Around the Rinks

The 2020/21 season is fast approaching; we are sure you are all equally anxious and excited to see how that may look.   Our goal is to get all of you back on the ice as quickly and safely as possible; but we are going to need your help to do this.
We are currently working our way through the required protocols sent down from our Federal and Provincial governments, the City of Hamilton and Ringette Ontario.  There will be a number of additional requirements we will have to adhere to moving forward, some of which may seem daunting.  If we stick together, like a family, we will get through it and be back on the ice soon.
There will be limited ice time as we head in to September, but it will be available starting the week of the 15th.  The HRA will be running modified programming for the foreseeable future, until the time that our governing bodies inform us that we can move forward.  Ice time will be dictated by numbers registered, as will the ice pads that are opened; therefore, it is vitally important that you register for the season.
More information will be coming soon so keep reading your emails and HRA communications.  We can’t wait to see you again!  #GoHeatGo #WeAreAllIn

REGISTRATION

Registration is now open for all those who pre registered, and our new website is coming soon!  The HRA will be moving away from the TeamSnap communication portal and adopting the Ringette Ontario platform RAMP.  The new site is much more mobile friendly but we still recommend that you complete your registration on a desktop or laptop due to the amount of information you will be required to enter.  
This move will allow us to keep up with the changing landscape of athlete tracking while also helping to obtain and store all of the necessary information we will need to progress through our Return to Play protocols.  We are very excited to be making this move and we can’t wait to share it with all of you!
Fees for the coming year will be as follows:
FUNdamentals - $275
U10-U19 - $575
Included in each registration is a $100 non-refundable deposit.  Families with multiple athletes registered in the HRA will receive a $50 discount.  As per Ringette Ontario and the City of Hamilton Public Health all players will be required to register in their local health unit.

Accepted method of payment at this time will be limited to E-transfer or cheques. All questions pertaining to registration can be forwarded to our registrar at jonahrens@gmail.com

LEAGUE PLAY

The 2021 season will start off much differently than past seasons.  As the pandemic situation evolves, Ringette Ontario has made the decision, along with all other winter sport groups, to postpone all regular game and tournament play until January.  There will be modified game play coming, but there are a number of protocols that need to been completed before this can take place.  This game play can only take place inside your local health unit.

Ringette Ontario has created a new format for all league play across the province. We will be moving into a tiered system of scheduling; associations will be placed into divisions playing against like skilled teams within their regions. This will eliminate the Provincial/Regional distinction and allow for greater competition and across all levels this will create opportunities for teams to advance their skills.
 

REGIONALS 2021

Hamilton Ringette is still scheduled to host the 2021 Southern Region Championships.  While RO has already cancelled all first half tournaments, they have decided to hold off on making an official decision on the year end championship.  This will still be a great opportunity for us to show everyone how we do things in the Hammer! Stay tuned!

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The AGM has come and gone; those who are looking for information on the coming season can watch the meeting, which has been posted on youTube for those that did not attend. https://youtu.be/wpyaNcOwfxY
 
There are still a few board positions that need to be filled:
Director of Sponsorship, Fundraising and Special Events
U10, U12, U16, and MAC Convenors

LEARN TO SKATE & N'ICE STIX
Due to COVID restrictions, the LTS program will look different this year. Ringette Ontario has made changes to the LTS & U8 program name which will be now be known as FUNdamentals. The intention is to create opportunities for players to move through different groupings based on skill development, rather than birth year. This will help us to provide a greater level of skills-based training, geared appropriately to each player’s progression. As we move forward through the COVID progressions, modified game play will be added to this group as well
 
Our partnership with Coach Nick and N’ice Stix will continue, but not in the way we have become accustomed to.  Unfortunately, due to the return to play restrictions, we will not be permitted at this time to have them on ice with us.  That doesn’t mean that we won’t be providing the same level of training, we are just in the process of working out the best and safest way to make it as enjoyable and beneficial as it has been.
 
Currently we are still moving toward starting the FUNdamentals program as we have in the past, the first week after Thanksgiving.

SPONSORSHIP
Hamilton Ringette is looking for additional sponsors for the 2020/21 season.  With the absence of this year’s CFL season we are missing a large part of our operating budget.  Our partnership with the Hamilton Tiger Cats accounts for nearly $25,000; which is used to offset costs in all levels of our association.  In order to continue offering the programming you love, in an affordable way, we will need to rely on the support of our community.
 
If you have a sponsor that may be interested, please contact any member of the board for information.
 

BOTTLE DRIVE
The Eason family issued a challenge to all of the families in the HRA at the beginning of the summer; collect empties from your friends and neighbors and donate the funds to the HRA.  This is another easy way to help us fill some of the void left by the missing CFL fundraiser.
 
The Eason’s have collected $1000 dollars in empties for the HRA, now it’s time to see how you stack up!  Recently we have had a few more families get in on the action and our total is now over $1500.  We have a digital flyer created for those who need it, reach out to Stephanie Nash for a copy.  
 
All proceeds can be sent to ringettesharon@outlook.com and don’t forget to share your photos to our social media pages!  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ttee0oP1qyY6_pvwOirFkPOvfQMru48v/view?usp=sharing

SWAG
Facemasks will be made available for sale soon; with mandatory mask bylaws in place, you and your kids have the opportunity to rep the HRA in style. There will be 2 options available, a standard face covering and a neck gaiter, which can act in several different functions, it would be perfect on ice for all the kids. Contact brettrivers72@gmail.com to place your orders today!


The mask (left) is $10
The buff (right) is $15

THINGS TO REMEMBER

• For all of the latest information on the Return to Play protocol please sign up for the Ringette Ontario mailer at https://ringetteontario.com/contact-ro/ and follow them on their social media
• For all of the latest HRA information follow us on Facebook and Instagram
• **Remember** read your emails; there will be important information coming regularly as we navigate through the start of this year.

• We can’t wait to see you again! https://youtu.be/iwY7d3ALRKM