I'm hearing rumours that the Clavet and Martensville minor hockey associations are combining teams starting next season. I've heard it is for sure for bantam, but I'm not sure about the other age groups. Has anyone else heard this rumour?
If so, they could be a really good team next year at bantam.
I'm hearing rumours that the Clavet and Martensville minor hockey associations are combining teams starting next season. I've heard it is for sure for bantam, but I'm not sure about the other age groups. Has anyone else heard this rumour?
If so, they could be a really good team next year at bantam.
Although not finalized, a tacit agreement has been reached. Pee wee, bantam, and midget programs would be combined with the current Martensville coaches heading next year's teams. Host status and ice times would be determined by who brings the greater percentage of players, with the river being the dividing line. New team nicknames and jerseys.
I agree, if you add players like Glover, Nogier, and Dodds to an already strong group of Martensville 96s (Allison, Wall, Boehm, etc) you might - finally - see a team that can compete with the Saskatoon clubs.
Although not finalized, a tacit agreement has been reached. Pee wee, bantam, and midget programs would be combined with the current Martensville coaches heading next year's teams. Host status and ice times would be determined by who brings the greater percentage of players, with the river being the dividing line. New team nicknames and jerseys.
I agree, if you add players like Glover, Nogier, and Dodds to an already strong group of Martensville 96s (Allison, Wall, Boehm, etc) you might - finally - see a team that can compete with the Saskatoon clubs.
With Martensville growing the way it is and if they continue to promote hockey in town as appossed to finding marginally better players in the 150 km radius they would improve from within instead of keeping those bubble kids player in div 2. By letting them play you start building biggier groups of kids able to play at that level and that is a good problem to have. Too long has it been looking for kids that are willing to drive in to play on winning teams only to see them play for another center that is stronger. Then that leaves the team week because it didn't have spots to develope kids.
From what I've heard through the grapevine, its kind of the other way around. I'm mostly involved in the city-based hockey seen, but Martensville does play in the league, and from what I've heard they have better "home grown" (in-town) talent than most of the other teams in the area, outside of Saskatoon.
I've heard that Warman tends to rely heavily on importing players from out-of-town, and its in-town players have suffered. If you look at the roster of their AA Bantam team on their website there are only 4 players listed as being from Warman.
This could be off-base, and maybe dickiedunnwrotethis can confirm or refute that claim, since he seems to be pretty in touch with that scene. More than myself, for sure.
It would just be good to see Martensville or Clavet, or whatever that new team looks like, be able to compete with our city teams.
From what I've heard through the grapevine, its kind of the other way around. I'm mostly involved in the city-based hockey seen, but Martensville does play in the league, and from what I've heard they have better "home grown" (in-town) talent than most of the other teams in the area, outside of Saskatoon.
I've heard that Warman tends to rely heavily on importing players from out-of-town, and its in-town players have suffered. If you look at the roster of their AA Bantam team on their website there are only 4 players listed as being from Warman.
This could be off-base, and maybe dickiedunnwrotethis can confirm or refute that claim, since he seems to be pretty in touch with that scene. More than myself, for sure.
It would just be good to see Martensville or Clavet, or whatever that new team looks like, be able to compete with our city teams.
Nope, you're pretty much on target, RinkRat. Martensville had about 10 in-town kids playing for them this year and a couple more from nearby communities (Hepburn and Beardy's). I could be wrong, but i think the furthest afield they went for players was Delisle. You're right on the Warman numbers too, although i can't say i'm up on the state of their minor hockey situation.
Anyway, my point isn't to say that Martensville is purer than other communities. I'm sure they'd take a player from the Ukraine if they thought it could help them compete better with the Saskatoon teams. What Neruda is missing is the fact is that Martensville has a population somewhere between 5-6000 to draw upon whereas the Saskatoon clubs are at approximately 35,000. Big difference. Clubs like Clavet and Martensville can't be choosy where their players come from, especially when they have to compete for scarce resources not only with each other, but also other centers such as Warman and Humboldt.
I don't think anyone - Clavet, Martensville, or even Saskatoon - wants to endure another season where the outcomes are never in doubt, merely the size of the victories. It wears on the kids who are constantly on the losing end, and frankly, doesn't reflect well on the league.
