The Blessed Sacrament Hockey Association has been running for many years and has held a reputation as being one of the best leagues in the city. But the whole world of hockey is changing. Changing demographics, other leagues and other competitive sports have impacted our registration.
Unfortunately, our registration numbers did not meet the minimum requirement that we would need to continue on at St. Mikes. So, it is with great sadness that the Blessed Sacrament Hockey Association will end its long history. We will not be running a hockey program for 2010/2011.
BSHA has always had an affiliation with the North York Knights and they have offered to take all current BSHA players. Anyone not currently registered with BSHA but interested in finding a league for their child can find out more about the Knights at www.kochockey.com. Although we are sad to see the end of BSHA, we are confident that the Knights experience will be excellent opportunity for young hockey players.
On behalf of the executive of BSHA, we have truly enjoyed our years spent at the rink.
Thank you,
Paul Sidwell
If you have any questions about the transition, please email us at hockey@bsha.ca |
To the BSHA Community
I am delighted to announce that the North York Knights Hockey Association will welcome both the Blessed Sacrament Learn to Play and House League programmes into the Knights' LTP and house league programmes with effect for the upcoming season this September.
Like BSHA, we are a non-profit community based organization. The North York Knights has operated a learn to play and house league program in North York and North Toronto, with a full select level hockey programme, for over 50 years. We are one of the biggest and most highly regarded hockey associations in Toronto. The Knights and BSHA have been affiliated for 50 years, with common roots in the Knights of Columbus Hockey League, and this will be a natural and seamless step in the evolution of the organizations.
Our website is at www.kochockey.com – check it out.
Learn to Play
We intend to continue to run the same learn to play hockey programme at St. Michael’s College School Arena on Saturday mornings in the same manner – same times, same place, same cost -- as it has in the past. The entire LTP coaching staff from BSHA will be returning next year. It is an outstanding programme and we are very happy to be able to continue it. All of the LTP coaches have played or coached, and had their children play, with the North York Knights for decades and they have advised that, for them, this is a homecoming that will enhance their programme by bringing a deeper registration base, a financially stronger organization and the support of a Tim Horton's sponsorship to their beloved learn to play programme. Download the North York Knights Hockey Association flyer for more details.
House League
The BSHA house league programme will be combined with the North York Knights house league programme. The players will be allocated to the Knights teams and consideration will be given to friendships, car pooling and competitive balance, as has always been the case with the Knights. This means that each team will now have a Saturday practice and a Sunday evening game at York Mills (York Mills/Bayview), Bayview (Bayview/Finch), Pleasantview (Victoria Park/Sheppard), Oriole (Don Mills/Sheppard) or Mitchell Field (Yonge/Sheppard). All of the former BSHA players will easily be able to compete in the Knights house league, indeed over the last twenty years many have moved to the Knights naturally as part of their hockey progression or after the age of 12 when the BSHA programme cut off.
Each of the house league players will also have the opportunity to try out for their divisional select team. The select teams compete in the North York Hockey League. NYHL has run select hockey in Toronto for over 50 years and is an outstanding hockey organization. Many of our children have progressed through our learn to play, to our house league and to select and then, as teenagers, have returned to help as assistants at learn to play and as referees and time keepers at our house league, such is our commitment to our families and them to us.
We welcome all BSHA families to the North York Knights and look forward to a fun and rewarding hockey experience, commencing this fall!
Yours truly,
Gervas Wall
President, House League
North York Knights Hockey Association
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