On Saturday the Minnesota Hockey Board met in St. Louis Park.  At the first session, the District Directors met. For those new to how Minnesota Hockey governs itself, the District Directors push a majority of new policy. The good, bad and everything between gets revealed at the quarterly district director’s meeting.

Saturday was a landmark morning for younger youth hockey players, coaches, and parents throughout the state. Here are all of my notes from the morning meeting.

A means A: In the shortest discussion in Minnesota Hockey history it was determined that A teams do not play B teams.

Replacement Goalies: Some discussion was given to the language of how goalies from other associations can be used in Regions and State Tournaments.  No new major rules to be changed, some minor wording of the rule to be addressed by the Rules Committee.

AA/A: It was unanimous to retain the AA/A format for PeeWees and Bantams next year. As for how the seeds will be distributed? Well, let’s just say that will be hashed out on another day.  A very brief discussion ensued and DD’s got very passionate about how the tournament should be heated. It is safe to say District 6 would like it one way and others would like it another..stay tuned. The seeding process will be ratified in June. No mandate will be given to large associations on how they form their teams (cough, cough White Bear Lake and Stillwater).

Bantam Date: Bantam teams do not have to choose their level of play until as late as November 25. This is to account for Bantam teams losing players to their high school programs.

Squirt Game Limits: It was approved to amend the language on game limits to 35 days vs. 35 games. A team can play games on 35 days. In addition, controlled scrimmages (events with other association teams played without clock or officials) will not count as “days”.  This is a major step in the right direction for Squirt aged kids.  Kudos to President Dave Margeneau who proposed this change.

Squirt Tournament of Champions: President Margeneau and Vice President Perry also proposed a Tournament of Champions format for Squirts next year.  The same weekend as MNH state tournaments. Two top teams from each district are selected (assumption is by standings and/or District Tournament results) and advance to a Regional event.

Next year there will be a North Region: Districts 11, 12, 15, and 16 (North Means North!), West Region: Districts 3, 6, 5, and 4 and East Region: Districts 10, 2, 8, and 9.

There is also speculation that YHH’s Tony Scott will be selected by MNH to the Tournament of Champions committee to help lead this new format.

During the Game Limit and Tournament of Champions discussion, District Director Brad Hewitt said it aptly, “if you ask the squirt people what they want…they will say more games and a state tournament is what you’d hear. Last month in Bloomington, The Squirtacular proved that…”

Standings for Squirts: Beginning next year, Districts will be allowed to keep standings on their website for Squirt aged kids.

Cross Ice Mites: Older Mite kids will be allowed to play full ice games against what has been proposed by USAH. We expect a release on Monday about this.

Cross Ice Tournaments: In a proactive move, MNH agreed to promote cross ice tournaments at the mite age.  The tournaments will be sanctioned.  Associations will NOT be charged sanctioning fees for these tournaments.  MNH really wants to promote cross ice hockey as much as it can, but without doing it exclusively like USAH had mandated for 2013-2014.  This seems to be a great compromise.  More cross ice, more games for mites (what the kids want) and some full ice (what the dads want).

This is a lot to chew on. District Director Michelle Merth said it best when she cautiously asked, “how much can we take on?” A very good point.  In summary, MNH has added 24 tournaments for Squirts and 10s, the ability to host a Mite Tournament, and an increase in regular season play for Squirts and 10s.