With Martensville growing the way it is and if they continue to promote hockey in town as appossed to finding marginally better players in the 150 km radius they would improve from within instead of keeping those bubble kids player in div 2. By letting them play you start building biggier groups of kids able to play at that level and that is a good problem to have. Too long has it been looking for kids that are willing to drive in to play on winning teams only to see them play for another center that is stronger. Then that leaves the team week because it didn't have spots to develope kids.
Not sure who those "bubble" kids were considering the make-up of the team was 2/3 Martensville kids. I was there for every minute of try-outs and i can't say the coaches were anything but fair to the local kids. And believe me, there is pressure to take local kids. Also, unless every community gets a AA bantam club, where would you have kids from Rosthern and Hepburn and Vanscoy, etc., etc., play?
Lastly, Bantam A leagues aren't a bad place to develop. Some players find their games faster than others. With good coaching they can make an impact in AA in their second year of bantam eligibility. Look to the provincial champ Frostbite as an example, or for a more germane example, Adam Osczevski of the Marauders. Didn't make the team his first year, but in his second led the team in all categories and made his Sask First zone team.
So has anyone heard any more word on this? Has this proposed agreement been finalized?
Just got word a few days ago that the deal fell through. Clavet minor hockey has left the GSHL leaving Martensville as the only rural team in the league. It's too bad because there was an opportunity to make some solid, competitive teams.
Even though this "deal" fell through, kids from Clavet can still go and play in Martensville.
Why do you sound so down about this?
They can, but Martensville still has to compete for players with two Center 4 teams - Warman and Humboldt. And frankly, there's still a stigma about Martensville hockey due to some bad decisions made by the Executive a few years ago that left a bad taste in many a parent's mouth, and which in turn created a legacy of truly uncompetitive teams. Even though there's a good base of local '96 talent and a dedicated, competent coaching staff, my guess is a number of those Clavet kids will go to the Center 4. So what seemed like a golden opportunity to overcome some bad history looks to be lost (not to be too melodramatic).
Well not sure if anyone can confirm this but very recently the rumor was that Warman and Martensville were talking about combining pee wee AA centres to follow suit with the two communities bantam situation (Vipers). Apparently Warman may have put the kibosh on that. Talks may have turned back to the old Martensville/Clavet combo. Anyone else hear the scuttle?
I see both pw teams are at/near bottom of their leagues. Boy they've struggled for 3-5 seasons now if I'm not mistaken. I don't see logistically how that amalgamation would work. Where do you centre the centre? Seems like political suicide. I can see their points of view though. Combining may produce a competitive team and benefit both areas. Interesting situation. As I recall last time this went around, the two executives couldn't agree on anything so the whole thing was scrapped.
I don't see how how that will be a great fit since those two suburbs are on the opposite ends of town. I could see a Martensville/Warman team.
M'ville/Warman is not happening. Shot down on the Warman front... Clavet/M'ville still possibility?? M'ville needs to get their collective act together... Their pee wee program has not been good for a number of years. They have lot's of kids so it's got zero to do with that. I have to fall back on coaching at those crucial initiation to atom levels. Need to get right people involved. Has this happened? Knowing some M'ville folks I find them to have a very lacsidasical attitude toward development. Warman is opposite, strong focus on developing through practice. Even the players from M'ville at AA bantam level this year are average. There are only 3 kids FROM M'ville on the peewee team. Having said this, Warman pee wee team struggling just as hard as M'ville's team.... And they've got 6-7 kids right from Warman. From what I understand Warman's issue has a lot to do with coaching. Clavet definitely can not sustain a pee wee AA team on their own... I think there are some ambitious people out there thinking it could happen.
It would just be good to see Martensville or Clavet, or whatever that new team looks like, be able to compete with our city teams.
Honestly folks it appears to me that SMHA could care less whether or not Clavet or M'ville is competitive. They seem to prefer it to be guaranteed win night when a city team plays them. I've had experience with SVMHL, Centre 4, and SMHA.... They don't mind when their teams are dismantling your team but if you are doing same to theirs, too often, then there's problems... Case in point tier 1 atom Clavet last year. Best team in SMHA and arguably one of best in province. Whining and complaining by SMHA that team was stacked. Kids were drawn fair and square, were extremely well coached.
