MOVING FROM HOUSE LEAGUE TO REP HOCKEY

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The MGHL is committed to developing all of its players, both at the recreational (House League) and competitive (Rep League) levels. House League generally has a more relaxed atmosphere, while Rep is more intense. We strive to create opportunities for our recreational athletes to improve their skills and hockey knowledge, with the hope that this helps some of our House League Hurricanes make the transition to the Rep Program.

For general information about our competitive Rep Program, including details about Coaches, Team Composition, Player Identification, Tryouts, Time Commitment, and Financial Expectations, see our Rep League Page.

Please find the following answers to some of the commonly asked questions about making the move from House League to the Rep Program.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOUSE AND REP LEAGUE?

Regardless of whether your daughter plays for our House League or Rep Program, it is our goal to provide all of our athletes with a safe space to learn, develop and grow on and off the ice through comprehensive, education based, hockey programs. We are proud to call all of our athletes MGHL Hurricanes! The chart below highlights some of the key differences between our recreational and competitive programs:

PROGRAM DETAIL	HOUSE LEAGUE	REP LEAGUE
Eligibility	Open to all girls of any skill level	Open to all girls with above average to advanced skill levels
Team Selection	All registered players placed on teams On-ice evaluation session in September attended by various House League staff (i.e., Director, Conveners, Coaches), balancing teams as fairly as possible Full teams (11 - 17 players) are formed from scratch Tie-to accommodations available	Players selected based on merit Internal player scouting by Coaches beginning in January Formal tryout process (with several open / invite only sessions) from mid-April to May held by each specific Rep Team’s coaching staff Coaches may have a preliminary idea of what players could be on their team and fill out their rosters based on a variety of criteria (e.g., player availability; specific team needs; player potential; team dynamics etc.)
Opponents	Each age division’s teams within the MGHL play each other; some divisions may play other association’s teams in a “loop” (when an odd number of teams exists)	Each age division / level plays other association’s teams Our Rep athletes represent our organization across Ontario
Costs	Registration approximately $100 - $800 annually, depending on the age division Note: U11 - U22 dedicated goalies receive a full rebate after playing the full season	Registration / fees approximately $3000 - $5000+ annually, depending on the age division AND level (AA level teams should expect to pay more) Additional costs associated with tournament travel (may be overnight) and team bonding events
Schedule	Weekly: One practice One game Optional Annually: Free and / or paid extra development sessions, as available One - two tournaments	Weekly: One practice, plus an added dry-land training component One development session One - two games, plus pre-game warm-up / post-game cool-down Annually: Extended development, as scheduled per team Four - six tournaments (MGHL Winter Classic mandatory; MGHL Winter AA Showcase mandatory for Elite Performance teams)
Travel	Travel is minimal Practices / games are held at local arenas Optional tournaments may require travel	Travel is expected Practices held at local arenas Away games may require travel throughout Ontario Tournaments may require extended travel, including outside of Canada

IS MY DAUGHTER READY FOR REP / WHAT ARE REP COACHES LOOKING FOR IN PLAYERS?

If your daughter has expressed an interest or desire to be on a Rep team, that’s a good first start! However, while it is very important for a player to want to play competitively, it is also important to be realistic about what’s required to be successful and grow at a competitive level of hockey. We want all of our athletes to have a good time and develop, regardless of whether they are in House League or Rep.

Your daughter may be a strong candidate for competitive hockey if they display a combination of talent, dedication, teamwork and a genuine passion for the game. Having a solid foundation of fundamental skills, such as skating and puck control, is needed. Equally important is a strong work ethic and a willingness to put in extra effort, not only during official practices but also in personal training and conditioning. Being coachable and receptive to feedback is crucial, as is the ability to adapt to various playing styles and strategies. Furthermore, displaying a capacity to work collaboratively with teammates and maintain a positive / respectful attitude, even in challenging situations, are attributes that set up a player for success on a Rep team. Ultimately, a young female player who possesses these qualities not only elevates their own game but also enhances the overall competitiveness, collective success and camaraderie of the team. These qualities can be displayed by athletes of any age in varying degrees and our Rep Program will further foster and develop them in our Hurricanes.

SHOULD I LET THE REP COACH KNOW MY DAUGHTER WANTS TO MOVE UP FROM HOUSE LEAGUE?

