SMHA players who want to play at a Competitive level have 3 choices:
Tier 1 - Ottawa Valley Titans
Tier 2 - Silver Seven
Tier 3 - Stittsville RAMS
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about how the Competitive hockey world operates.
What’s the difference between House Hockey and Competitive Hockey?
Basically the level of competition and the level of commitment is higher in competitive hockey. By commitment we mean more ice (games, practices, and tournaments), more travel, and the corresponding higher costs.
What is Tier 1 hockey?
Tier 1 is the highest level of competitive hockey available to players in the Ottawa area. SMHA players who qualify to play Tier 1 would play on the Ottawa Valley Titans teams which are offered from Major Atom through to Major Midget age levels and have designations as follows:
Major Atom - AA
Minor Peewee - AA
Major Peewee - AA
Minor Bantam - AAA
Major Bantam - AAA
Minor Midget - AAA
Major Midget - AAA
Who can try out for Tier 1 (The Ottawa Valley Titans)?
Any SMHA player from Major Atom to Major Midget can try out for Tier 1 but they must first register with SMHA.
How do you try out for the Ottawa Valley Titans?
Tier 1 Tryouts are held in August and more information can be found at the Titan's website.
Who would my son or daughter be playing with if he/she made the team?
SHMHA players will compete against players from minor hockey associations in Districts 4 (Richmond-Munster, Almonte-Pakenham, Osgoode-Rideau, Carleton Place, West Carleton, Perth-Lanark) and 5 (Upper Ottawa Valley) of the ODMHA for a place on the Ottawa Valley Titans team(s).
Where do the Titans play?
The Titans play throughout a wide geographical area in the AA league (Atom and Peewee) and the AAA league (Bantam and Midget).
What is Tier 2 hockey?
Tier 2 competitive hockey is the second level of competitive hockey in the Ottawa area. SMHA players who qualify to play Tier 2 would play on The Ottawa Valley Silver Seven teams which are offered from Major Atom to Major Midget age levels. The following table shows whether the teams will be classified as A or AA.
Novice - N/A
Minor Atom - N/A
Major Atom - A
Minor Peewee - A
Major Peewee - A
Minor Bantam - AA
Major Bantam - AA
Minor Midget - AA
Major Midget - AA
Who can try out for Tier 2 (The Ottawa Valley Silver Seven)?
Any SMHA player from Major Atom to Major Midget can tryout for Tier 2 but they must first register with SMHA.
How do you try out for the Ottawa Valley Silver Seven?
Tier 2 tryouts are held in early September and more information will be posted on the SMHA website and the Silver Seven website as they become known.
Who would my son or daughter be playing with if he/she made the team?
SMHA players will compete against players from the 7 associations in District 4 (Stittsville, Richmond, Almonte-Pakenham, Osgoode-Rideau, Carleton Place, West Carleton, Perth-Lanark) for a place on the Ottawa Valley Silver Seven team(s).
Where do the Silver Seven play?
Players can expect to have home games and practices at the arenas in all 7 participating associations - Stittsville, Richmond, Almonte-Pakenham, Osgoode-Rideau, Carleton Place, West Carleton, Perth-Lanark.
What is Tier 3 hockey?
Tier 3 competitive hockey is the third level of competitive hockey in the Ottawa area. SMHA players who qualify to play Tier 3 would play on The Stittsville RAMS teams which are offered from Minor Atom to Major Midget age. All RAMS teams are designated as Competitive B teams. The following table shows the estimated number of Tier 3 teams available to SMHA players at each age level.
Novice - N/A
Minor Atom - 2
Major Atom - 1
Minor Peewee - 1
Major Peewee - 1
Minor Bantam - 1
Major Bantam - 1
Minor Midget - 1
Major Midget - 1
Who can try out for Tier 3 (The Stittsville RAMS)?
Any SMHA player from Minor Atom to Major Midget can tryout for the Stittsville RAMS after registering with SMHA.
How do you try out for the Stittsville RAMS?
RAMS tryouts are held in early September and more information will be posted on the SMHA website as they become known. There are also optional conditioning camps available in August as well.
Who would my son or daughter be playing with if he/she made the team?
SMHA players will compete against other SMHA players for a spot on the SMHA Tier 3 team(s).
Who will the Stittsville RAMS play against?
Other teams in the ODMHA “B” league.
What happened to the Goulbourn RAMS?
For many years the RAMS B level was a cooperative program between Richmond and Stittsville fielding teams with players from both Associations. In the 07/08 season Stittsville will be fielding their own Tier 3 team while Richmond will be teaming up with Osgoode-Rideau for Tier 3 or “B” hockey.
Why the change?
This change was agreed to by both Stittsville and Richmond for the following reasons:
- SMHA is more than 3 times the size of Richmond and with the continued growth of Stittsville (10% per year), access to competitive hockey for RRMHA players would be reduced over time.
- Stittsville is the largest association in District 4 (33% of kids) and has the population base to stand on its own.
- RMMHA and SMHA mutually agreed that it’s easier to make this change now while the changes at Tier 1 and Tier 2 are happening. Realignment in future years will be more difficult.