London Junior Knights

Q. WHAT ARE THE BIRTH YEARS FOR 2007/08?

A. Minor Atom - 1998 (9)
Atom - 1997 (10)
Minor Pee Wee - 1996 (11)
Pee Wee - 1995 (12)
Minor Bantam - 1994 (13)
Bantam - 1993 (14)
Minor Midget - 1992 (15- Priority Draft Year)
Midget - 1991 and 1990 (16 & 17)

Q. WHAT DOES IT COST TO PLAY FOR THE JUNIOR KNIGHTS?

A. Our non-refundable tryout fee is $100.00. We also provide mandatory body checking clinics for minor atoms, major atoms and minor peewees at a cost of $15.00. Our registration fee is $1,025 for AAA and $975 for AA, payable in two instalments on September 1st and on November 1st. Major Midget is $600 payable September 30th.

You will find that as travel rep hockey associations go, we are at the low to mid range of the pack. Some associations in places such as Toronto and in Regional AAA centres have higher fees than our association. Individual teams develop team budgets to cover tournament costs, referees, association fund raising obligations and ice for exhibition games, additional practices etc.

Most teams conduct their own fund raising. We have found in the last few seasons, the teams have become very good at it, A typical team budget for one season is $15,000 to $20,000. The Association also conducts fund raising on is own behalf to provide a surplus for future financial needs and to keep costs in line.

Q. WHAT ABOUT THE COST OF TIME AND TRAVEL?

A. There is no doubt about it, our teams travel about one to one and a half hours one way to road games. This cost has to be factored in. Necessity being the mother of invention, our teams tend to car pool. This is a great way for the parents to meet new friends, and for the players to get to know their team mates. Our players develop time management skills at an early age. Travel adds to the monetary costs. Few of our parents complain about travelling to other cities. Part of our motivation to play for the Junior Knights is to represent our city in high level competition with the representative teams from other cities and communities throughout North America. That's why we proudly wear the City of London logo as a shoulder patch and that's part of the reason why we're here. We travel far less than most teams playing AAA and AA hockey anywhere in North America. Bottom line is, it is virtually impossible to fully develop your skills as a hockey player without challenging yourself by playing the best players from a radius of at least 100-150 km.

Q. WHEN DO THE JUNIOR KNIGHTS HAVE TRYOUTS?

A. For the 2007/08 season the Junior Knights will be holding tryouts AAA tryouts in the spring. Our AA teams will continue to he held in August. All our teams (except Midget) are selected by September 1st each year. Tryouts times are posted on our website in the dowload section.

Q. HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR COACHES?

A. Our coaches are interviewed and selected by our Coaches Selection Committee. The Committee is chaired by the VP Hockey Operations and consists of a number of individuals with strong hockey backgrounds. Each candidate completes an application, available from our "downloads" section and must agree to a police check if selected as coach. They are interviewed by more than one member of the committee. Selections are announced just after the completion of the OHF Championships in mid to late April.

Q. DO YOUR COACHES RECRUIT PLAYERS FOR THEIR TEAMS?

A. During the season our coaches scout Junior Knights games and Forest City games extensively, in order to become familiar with the available players. We can "recruit" Junior Knights players at any time, but, through our agreement with the GLHA, we are only allowed to recruit players not registered in our association the previous season, between April 30th and September 14th. Slightly later for Midgets. As a result, we do extensive scouting during the season.

We expect our Head coaches at AAA and AA for any given age, to act as a team in all aspects of their jobs.

We expect all our coaches to be recruiting players they believe are good enough to make our AAA team. We do not approve of the AA coaches only recruiting players interested in playing for their respective teams. We recognize there are certain players who wish to play at a level below AAA. We respect that and ask them to declare their preference when they register. However, we encourage every player in our association, in fact every player in London to challenge themselves to try to compete at the highest level.

Similarly we expect our coaches to follow the same philosophy. This requires that all our coaches find and recruit the best players available (in London) to make our teams as competitive as possible.

Q. WHAT IS YOUR POLICY ON RELEASES?

A. AAA RELEASE PROCEDURE

Any player who is unsuccessful in making one of our AAA teams but who wishes to play AAA will be granted a release to tryout for the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs AAA team in the MHAO. The Chiefs are the only team we can release to as they are adjacent to us on all sides. If you want to play for someone else, you need a release from us and Elgin Middlesex as well.

As per Alliance policy, no pretryout releases will be offered to any player prior to the completion of the AAA tryouts. In the past a AAA player who asked to be released prior to trying out for one of our AAA teams was given a pretryout release. IN THIS SITUATION ONLY, the player requires Board approval to return to our association. Approval will not be unreasonably witheld. Due to residency rules, AA players must play in London, either for us orin the GLHA. By definition they can't be released to play AA hockey for any another association in the MHAO, OMHA or Shamrock League.

