** note: for the purpose of this procedure and guideline "the executive" refers to a minimum two of the Rep director, VP Operations, President, Local League director - or other executive position expressly appointed by the president.
Erin-Hillsburgh Minor Hockey Association Player Evaluation Process
Please note that the information below is subject to change without notice and may be revised up to and during the 2025/26 evaluations. Any changes will be revised on this form.
Please review the OHF FAQ's re: new player movement changes for the 2025-26 Season.
EHMHA OPEN BORDER POLICY
At Erin-Hillsburgh Minor Hockey Association (EHMHA), we are committed to providing opportunities for players who reside within Erin-Hillsburgh historic OMHA boundaries to participate in our hockey programs. As we continue to implement our open border policy, which allows players from outside these historic boundaries to join our organization, it is important to ensure that we maintain a fair and balanced approach to player selection.
Open Border Participation
While EHMHA welcomes players from outside of Erin, the total number of non-resident players selected on a team will be limited. This allows our local players to maintain primary access to team spots while still allowing for inclusivity and participation from players beyond our geographic area. Our goal is to maintain 80% Erin residents in our entire organization, which includes Local League and Initiation programs.
Player Eligibility
U10 to U18 Rep and Advanced League (Select) evaluations are open to all registered Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) players. Player residency and eligibility must comply with OHF guidelines, policies, and rules.
U9MD evaluations are open to all registered Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) players.
Players are to purchase an evaluation card prior to the start of the evaluations. All evaluation cards will be purchased through the Hockey Canada Registration (HCR) system.
All players must be a member in good standing with Hockey Canada, OHF, OMHA and Erin-Hillsburgh Minor Hockey to participate in the evaluations.
Evaluation Card Refund Policy
No refunds will be issued for Evaluation cards.
Attendance at Player Evaluations
- It is expected that all players attend all scheduled skates for a given division. This is in keeping with OMHA/OHF policy that players must attend at least one division skate, and preferably all division skates.
- If an extraordinary situation exists (e.g. an injured player who cannot actively participate in player evaluations) a discussion must take place with the player/parent, the coach, and the executive prior to the start of the first player evaluation, and a decision made on how to handle on a case by case basis.
Player evaluation and selection process
The Selection and Releasing process during Evaluations
- Players will be graded by the head coach plus 3 or more other neutral graders. Goalies will be graded by the coach and at least one - ideally two - neutral goalie specialists
- The coach will identify the graders to the executive and/or work with the executive to appoint the graders
- None of the graders (except possibly the head coach) will have a child trying out for the team they are grading
- The selection of the team is at the discretion of the head coach, however any selections which are not consistent with the overall grading (e.g. player in bottom third selected while player in top third was not and vice versa) are to be discussed for transparency with the executive before being finalized
- All players that have purchased an evaluation card will receive a tracking number at their first evaluation, that will be listed on the EHMHA website under the division in which the player is trying out for.
- It will be important for players to check this system following each evaluation. Coaches will use this system to communicate with players by either releasing or selecting players, as well, updating player line ups for exhibition games and any other important information players may need to know.
What the Evaluation Tracking system will show:
STATUS as headers. The code shows the Player tracking number on the left and STATUS on the right. Possible outcomes are:
· If STATUS reads “Released”
The player has been released from that division’s evaluation.
Options:
As per the OHF player movement policy, the player may decide to attend evaluations for another Minor Hockey Association.
· If STATUS shows a "BLANK"
The player is invited to continue to the next evaluation.
· The Player status will be updated within 24 hours of the previous evaluation. It is the player/parent responsibility to review the tracking system throughout the evaluation process for their players status.
A player who has been released will have the opportunity to schedule a meeting with the coach to get feedback on areas of improvement; Meeting requests may be submitted to the Rep Director after 24 hours following the posting of the official player release online on the EHMHA website
With an open border for evaluations, the OMHA allows a player to be offered a spot on the first day of the selection window for its division. Selection is based on the evaluation of the player's performance, skills, and potential fit for the team.
