Try-outs, MD and ROC
Submitted By Mike Beaudoin on Mon 04 24, 23
As the 2022/23 hockey season comes to a close, many payers are already looking towards the 2023/24 season and have a few questions. We'll try to answer a few of them here, and please reach out to any board members with other questions you may have as I'm sure you aren't the only one wondering. We'll attempt to have articles explaining all the most asked questions we have received.
Today, we'll broadly look at Try-outs, ROC, and MD.
What and Where are tryouts?
Many players already know what tryouts are, but aren't sure when they happen, or what level they are expected to tryout for. With Dundas Minor Hockey choosing to focus on recreational hockey, that means Representative (or "
Rep") Hockey will take place in our surrounding hockey centers. Depending on just where you live in Dundas, you may have multiple choices for where you can attempt to play Rep hockey next year. The location will be chosen due to proximity, with some choice due to something we will discuss shortly called a "Right Of Choice".
Rep teams from ages U10 up to U16 hold try-outs in the spring prior to their scheduled year. The highest level of minor hockey (AAA), is the first to hold tryouts in Hamilton starting April 24th. After those teams have been made, AA tryouts are held in some centers, with A Tryouts following, with B centers usually having tryouts at similar times to A level. To get specifics, please check the chosen hockey association's website to see their appropriate tryout schedule. Those who want to tryout for AAA will have to obtain a "Permission to Skate" form which DMHA will be happy to provide. The U18 players follow a different schedule and hold their tryouts in the fall.
What is an ROC?
As mentioned above, an ROC is a Right of Choice. This is to give families some choice in where they play Rep hockey. If you live near two different hockey centres, you may have an ROC to play at one or the other centre, provided the distances are
within 8kms of each other. for a Town like Dundas, this could mean some families have options of Flamborough, Glancaster or Burlington.
To determine which centres you can ROC to, you can use Google maps to determine the mileage, using the shortest possible route, between your residence and the centre’s approved OMHA centre point. If the mileage between your closest centre and another centre(s) is 8km or less, you can make an ROC to either centre. If the difference between the two mileage measurements exceeds 8km, you do not have multiple options for an ROC, and your new home centre for programming that is subject to residential restrictions will be your closest centre. All mileage measurements will be confirmed by the OMHA.
What does MD mean?
MD simply means “Minor Development”. Often it is used to designate a team that isn’t Representative, but has players wishing for increased skills development, possibly to play Rep in future. An MD team is not in addition to a separate house league team unlike Select, where players essentially are playing both house league as well as a more competitive/developmental program simultaneously. Dundas for 2023 will be strictly participating in House League and Select as it provides the best combination of fun and competitiveness that the DMHA hopes to develop in our players.