Q. HOW DO WE DEAL WITH OUR CHILD GETTING CUT?

A. This is a very good and honest question. First off, this is a very difficult time for a coach. Nobody likes to release players. It's also tough on the parents who often have trouble dealing with what they see as a permanent set back. And it's not just players who don't make one of our teams. One of the most difficult situations, is where a previous AAA level player is unsuccessful at making our AAA team but makes the AA team. Often they ask for their release (which is their right), or decide to return to their GLHA association.

We believe the best way to deal with this situation is to try to turn it into a learning experience. Most coaches say you will never be successful until you face adversity and deal with it. Whether you are on a AAA, AA or A team to us you're still a Junior Knight. The parents and the Association should be supportive and understanding.

Also remember, if you don't make one of our teams this year or you are released from AAA to play AA, that doesn't mean you won't be back where you want to be next year. What we see often, is a player giving up. Keep trying! All we know for sure is that you'll never achieve your goals if you give up too soon. And if you give up that easily, maybe competitive Rep hockey is not for you.

Q. WHAT LEAGUE DO THE JUNIOR KNIGHTS PLAY IN?

A. The Junior Knights represent the City of London in the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario (MHAO). Click on the question for the MHAO website. All our players must reside in the City of London. Typically each of our teams has players who reside in all parts of London. The AAA's play in the West Division of the Pavillion League. The league consists of The Hamilton Reps, Brantford 99ers, Kitchener Jr. Rangers, Cambridge Hawks, Waterloo Wolves, Elgin Middlesex Chiefs, Huron Perth Lakers, Lambton Jr. Sting, Chatham Kent Cyclones, Sun County Panthers and the Windsor Jr. Spitfires. Our two AA teams (Green and Gold) play in the Seeding League, which consists of, the Burlington Bulldogs, Hamilton Reps, Brantford 99ers, Kitchener Jr. Rangers, Cambridge Hawks, Waterloo Wolves, Stratford Warriors, Woodstock Jr. Navy Vets, and the Sarnia Jr. Sting. After a prescribed number of games, the league divides into two separate leagues; Constellation AA and Bristol A. Each league competes for it's own championship.

Our teams are carded AA. If a team does not make the Constellation Division, we recard "A" by January 10th.

Q. WHAT'S THE MHAO?

A. The MHAO (also known as the "Alliance") is one of four "branches" of the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) which provide boys minor hockey. Click on the question to visit the OHF website. The other minor hockey "branches" are the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) and the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA). Each season at Atom, Pee Wee, Bantam, and Midget, the champions from each minor hockey branch, plus the host team for that specific championship, compete for the OHF Championship. The championships usually take place in the middle of April and mark the end of the minor hockey hockey season in the Province.

The MHAO has 20 members plus the Windsor Jr. Spitfires AAA program, who are members of the OMHA but are affiliate members of the MHAO and play with us.

Visit our history page to learn how the Alliance was formed in 1993.

Q. WHAT'S THE GREATER LONDON HOCKEY ASSOCIATION?

A. The GLHA is a member of the MHAO separate from the Junior Knights. Click on the question to visit the GLHA website. The GLHA consists of six members, collectively representing the entire City of London: LMHA (East), North London, Oakridge (Northwest), South London, Southeast London and West London. Each member runs a competitive A/MD progam at most age levels and they compete against one another in the Forest City Hockey League. They oversee houseleague programs at all age groups from Tyke to Juvenile. The Junior Knights are not a member of the GLHA. We are a separate association with direct membership in the MHAO. We have an affiliation agreement with the GLHA pertaining to affiliating players and recruitment.

Q. DO YOU RUN ANY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS?

A. Yes, we run a coaches mentoring program. We are available to assist coaches in instruction, running practices, bench philosophy and conditioning etc. We also launched a player development program in 2001, which we are expanding, as the availability of ice increases in London. This program is at the root of our organizational philosophy. We want to improve the skills of our players and coaches, so they will get the most out of the Rep hockey experience. A by-product of this philosophy is success on the ice.

Q. HOW ARE THE JUNIOR KNIGHTS GOVERNED?

A. We are governed by an elected Board of Directors. Term is one year and each position is voted on at our annual meeting, the first Saturday in May. Our Board members are a talented, dedicated, experienced and hard working bunch. Click on "Board" to find out who we are.

We produce an annual financial statement audited by Davis Martindale C.A.'s in London. Our financial position is a matter of public knowledge to our members.

