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National Aboriginal Hockey Championships 05/03/2009 08:00
05/09/2009 22:00
America/Winnipeg
Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Aboriginal Sport Circle, Canada’s national voice for Aboriginal sport and recreation, is pleased to present the 2009 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. The following information offers a basic overview of the event in the Event Profile section, technical guidelines and specific criteria for team selections in the Technical Guidelines and Criteria section. This page also offers a link the Event Forms. Should you require further details on the Championships, or require more information about the Aboriginal Sport Circle, please contact our offices at (613) 236-9624.
Event ProfileIntroduction • NAHC Principles • Location & Dates • Accomodations, Travel, and FoodThe Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) was established to promote personal excellence through sport and to support the holistic development of Aboriginal athletes and coaches. As a program of the ASC, the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC) reflect those priorities while serving as the premier competition for minor level Aboriginal hockey in Canada.
The NAHC provide a forum for elite Bantam/Midget age Aboriginal hockey players, which attracts participation from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis within each of the thirteen Provinces and Territories of Canada. The long-term vision for the NAHC is to establish a competitive structure that will serve as the impetus for grassroots and regional Aboriginal hockey development. The event will help foster cultural unity and pride and celebrate the athletic abilities of Aboriginal athletes from across the country.
The NAHC embodies shared traditional Aboriginal principles that encourage holistic approaches to the personal development of all participants (athletes, team staff, and officials). The Championships take a balanced approach that supports the physical, mental, spiritual, and cultural aspects of life. For this reason, the NAHC will include the meaningful involvement of Elders and cultural components throughout the program.
The NAHC are designed as an elite, all-star format where the best Bantam/Midget age hockey players are selected to compete on behalf of their Provinces and Territories. The event is inclusive, which means anyone of Aboriginal ancestry, whether First Nations (status or non-status Indian), Inuit or Métis, is eligible to compete.
The Championships promote drug and harassment free sport. Therefore a strict “zero tolerance” policy is adopted. The use of alcohol, tobacco (non-ceremonial), performance enhancing substances, and any acts of discrimination are strictly prohibited.
The 2009 NAHC will be hosted in Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 3-9. The 2009 NAHC is comprised of 4 co-hosts: Manitoba Métis Federation, Keewatin Tribal Council, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak. The competition will span seven days with both the male and female championship games being held on Saturday, May 9.
Travel to the 2009 NAHC has been designated for Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2, and departure on Sunday, May 11.
Community Profile
The City of Winnipeg is located at the junction of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers. For thousands of years, the present day location of Winnipeg served as a meeting place for many native tribes. Native peoples congregated here for celebrations and ceremonies, and to trade their wares.
Winnipeg is the capital city of the province of Manitoba and a major Canadian and regional city with a population of 712,700. Winnipeg has the most diverse economy of major cities in Canada and also one of the most culturally diverse cities anywhere. Some 100 languages and cultural groups are represented in the region. Winnipeg has a tremendous amount of recreation, sports and entertainment for a city of its size. Winnipeg today is vibrant, growing and full of life and sport. There’s an energy and excitement. This hub of commerce, cultural centre and sports town has a buzz that’s contagious.
Venues
Two arenas will be used for the 2009 NAHC. The primary venue will be the University of Manitoba’s Max Bell Centre. This site features an ice surface (90’ x 200’), which seats upwards of 1,600 spectators. The secondary venue will be the Dakota Community Centre, which features two NHL standard sizes (85’ X 200’).
Each team is responsible for arranging and paying for their accommodations, travel to Winnipeg, and food. To simplify team reservations, the 2009 Host Organizing Committee has block booked rooms in hotels throughout Winnipeg. A detailed listing of accommodations and rates are available through the 2009 Host Organizing Committee and will be made available.
Technical Guidelines and CriteriaTeam Selections • Eligibility • Registration • Technical/General InformationThe NAHC are designed as an All Star Championship. As such, each Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Body (P/TASB) is responsible for conducting regional selections (i.e. talent identification camps) to determine its team rosters. Each P/TASB is also directly responsible for submitting team registrations to the ASC and coordinating travel to the Championships.
In preparing for the event, it is recommended that each P/TASB establish a working partnership with their Hockey Canada Provincial/Territorial hockey branch and government.
Ancestry
Teams must be comprised only of players and coaches who are of Aboriginal ancestry. Every player and coach must carry with her/him documentation that verifies her/his Aboriginal ancestry. In most cases, picture ID along with a Status Card, Inuit Card or Metis Membership Card will be adequate. In cases where the participant is non-status (Indian), an Ancestry Form must be completed, which documents their lines of descent, authenticated and endorsed by the parent(s) or guardian, coach, and P/TASB, and submitted to the ASC at the Team Roster Deadline.
Ages
School Enrollment
All players participating in the 2009 NAHC must be enrolled in school and/or have completed the necessary requirements for their high school diploma (or the equivalent).
