We expect that the 417 Midget Juvenile Hockey League, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada will have about 12 to14 teams for the 2005-2006 season, located throughout Eastern Ontario. The League provides high-intensity, non-bodychecking recreational hockey for players up to 20 years old.

Although the Hockey Playing Rules of the Canadian Hockey Association and the Code of Discipline of the Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association apply, the League Rules include clarification of rule interpretations for intentional body checking, stick infractions, fighting and roughing.

The 417 League is a recreational league, and one of its primary objectives is to provide non-bodychecking hockey to a full spectrum of players of all abilities. Teams are expected to meet recreational hockey objectives, including a reasonable balance in the ice time that each player plays and ensuring that all players who want to play within each hockey association are accommodated to the greatest possible extent. This is not a competitive hockey league, although it is expected that every team, having met the above objectives, will strive to perform to the greatest of their abilities.  Special considerations apply to any team that allows its players to affiliate with Junior teams.

Hockey associations wanting to join and play in the League should take care in choosing coaches who have the patience to work with players having skills ranging from those with Junior A capability to those who have never played organized hockey. A coach with the ability to exercise quiet diplomacy on the bench, and either with good administrative talents or with a good manager, will fit well in the League. Coaches and managers are strongly encouraged to co-operate with game officials, and to provide feedback to the League about officiating issues. Similarly, officials are strongly encouraged to co-operate with team officials, and to provide feedback to the League about coaching issues.

Discipline is severe for both coaches and players who break the rules, and we have a high expectation that the coaching staff will maintain a good working relationship with the wide variety of referees that we call upon to officiate our games.

For information, kindly email: juvenile417@sympatico.ca

16 October 2005