 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships

Miramichi, New Brunswick

Event Profile,
Technical Guidelines & Criteria

The Aboriginal Sport Circle, Canada’s national voice for Aboriginal sport and recreation, is pleased to present the 2005 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. The following information offers a basic overview of the event, technical guidelines and specific criteria for team selections. Should you require further details on the Championships, or require more information about the Aboriginal Sport Circle, please contact our offices at (613) 938-1176 or toll free at 1-866-938-1176.

Introduction

The Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) was established to promote personal excellence through sport and to support the holistic development of Aboriginal athletes and coaches.  As a program of the ASC, the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships reflect those priorities while serving as the premier competition for minor level Aboriginal hockey in Canada.

The National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC) provide a forum for elite Bantam/Midget age Aboriginal hockey players, which attracts participation from First Nations, Inuit and Metis within each of the thirteen Provinces and Territories of Canada. The long-term vision for the NAHC is to establish a competitive structure that will serve as the impetus for grassroots and regional Aboriginal hockey development. The event will help foster cultural unity and pride and celebrate the athletic abilities of Aboriginal athletes from across the country.

Principles

The NAHC embodies shared traditional Aboriginal principles that encourage holistic approaches to the personal development of all participants (athletes, coaches, team staff and officials).  The Championships take a balanced approach that supports the physical, mental, spiritual, and cultural aspects of life.  For this reason, the NAHC will include the meaningful involvement of Elders and cultural components throughout the Championship program.

The NAHC are designed as an elite, all-star format where the best Bantam/Midget age hockey players are selected to compete on behalf of their Provinces and Territories. The event is inclusive, which means anyone of Aboriginal ancestry, whether First Nations (status or non-status Indian), Inuit or Metis, is eligible to compete.

The Championships promote drug and harassment free sport.  Therefore a strict “zero tolerance” policy is adopted.  The use of alcohol, tobacco (non-ceremonial), performance enhancing substances and any acts of discrimination are strictly prohibited.

Location & Dates

  The 2005 NAHC will be held in Miramichi, New Brunswick, April 17 – 23, 2005.  The competition will span seven days with both the male and female championship games being held on Saturday, April 23rd.

Travel Dates

  Miramichi is located 140 KM from the Moncton Regional Airport and 100 KM from the Bathurst Regional Airport.  Travel to the 2005 NAHC has been designated for April 15 & 16 and departure on April 24.

 
Community Snap Shot

  The City of Miramichi is located in North-Eastern New Brunswick along the world famous Miramichi River.  The City was formed in 1995 through the amalgamation of five incorporated municipalities and six surrounding unincorporated areas.  It is centrally located within a two-hour drive of the larger urban areas in the province, with a population of 48, 000 plus.  There are 15 First Nations communities in New Brunswick, all within a 3 hour drive of each other.  Within 100 KM the First Nations communities are Metepenagiag, Nataoganea, Esgenoopetitj, Tjipogtog, (Elno) Menigog, Elsipogtog, Pabineau and Ogpiigantjeq. 

 
Venues

  Two arenas will be used for the 2005 NAHC. The primary venue will be the Miramichi Civic Centre, home of the Maritime Junior Hockey League’s Miramichi Timberwolves.  This site features an ice surface (85’ x 190’), which seats close to 3000 spectators.  The secondary venue will be the Lord Beaverbrook Arena. 

 
Accommodations, Travel & Food

  Each team is responsible for arranging and paying for their accommodations, travel and food.  All hotels are located within a 5 to 10 minute drive from the arenas.  To simplify team reservations, the 2005 Host Organizing Committee has block booked rooms in hotels/motels throughout Miramichi. A detailed listing of accommodations and rates are available through the 2005 Host Organizing Committee.

Technical Guidelines and Criteria

 
Team Selections

  The NAHC are designed as an All Star Championship. As such, each Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Body (P/TASB) is responsible for conducting regional selections (i.e. talent identification camps) to determine its team rosters. Each P/TASB is also directly responsible for submitting team registrations to the ASC and coordinating travel to the Championships.

  In preparing for the event, it is recommended that each P/TASB establish a working partnership with their Hockey Canada Provincial/Territorial hockey branch and government.

 
Eligibility

           Ancestry

Teams must be comprised only of players and coaches who are of Aboriginal ancestry. Every player and coach must carry with her/him documentation that verifies her/his Aboriginal ancestry.  In most cases, picture ID along with a Status Card, Inuit Card or Metis Membership Card will be adequate.  In cases where the participant is non-status (Indian), an Ancestry Form must be completed, which documents their lines of descent, authenticated and endorsed by the parent(s) or guardian, coach, and P/TASB, and submitted to the ASC at the Team Roster Deadline.

Ages

Male Division:

Male teams are restricted to using Bantam and/or Midget age players as of the 2004/2005 hockey season - born in the years of 1987 to 1991.

Female Division:

Female teams are restricted to using Bantam and/or Midget age players as of the 2004/2005 hockey season - born in the years of 1987 to 1991.  An exception is made in the female division, which allows teams to carry a maximum of five (5) overage players born in the years of 1984 to 1986.

School Enrollment

All players participating in the 2005 NAHC must be enrolled in school and/or have completed the necessary requirements for their high school diploma (or the equivalent). 