Absolutely! You should be proactive and contact the Rep Coach(es) to let them know that your daughter wants to move to Rep. A list of Coaches can be found on MGHL.ca under the “Rep League'' menu item, or by clicking here: MGHL.ca/RepCoaches. Give the Rep Coach your House League Coach’s contact information so they can get an independent assessment of your daughter before tryouts begin. The Rep Coach may want to watch your daughter in action so let them know your schedule of games and attend any “pre-tryout skate” the Coach runs (schedules will be posted at MGHL.ca/RepTryouts.) If you haven’t been able to connect with the Coach beforehand, introduce yourself at the tryouts and tell them what pinnie your daughter is wearing; this will let the Coach know you are seriously interested.

I HEARD REP TEAMS ARE ALREADY PICKED BEFORE TRYOUTS, AND THAT IT IS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY TO GO; IS THAT TRUE?

Absolutely not! While a good Rep Coach will do extensive pre-tryout scouting and may have seen some players five to ten times across games, practices and development sessions, tryouts are the final view before picking the team. Coaches may have spoken with the player’s current Coach to understand their strengths and potential and how this fits with the team they are trying to put together. At tryouts, a player who hasn’t been seen by a Coach will have a harder time to break through and make an impression, which is why it is important that you contact the Rep Coaches in advance (see previous section) if your daughter is interested in trying out for a team.

At the highest levels, Coaches may come to tryouts with a preliminary idea of their roster and may be looking for only a couple of players to fill in gaps. However, most teams are quite open when tryouts come around; this is due to several reasons. Until tryouts, Coaches do not know for sure which girls will return to the MGHL, attend from other girl’s or co-ed associations, or have been chosen for another team; the Coach wants to make sure they have the flexibility to select the best players from all of the athletes that attend tryouts for their team. A good Coach is always on the lookout for talent. Coaches will balance their team based on the criteria they are looking for – “head, heart, hands and feet.”

WHAT LEVEL / CALIBRE SHOULD MY DAUGHTER TRYOUT FOR (AA, A, BB, B)?

It is generally a good idea to have your daughter tryout at a higher level than where they want to play so that all the Coaches will see them on the ice with the other athletes. Don’t hesitate to seek guidance from your daughter’s current Coach or the Rep Coaches at their division. If you know for certain that your daughter does not want to play for a higher calibre team, but would still like to attend tryouts “just for the skate”, please be courteous and notify the Coach of this when you register so that they can place more focus on girls who want to make the team.

MY DAUGHTER LOOKED BETTER THAN OTHER GIRLS ON THE ICE AT TRYOUTS; WHY WAS SHE NOT PICKED FOR THE TEAM?

By the time tryouts start, Coaches will likely have seen many of the players numerous times; they base their selection decisions on the overall quality of player, not just what they see at a single tryout. It is advisable to attend as many “pre-tryout skates” or tryout sessions that are offered. As noted above, Coaches look for different things in players and may be looking for a player to fill a specific need on their team; your daughter’s skills may not be what the Coach is looking for. Like Team Canada, Coaches try to pick the right players for their team; they may be looking for speed, hands, size, offence and / or defence, or the optimal balance of these skills.

WHY NOT JUST PLAY BOTH HOUSE LEAGUE AND DEVELOPMENT STREAM (DS)?

Making a DS team offers House League players an opportunity to enhance their development in a slightly more competitive setting within our recreational program. However, there are several advantages to playing Rep compared to House League and DS, depending on what your objectives are, such as:

• Having one Coach allows for more consistent direction and development
• More balanced ice time throughout the week
• Schedules are known well in advance making it easier to schedule “the rest of your life”
• Never a practice and game on the same day / time, as could happen with House League and DS teams
• Improved team bonding, as Rep teams spend more consistent time together, including socializing at tournaments, after games, and at season parties. Lifelong friendships are easily made by both players and parents!

WHY DOES REP COST MORE?

Rep is a far more involved program that requires athletes to be more competitive and represent our organization in girls minor hockey. Costs for Rep vary from team to team depending on the division, level and the specific program the Coach has put together for the season. The MGHL is a not-for-profit association. The fees for Rep go towards benefiting the team and athletes directly, including such necessities as: higher quality branded equipment and apparel, additional ice times, referees and timekeepers for more games, enhanced development sessions / specialized coaching from professional developers, multiple tournament registrations, and more extensive travel, to name a few. Coaches will provide a detailed team Coaching Plan and budget to all prospective families.

For more information about our Rep Program, or for any questions or comments, please contact:
Charles Eddie | Rep Director | [email protected]