Offer of Position
If your player is offered a spot on one of these teams after they have attended tryouts, you will be provided a PRIVATE link to register for the season. Registration constitutes acceptance of offer on the team. Do NOT share the link. Do NOT use for sibling registrations. Do NOT register for Local League if you intend on playing with a Rep team once offered a spot. We are obligated to remove these registrations if they occur.
24-Hour Response Window: The player has 24 hours from the time of the offer to confirm whether they accept or decline the position on the team.
Failure to Respond
If the player does not respond within the 24-hour window, the head coach reserves the right to revoke the offer and select another player for the position.
We encourage all players and parents to be prompt in their responses, as timely communication helps facilitate the selection process for all involved. Our goal is to ensure a positive and efficient experience for all players during evaluations, and we appreciate your cooperation in adhering to this policy.
Availability of player evaluation data
- All grading data will be submitted to the executive within 24 hours of the last player evaluation and kept on file for a period of 60 days; but will remain confidential from parents/players.
- Grading data will not be made available in its raw state to parents and players, however if a parent is questioning the decision, a meeting to review the grading results in aggregate can be setup with the coach, Rep director and VP Operations
- In cases where a member of the executive is also the parent of a child trying out for a given team, they will have no additional access to that data than would any other parent
Team size
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OMHA regulations define a rep team roster size for U10-U18 age groups to be a minimum of 11 players and a maximum of 20 players. U21 teams are able to roster 25 players, but can only dress up to 18 plus 2 goalie for games. Please refer to the OMHA Manual of Operations for most up to date information.
- While teams of 14 or 15 skaters with 2 goalies are preferred and encouraged, EHMHA will form teams of any size that falls within the OMHA regulation parameters
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Coaches wishing to select a team smaller than 14 skaters and 2 goalies or larger than 15 skaters and two goalies must first discuss their rationale with the executive and receive approval before finalizing
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Note that rep ice budgets take into consideration the amount of revenue per team – therefore larger teams receive a larger ice budget to reflect additional rep fees collected
Trying out for a higher age division
- All players are free to try out for the next higher age division if they wish; such players must pre-register for player evaluations and must indicate at that time their intention to try out with the older age division.
- In order to make the higher age division team the player needs to be evaluated as top 5 in the higher age division.
- It is strongly recommended that players trying out for an older age division should also participate and be evaluated in their current age division.
- If the player decides not to attend the evaluations for their current age division and to only attend the evaluations for the older age division, that player will not be eligible to be selected for the team for their current age division.
Players becoming eligible for EH after player evaluations
- If a player becomes eligible too late to participate in player evaluations (i.e. by moving to the area; through an OMHA Regulation 3.5 waiver; late cut from AAA) and the team does not have a full roster, then the coach may decide they want to consider adding a player to their roster. In that case the coach may arrange with the executive to schedule a supplementary evaluation.
- The definition of a full roster is 20 players as defined by the OMHA regulations (U10-18). However, consistent with the team size EHMHA guideline, coaches wishing to select a team larger than 15 skaters and two goalies must first discuss their rationale with the executive and receive approval
- A player on the roster may not be cut to make room for a newly eligible player
- Under no circumstances shall a newly eligible player be rostered to a team without this supplementary evaluation being held
Roster positions opening up after player evaluations
- If a roster position on a team becomes available (e.g. a player moves away or drops out of rep hockey), at the discretion of the coach, that position may be filled by holding an assessment player evaluation.
Supplementary player evaluation guidelines
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If an assessment skate is held under one of the above two scenarios, all eligible players - including those who chose not to attend player evaluations - are eligible to attend.
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Effort must be made to communicate the scheduling of a supplementary evaluation to all eligible players
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As with regular player evaluations, players at a supplementary evaluation will be graded by the head coach plus 3 or more other neutral graders.