Residency
All players and coaches must hold permanent residency in the Province/Territory (P/T) for which he/she competes. Exceptions are made for players who attend school on a full-time basis in another P/T. In such cases, the player can choose to compete for either his/her home P/T, or the P/T where he/she attends school. In cases where a player competes for the P/T where he/she attends school, a completed Residence Declaration Form must be endorsed by the parent(s) or guardian, coach, and P/TASB and submitted to the ASC at the Team Roster Deadline. Further information on residency is provided in the official NAHC Technical Package.
Participant Restrictions
Minimum Certification Standards for Coaches
Each team’s Head Coach must possess a minimum of Intermediate Level certification and/or Developmental 1 Training. All Assistant Coaches must possess a minimum of Coach Level certification and/or Community Coach. Proof of certification will be required upon submission of the TEAM ROSTER FORMS.
Each female team is required to have a minimum of one female coach (either as an assistant or Head Coach) on the bench at all times.
Policy on Drug and Harassment Free Sport
The Aboriginal Sport Circle promotes drug and harassment free sport. Therefore, a strict “zero tolerance” policy has been adopted for the 2009 NAHC. All participants are strictly prohibited from the use of alcohol, tobacco (non-ceremonial), and performance enhancing substances. Any acts of harassment or discrimination will not be tolerated.
All participants (players and team staff) registering for the 2009 NAHC are required to sign a CODE OF CONDUCT FORM, which outlines in detail the drug and harassment policies enforced at the tournament.
Note: Each P/TASB must implement a screening process, which includes conducting Police Records Check and CPIC (Canadian Police Informative Check) on all team staff members (coaches, managers, trainers and chaperones). Staff that have not submitted to or passed the required checks, prior to the Team Roster deadline, are not eligible to participate in the 2009 NAHC.
Team Registration Deadline: November 27, 2008 4:00pm EST Each P/TASB is responsible for submitting all the necessary forms and fees to the Aboriginal Sport Circle. To be eligible to compete at the 2009 NAHC, teams must abide by the following processes and deadlines: All P/TASB intending on sending teams to the 2009 NAHC must submit a TEAM REGISTRATION FORM (one per team) to the ASC on or before November 27, 2009, 4pm EST. The Team Bond must also be submitted at this deadline (see Team Bond for details).
Team Roster Deadline: February 11, 2009, 4:00pm EST
Teams that have met the Registration deadline must submit their TEAM ROSTERS FORMS on or before February 11, 2009 4pm EST.
Additionally, teams must submit all applicable PARTICIPANT FORMS (team binders) to the ASC and branch letters on or before March 30, 2009, 4pm EST. This will include any omissions or substitutions of players not listed in the roster submitted by the February 11, 2009 deadline, and will constitute that region’s final roster. All Forms must be completed in full and include all necessary signatures of authorization. Teams that fail to meet the deadline will forfeit the entire amount of their team bond fee.
Team Rosters
Each team shall consist of the following:
Team Bond ($500.00)
Rather than imposing a registration fee, a Team Bond has been established in the amount of $500per team. The bond is mandatory for each team to pay and must accompany Team Registrations, which are due on November 27, 2008. The bond will serve to secure each team’s position in the Championships and will be reimbursed in full upon meeting all the necessary requirements.
Sanction
As an event sanctioned by Hockey Canada, the NAHC will operate in strict accordance with the rules and regulations established for national championships. The detailed Technical Package will be distribution to all Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies.
Competition Format
Through a preliminary ranking process, teams will be divided into an A and B pool. Each team will compete in a round-robin format within its pool. Upon completing the round robin, the teams will cross over for the quarterfinal games. The winners will advance to the semi-finals, while the losing teams will play in the relegation round. The two winning teams will advance to the championship final, while the losing teams will compete in the Bronze medal game.
Team Uniforms
Each team will be supplied with a set of Home/Away jerseys and socks. Team colour combinations will be assigned through the Aboriginal Sport Circle.
Rules and Disciplinary Committee
Prior to the NAHC, a Rules and Disciplinary Committee will be established to accept and rule on protests arising from competition. The Committee will be comprised of individuals not directly involved with the hosting of the 2009 NAHC and/or participating team.
Awards
The players and staff (coaches, manager and trainer) of the top three female and male teams will receive medallions (gold, silver and bronze respectively). The female and male teams that win the overall championship will have the name of their Province/Territory engraved on the Turtle Island Cup.
All Star Selection Process for 2009 National Aboriginal High Performance Hockey Camp
The ASC’s National Aboriginal Hockey Program consists of two annual initiatives; the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships and the National Aboriginal High Performance Hockey Camp. Each year an independent scouting committee will select 20 female and 20 male all-stars from the NAHC. These all-stars will be invited to attend the National Aboriginal High Performance Hockey Camp. Six additional male and female players will be identified to attend the Camp at their expense. Each P/TASB is also invited to select one (1) coach to attend the Camp as a participant in the ASC’s Coach Mentorship Program. Details regarding the 2009 National Aboriginal High Performance Hockey Camp will be announced. The dates for the Camp have yet to be determined.
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"Thanks to Canadian Heritage (Sport Canada) for its generous financial contribution." |
