Print this pageHockey Hierarchy
The SMHA and our Fit in the Amateur Hockey Universe
Once you know how the various hockey organizations fit together, it makes reasonable sense, but for many hockey parents, and not just those that are new to minor hockey, it is a bit of a mystery. This is intended to unravel that mystery!
Hockey Canada
Formerly known as the Canadian Hockey Association (CHA), Hockey Canada is the sole governing body for amateur hockey in Canada. Hockey Canada makes major decisions such as player divisions (age). It has 13 branches, including the Ottawa District Hockey Association (ODHA). Read more at www.hockeycanada.ca
Ottawa District Hockey Association (ODHA)
The ODHA is the governing body of amateur hockey in the Ottawa area, and in Hockey Canada context, is our branch. Included in this is direct management of the officiating program, development programs (including Speak Out - for bench staff), and other administrative responsibilities. The ODHA governs the junior leagues in the area directly (Central Junior A Hockey League (CJHL), The Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League, and The Eastern Ontario Junior C Hockey League). The Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association (ODMHA) also reports to the ODHA, and those two organizations share a physical office in Ottawa, as well as full time administrative staff. Read more at www.odha.com
Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association (ODMHA)
Within the same region that the ODHA operates, the ODMHA governs issues specific to minor hockey. Many of the regulations by which we play (and administer) are decided here (eg. affiliation and transfer policies). The ODMHA directly governs the competitive A and B leagues in which the Goulbourn RAMS play, and the AA league in which the Ottawa Valley Titans play (more on those later). The ODMHA is divided into districts. Minor council meets monthly and is the decision forum in which the district chairs participate. Read more at www.odmha.on.ca
District 4 (ODMHA)
We are part of District 4 (Rideau Carleton) of the ODMHA, which meets monthly, and is composed of district executive and the Presidents of the respective associations. District 4 is the link between all associations and both the ODMHA and ODHA structures. Most interpretation and enforcement of ODHA/ODMHA regulations takes place at District 4. Read more at www.district4.ca
Lanark Carleton Minor Hockey League (LCMHL)
All of the associations within District 4, as well as the Kanata Minor Hockey Association, run the Lanark Carleton Minor Hockey League (LCMHL), a minor hockey league of about 200 teams from Novice to Midget playing in the Western Ottawa area and townships west of the city. Participating associations are Almonte/Pakenham, Arnprior, Carleton Place, Kanata, Osgoode/Rideau, Perth/Lanark, Richmond, Stittsville, and West Carleton. This league has the mandate to schedule, operate, and track games, playoffs, etc. Read more at http://lanark.goalline.ca/
Ottawa Valley Silver Seven
The Silver Seven Hockey Club, launched in 2007, runs the second tier of Competitive hockey in District 4 for minor hockey players from ages 10-17 that are registered in the following Minor Hockey Associations: Almonte/Pakenham, Carleton Place, Osgoode/Rideau, Perth/Lanark, Richmond/Munster, Stittsville and West-Carleton. Read more at www.silversevenhockey.com
Ottawa Valley Titans
The Titans operation is similar to the RAMS, but combines players from associations in Districts 4 and 5 (Upper Ottawa Valley), to play in the branch AA league. Read more at www.ovtmha.on.ca
417 League
The 417 League is purely a league structure, similar to the LCMHL described above. This is a non-checking minor hockey league for those 18-21 years of age…a sort of transition between minor hockey and adult hockey. Our juvenile teams do not play in this league, they play in an internal house league within SMHA.
Stittsville Minor Hockey Association – This is us!
So…at last….what do we do within SMHA? Your local association operates under the rules and regulations of Hockey Canada, ODHA, ODMHA, and District 4. We place teams in the LCMHL, and we have players take part in the RAMS and Titans competitive programs. Internally we rent and schedule ice, we arrange and nurture the development of officials, we select coaches and players for LCMHL teams, we set registration and fundraising fees and practices, we host tournaments, and lots of other fun things. Each year, at our Annual General Meeting we elect board of director members for a two year term…. some come up for election each year on a staggered basis. And we watch and enjoy as hundreds of our kids play fun hockey!