We are always looking for Board members and volunteers to help run our program. Particularly parents of players on our younger teams. If you're interested, please contact us.

Q. WHERE DO THE JUNIOR KNIGHTS PLAY THEIR GAMES?

A. We play all of our home games in London, mostly at Nichols, Medway or Stronach Arena and the Western Fair Sports Centre. We also play some games at Carling Arena. Check out the MHAO website for names of all the arenas used in the Alliance.

Q. WHAT ABOUT PRACTICES?

A. Junior Knight teams practice on average two to three times per week. The association provides teams with an average of 1.5 hours per week based on the entire season. Most, if not all teams secure other ice contracts in addition to the time provided by the Jr. Knights

Q. DO THE JUNIOR KNIGHTS RUN ANY TOURNAMENTS?

A. Yes. In 2006 we will be running FOUR tournaments:

The London Junior Knights AAA Earlybird September 22-24, 2006 Western Fair Sports Centre Minor Atom (97), Major Atom (96), Minor Pee Wee (95), Major Pee Wee (94). The Green and Gold AAA Invitational October 20-22, 2006 Western Fair Sports Centre Minor Bantam (93), Major Bantam (92), Minor Midget (91) and Major Midget (90 & 89). The Triple "20" Shootout, October 27-29, 2006 for Minor Bantam AA (93), Bantam AA (92) and Minor Midget AA (91). The Tim Hickman Memorial Tournament November 17-19, 2006. Western Fair Sports Centre & Kinsmen and Nichols Arena. Minor Atom (97), Major Atom (96), Minor Pee Wee (95) and Major Pee Wee (94). We have set up a permanent Tournament Committee. We sometimes host an OHF Championship event. Most recently we hosted the 2004 OHF Atom AAA Championship at Western Fair Sports Centre. We plan on bidding an OHF Championship for the 2006/2007 season. Click on the Link to our tournament section for more information and forms: http://www.londonjuniorknights.com/tournaments.asp

Q. WHY ARE THERE RESIDENCE RESTRICTIONS?

A. Residence rules exist so that hockey will be available locally in all communities in Ontario, large and small. It also helps balance competition through natural laws of averages.

London is a good example of how the residency rules work effectively. The OMHA Shamrock league operates in small communities around London. They cannot play in London and London residents cannot play outside of London. If these rules didn't exist, some players might want to play in London, threatening the availability of hockey in the smaller community. Our organization supports the OHF residency rules as currently drawn. Visit our "info" page, or the OHF website to get info on the "Great Lakes Region", which has specific and different residency rules to take into account the unique issues in Toronto.

Q. WHEN IS THE OHF RMF (REGIONAL MOVE FORMS) REQUIRED?

A. The Alliance requires the OHF form for in city moves as well as moves into the city of London. Rule of thumb, if you address is different this year to what you were carded at last year, we need the form.

Q. DO THE JUNIOR KNIGHTS ACCEPT FOREST CITY PLAYERS AS AP'S?

A. Currently the affiliation agreement between the GLHA and Jr Knights has expired. Until we come to a new agreement with the GLHA we will not be contacting GLHA players to AP.

Q. DO YOU ALLOW GIRLS TO PLAY IN YOUR PROGRAM?

A. We allow girls to play in our program and give them every opportunity to make one of our teams based strictly on their ability. We have had female players play in our association up to the age of 15. However, our experience has taught us that girls should be discouraged from playing in our boys program beyond the age of 12, regardless of their ability. We do not have a formal policy on this. We believe this because after that age, they change in separate rooms and have more difficulty integrating with their male team mates. We have also noticed girls getting injured in the older age groups. Women's hockey is non-bodychecking at all ages and competitive levels. It is a wonderful, distinct brand of hockey that is attracting young girls in large numbers. In London, the Devillettes program is one of the best female hockey programs in the country, run by enthusiastic, skilled and dedicated volunteers. Having said this, we will never turn anyone away. Everyone who registers to tryout in our program will be given a chance to win a spot on one of our teams based solely on their ability.

Q. ARE THE JUNIOR KNIGHTS OWNED BY THE OHL LONDON KNIGHTS?

A. No. We are a community team run by volunteers. The London Knights are a Major Junior A team that plays in the Ontario Hockey League. The Knights are a private business owned by former NHL players, Mark and Dale Hunter and Basil McRae.

We do have an Affiliation Agreement with the Knights, originally negotiated with the former owners, which allows us to wear similar uniform and colours as the OHL team and develop channels of communication to the benefit of both organizations. As a result of this affiliation, as our teams travel throughout Ontario and adjacent U.S. States, people associate the nickname "Knights" with the City of London. Our teams now wear the City of London Logo as shoulder patches to assist in that recognition.