LORNE PARK - CLARKSON HOCKEY ASSOCIATION (LPCHA)MERGER

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

1. WHY IS LORNE PARK HOCKEY ASSOCIATION AND CLARKSON HOCKEY ASSOCIATION DOING A MERGER?

• Based on recent statistics,  hockey has dropped to the third (3^rd) position in player participation and registration in Canada

     (source: http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interatives/sportsjunior/)

• Soccer is the most-practiced sport in Canada followed by swimming then hockey.

• Due to the decrease in hockey registrations, it is not possible for all hockey associations to place teams at each skill level within each age group (red, white, blue, green).

• Credit Valley and Applewood Hockey Associations announced that they would merge next season, therefore leaving Lorne Park and Clarkson among the smaller associations based on current registrations.

2. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MERGING HOCKEY ASSOCIATIONS?

• A larger unified organization provides a more “level playing field” with other larger organizations
• Increased number of teams per age group means players will be placed on teams that match their skill levels.

• Increased player and program development opportunities

3.  HOW LONG HAVE THE TWO ASSOCIATIONS BEEN WORKING ON THIS MERGER? 
 

• A small working group of both the Lorne Park and Clarkson Hockey Association met in January to assess the potential to merge.  The Board of Directors of each Association met and agreed that providing certainty to our players and member families around the future direction of each Association meant that we should move quickly and have the merger be effective for the 2016/17 season.

 
4.  WHAT WILL THE NEW HOCKEY ASSOCIATION BE CALLED?

• Lorne Park Clarkson Hockey Association (LPCHA) Wild

5.  WHY NAME IT LORNE PARK CLARKSON HOCKEY ASSOCIATION?

• In order to maintain the heritage of two of the oldest associations Lorne Park Hockey Association (established in 1945) and Clarkson Hockey Association (established in 1957) it was decided to keep both names and build on both organizations traditions and reputation. 

 
6.  WHAT WILL OUR COLOURS/JERSEYS LOOK LIKE BE NOW THAT WE HAVE MERGED?

• In order to honour both the associations we will be keeping both red and green in our jerseys.  The design and logo will be similar to that of the Minnesota Wild.

7.  WILL I STILL BE ON THE SAME HOUSE LEAGUE TEAM?

• House League evaluations will take place in September.  Independent, ojbective hockey instructors from a local hockey school will be hired to provide input into the evaluation process.  The objective of the evaluation process will be to ensure that each player is placed on a team that best fits their skill level. 

8.  WHERE WILL OUR TEAMS PRACTICE?

• The City of Mississauga will provide us with ice as they do every year and once we know how many teams we have, it will be allocated accordingly.  Our philosophy in terms of assigning practice ice to teams is for each team to have a consistent practice slot for the season, meaning each team will practice at the same time at the same location on a weekly basis for the season.  The times and locations for the Tyke program will be finalized once we have our ice allocation from the City of Mississauga.
  

9.  WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE “A” TEAMS FOR NEXT SEASON?

• The current “A” teams will be grandfathered.  If you are currently on one of the Association's “A” teams you are encouraged to try out for that team once again.  In most levels there will be two “A” teams.

 
10. HOW DO I REGISTER FOR LPCHA (LORNE PARK HOCKEY ASSOCIATION) WILD?

• The specifics of the registration process for the 2016/17 season are still being finalized.  Once finalized, information will be posted on this website, as well as on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.

11.  WHERE DO I GO FOR “A” TRYOUTS?