Participant Restrictions

·         Teams are prohibited from selecting players who have played ten (10) or more regular season league games in Major Junior “A”

·         Teams are prohibited from selecting players who’s club teams are competing at a Hockey Canada Branch Regional or National Championship held on dates which coincide with the 2005 NAHC

·         All players and coaches must be registered with their Hockey Canada Branch on or before February 10, 2005

 
Residency

All players and coaches must hold permanent residency in the Province/Territory for which he/she competes. Exceptions are made for players who attend school on a full-time basis in another P/T.  In such cases, the player can choose to compete for either his/her home P/T, or the P/T where he/she attends school.  In cases where a player competes for the P/T where he/she attends school, a completed Residence Declaration Form must be endorsed by the parent(s) or guardian, coach, and P/TASB and submitted to the ASC at the Team Roster Deadline.  (further residency information is provided in the official technical criteria) 

 
Minimum Certification Standards for Coaches

Each team’s Head Coach must possess a minimum of Intermediate Level certification. All Assistant Coaches must possess a minimum of Coach Level certification. Proof of certification will be required upon submission of the TEAM ROSTER FORMS.

Each female team is required to have a minimum of one female coach (either as an assistant or Head Coach) on the bench at all times. 

Head Coaches that don’t have proper certification but have experience coaching at the National, Professional and/or Major Jr. “A” level may apply to the ASC for Special Exemption.

Policy on Drug and Harassment Free Sport

  The Aboriginal Sport Circle promotes drug and harassment free sport.  Therefore, a strict “zero tolerance” policy has been adopted for the 2005 NAHC.  All participants are strictly prohibited from the use of alcohol, tobacco (non-ceremonial) and performance enhancing substances.  Any acts of harassment or discrimination will not be tolerated.

All participants (players and team staff) registering for the 2005 NAHC are required to sign a CODE OF CONDUCT FORM, which outlines in detail the drug and harassment policies enforced at the tournament. 

Registrations

  Each P/TASB is responsible for submitting all the necessary forms and fees to the Aboriginal Sport Circle. To be eligible to compete at the 2005 NAHC, teams must abide by the following processes and deadlines:

      Team Registration Deadline   (November 5, 2004, 4pm EST)

All P/TASB intending on sending teams to the 2005 NAHC must submit a TEAM REGISTRATION FORM (one per team) to the ASC on or before November 5, 2004, 4pm EST.  The Team Bond must also be submitted at this deadline (see Team Bond for details).

Team Roster Deadline (April 1, 2005, 4pm EST)

Teams that have met the Registration deadline must submit their TEAM ROSTERS FORMS on or before April 1, 2005 4pm EST.  Additionally, teams must submit all applicable PARTICIPANT FORMS to the ASC and branch letters on or before April 8, 2005, 4pm EST.  All Forms must be completed in full and include all necessary signatures of authorization.  Teams that fail to meet the deadline will forfeit the entire amount of their team bond fee. 

Team Bond   ($500.00)

Rather than imposing a registration fee, a Team Bond has been established in the amount of $500 per team.  The bond is mandatory for each team to pay and must accompany Team Registrations, which are due on November 5, 2004. The bond will serve to secure each team’s position in the Championships and will be reimbursed in full upon meeting all the necessary requirements.

 
Team Rosters

Each team shall consist of the following:

·         20 players (18 skaters and 2 goalies)

·         4 Alternates (3 skaters and 1 goaltender)

·         1 General Manager

·         1 Head Coach

·         2 Assistant Coaches (maximum)

·         1 Trainer/Equipment Manager 

Technical Information (general)

       Sanction

As an event sanctioned by Hockey Canada, the NAHC will operate in strict accordance with the rules and regulations established for national championships. The detailed Technical Package will be distribution to all Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies.

 
Competition Format

Through a preliminary ranking process, teams will be divided into an A and B pool.  Each team will compete in a round-robin format within its pool. Upon completing the round robin, the teams will cross over for the quarterfinal games. The winners will advance to the semi-finals, while the losing teams will play in the relegation round.  The two winning teams will advance to the championship final, while the losing teams will compete in the Bronze medal game.

 
Team Uniforms

Each team will be supplied with a set of jerseys and socks. Team colour combinations will be assigned through the Aboriginal Sport Circle.

Rules and Disciplinary Committee

      Prior to the NAHC, a Rules and Disciplinary Committee will be established to 
      accept and rule on protests arising from competition. The Committee will be 
      comprised of individuals not directly involved with the hosting of the 2005 NAHC.

 

Awards

The players and staff (coaches, manager and trainer) of the top three female and male teams will receive medallions (gold, silver and bronze respectively). The female and male teams that win the overall championship will have the name of their Province/Territory engraved on the Turtle Island Cup.

All Star Selection Process

(2004 National Aboriginal Hockey Camp)

The ASC’s National Aboriginal Hockey Program consists of two annual initiatives; the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships and the National Aboriginal Hockey Camp.  Each year an independent scouting committee will select 18 female and 18 male all stars from the NAHC. These all stars will be invited to attend the National Aboriginal Hockey Camp. Six additional male and female players will be identified to attend the Camp at their expense.  Each P/TASB is also invited to select one (1) coach to attend the Camp as a participant in the ASC’s Coach Mentorship Program. The 2005 National Aboriginal Hockey Camp will be held at the University of Ottawa.  The dates for the Camp have yet to be determined.