What is Select Hockey? (Ancaster Minor Hockey)

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PrintWhat is Select Hockey?

What is the Select Program?

The Select program it's an opportunity for players in house league to play at a more competitive level without the bigger commitment of a rep program.

There is typically one Select team per age group (U9, U11, U13, U15, U16, U18), and tryouts are usually held in late September. Additional teams may be added, or some cancelled depending on availability of coaches, goalies, and registered players.

Players who make the Select team get the opportunity to participate in up to four tournaments per year to represent the Ancaster Avalanche, and will have organized practices and exhibition games to prepare for the tournaments.

Here are some quick details:

  • The team will have one or two hours of ice time per week that is used for practices or exhibition games
  • The Select program is an addition to house league, not a replacement, so players who make the Select team continue to play with their house league team
  • Select team schedules will not conflict with house league schedules
  • There is an additional fee for those who make the team, typically in the range of $500 to $700 per player.

As of the 2024-25 Season, Select teams can play:

  • Up to four exhibition games per month
  • Up to four tournaments per year

The tryout sessions typically occur at the end of September, after the house league evaluations have completed.

New Select League?

Since the Spring of 2024 there has been a group of volunteers within the OMHA Tri-County doing a lot of great work to organize a new Select League, beginning in the 2024-25 Season. Each centre within the OMHA was invited to enter teams in this newly proposed league.

After reviewing the details including the potential schedule, costs, and travel required, Ancaster Minor Hockey made the decision to not participate last season. Instead each team continued to operate under the current model as we always have.

The Select League (known as the Advanced Local League) will be operating again for the 2025-26 season. We will once again review this option with each of the Select coaches and determine if there's any interest in participating.