ALL BMHA PLAYERS, aged Atom through to Midget (1996 to 2004 birth years), are invited to tryout for a position on a Blackburn Wild Competitive Hockey Team.
 
There is a great deal of information already available, lower down on this webpage, describing the benefits of competitive hockey and the financial/time commitments that are to be expected. There is also information on our REGISTRATION page specifically describing options to HELP PAYING FOR HOCKEY, including FREE EQUIPMENT.
 
Tryouts will start on Labour Day weekend and run fast & furious through all of the week following. Players are guaranteed an absolute minimum of 2 tryouts and may participate in up to as many as 5 sessions. Tryout schedules will be posted on this webpage as soon as they become available (few weeks prior to tryouts).
 
Players & Goalies are all expected to arrive 30 minutes prior to each scheduled tryout session, with full hockey equipment (be ready to play). Tryout sweaters will be provided at the first session and it is then the players responsibility to bring that same sweater to each subsequent tryout session.
 

Opportunity is guaranteed (spots are reserved) in house league, for those who are unsuccessful at these competitive tryouts.

There will be a player & parent information night, at some point in mid-late August (watch this same webpage for details later), which is meant to help further explain the strategy & schedule for tryouts at each individual level and allows opportunity for a question and answer period.

The Blackburn Wild Tryout Fee is $100. (Tryout registrations received after June 30 will be charged an additional $25 late fee.)

For players who are successful at making a Rangers or Jr. 67’s team, all money collected including this tryout fee (but less any late fees) will automatically be forwarded by the BMHA to the higher Association – in the player’s name (MEANING FULL REFUND).

 
Registering for Blackburn Wild Tryouts is as easy as a click-of-the-button, or a tick-in-the-box, with each Standard Player Registration (VERY obvious when you fill out your registration for next season).
 
Those who change their mind and decide YES they do want to tryout for the Wild, after they've already submitted their Standard BMHA Player Registration, should submit this Wild Registration Form  (NOTE: For insurance reasons, players must register to play with BMHA before they can register for Wild Tryouts).

The BMHA are already gearing up for an exciting 2013/14 season, by accepting coaching applications for each of our Blackburn Wild Competitive "B" teams.

As per Blackburn By-Laws #7 and #19, candidates are asked to submit an application by May 1st for any of the following levels:

• Atom (2003/2004 Birth Years)
• Peewee (2001/2002 Birth Years)
• Bantam (1999/2000 Birth Years)
• Midget (1996/1997/1998 Birth Years)

If you are interested in coaching one of these competitive hockey teams next season, please complete the coach application form found on our Forms page and submit it to either our BMHA Rep B Convenor, Mark Kirkey at repb@blackburnstingers.com , or our BMHA President, Wally Montpetit at president@blackburnstingers.com

If you have any questions please contact either Mark or Wally.

There are many reasons why a player may be interested in playing competitive hockey. Hockey is Canada’s game. It’s on TV and it’s on the news every night of the week. Many players simply want to play more hockey games, at a faster and more intense level, as close as possible to what they see on TV.

Encouraging children to enjoy sports and promoting their confidence at an early age helps to ensure later participation in physical activity. Few people who were physically inactive as children become more active as adults.

Some of the many benefits of sport participation for children include:

• Healthy growth of bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons
• Reduced risk of obesity and increased cardiovascular fitness
• Enhanced coordination, balance and over-all athletic ability
• Improved social skills, including cooperation and leadership
• Educational scholarships and Career opportunities.

Players and Parents are encouraged to review the information below, remembering that BMHA does offer opportunities to off-set some of the increased financial burden associated with each of these levels.

Competitive "B" has been the first level of competitive hockey in our area (the first step up from House League) for more than 30 years.

Competitive “B” Teams in the BMHA are all called “Blackburn Wild”.

Blackburn Wild games are WITH BODY CHECKING at all levels above Atom, while house teams play with NO body checking at all ages.

Blackburn Wild games are 1½ hours at all levels above Peewee, while house teams play 1 hours games at all ages.

Blackburn Wild teams play more league games at all levels (e.g. Atom & Peewee play 50% more games), compared to house teams.

Blackburn Wild teams, who generally practice more than house teams, also typically engage special "dryland training" for further conditioning & core strength.

Whether you are a player, a parent or a coach-in-waiting, this document is meant to help explain what you can expect when playing on a Blackburn Wild Competitive "B" team.

Blackburn Wild game schedules and league standings are all posted on the league's official website http://ottawableague.ca/.

For those who are feeling a little more competitive, the next step up from Blackburn Wild is Gloucester Rangers Minor Hockey.

Where Blackburn Wild is teams of Blackburn (only) Players, the Rangers are teams of Players coming from all across the GHA (Blackburn, Gloucester, Orleans, Leitrim, Metcalfe, and Russell).

It is harder to make a Gloucester Rangers team; it is more travel & commitment (both time & money) if you are successful; but it is a harder, faster, and an overall higher level of hockey when you play there.

These Ranger teams play competitive "AA" & "A" hockey against all other hockey districts in Eastern Ontario - Pembroke & Brockville to Hawkesbury & Cornwall.

Information can be found at http://www.gloucesterrangers.com/about-us.html

Gloucester Rangers game schedules and league standings are all posted on the league's official website http://pointstreak.com/search/index.html?search=oemhl+a.

In general, the highest level (Tier 1) of minor hockey is AAA.

This is the level with the maximum time & maximum financial commitments, but it's also the highest level of hockey played in each and every age group that they compete in.

For AAA hockey, BMHA players are entitled to tryout for the Ottawa Junior 67's AAA Hockey Club.

Information can be found at http://www.ottawajr67aaa.com/about_us.html

Ottawa Jr. 67's game schedules and league standings are all posted on the league's official website http://www.pointstreak.com/players/players-leagues.html?leagueid=539.

NOTE: The Gloucester Rangers AA are our Tier 1, for any age groups where there is no AAA being offered (younger age groups).

Players or parents interested in exploring College/University opportunities for hockey players should read this document.

Players or parents interested in exploring opportunities for Junior hockey players should read this document.