(Graphic courtesy/SJHL)

By Ben Tompkins

Western Canadian Development Model

New pilot project to have positive effects on SJHL development

Jul 12, 2024 | 4:03 PM

Hockey Canada has announced a Western Canadian Development Model pilot project for the 2024-25 season.

The pilot project brings a collaboration of 10 different bodies, including Hockey Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

The goal of the collaboration is to strengthen the delivery of junior hockey and create unprecedented choice and flexibility for players and their families. This is supposed to happen in a ‘system that prioritizes their unique needs on and off the ice while evolving the opportunities offered to athletes to develop at a level that is reflective of their ability’.

“It’s going to give our athletes more opportunities in terms of the development model. I think in the past, Hockey Canada did not really recognize Junior A as a pathway for development and we believe that junior hockey is an integral part of elite hockey,” explained SJHL Commissioner, Kyle McIntyre.

These opportunities include moving up to the NCAA or USport levels following an SJHL career or even beginning early by getting called up to the WHL.

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Some upcoming changes for the league this year will be that all players 18 years of age and older will be eligible to wear a half visor again.

According to McIntyre, it looked at one point all players would be required to wear full face masks.

Other changes will be that the league will begin to follow most of the Western Hockey League’s rules.

The plan is to develop a common handbook around rules and regulations.

For the SJHL, this could mean inserting the delay of game/puck over glass penalty in the defensive zone.

Another penalty, which will likely be at the discretion of the referees, is if a player is ‘purposely trying’ to draw a checking from behind penalty when battling side by side with another player, it will become a minor penalty

One change that won’t be able to come into effect, however, is video review. The SJHL doesn’t reach certain standards for their in-house cameras.

Possibly the most noteworthy aspect of the development model will be the new age requirements and how much they can play.

Age 15 and 16-year-olds could soon be playing the same amount of games, there will be more room on rosters for said players, and 15-year-old affiliate players could make their way into games if needed.

Special status may even be granted to 12, 13 and 14-year-old players, if they are evaluated and deemed to meet the qualifications.

“We’re super excited about this, this is the first time in anyone’s recent memory that all the western leagues, the branches, and the Western Hockey League have come together to work collaboratively to do what’s best for the athletes. There’s a real spirit of partnerships and collaboration and excitement, and we know that the announcement was a big one,” McIntyre added.

“Everyone is aware of some stuff that happened in Alberta this past year, so really what we want to continue to do is make sure that we’re not stagnating, sitting idly by and doing nothing while the hockey tectonics are shifting around us. We want to make sure that we’re continuing to work together collaboratively, not in competition with each other, to develop quality programs.”

For the full release of the new development model, you can visit the SJHL website.

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