REP TEAMS FAQ´s-League Hockey

What is the expected commitment to play on a Rep team?

Hockey is a team sport and commitment to practices and games is expected regardless of the league you play in. Having said that the A-league for U11 and U13 will have roughly double the games that the C league has and at the U13-U18 level, provincials are also a possibility for the Rep teams. U15C and U18C teams usually have 6-8 games a month, coming closer to the A-league game schedule and the Female league game schedule is similar to the integrated A-league schedule.

Are there additional costs associated with being on a Rep team?

Yes, an additional fee of $150 will be charged by the WMHA in addition to your registration fees, and this is to cover the extra ice and official usage with more home games. There will also be a cost involved for a paid coach, tournament registrations, team training gear, attending provincials, etc. These costs can be offset by sponsorships and/or fundraising efforts initiated by the team. A shorter bench (ie, less players) will be a larger cost per player. In past seasons the extra cost has been around $550 per player on average. This does not include family tournament expenses such as accommodation, travel, etc.

The Sea to Sky Bears shared rep program is a greater commitment related to travel and cost. Half of the team’s practices are in Whistler and the other half in Squamish. Home games are shared between the two associations. There is also a dryland component. The cost to players is in the $3000-$3200 range and includes tournaments and team fees, but does not include accommodation and travel.

When does the season start/end?

League play for A league starts October 4th, and C league starts October 7th. A 10-week season for Rep and 14 weeks for C, then playoffs for both. Provincials for U13-U18 will run early into Spring Break for teams that make it that far. Each player will have to cover the extra fees for the team and coaches in the event they go to provincials.

How many games a week do Rep teams play?

Usually, two games per week, depending on conflicts. Could be weekend or midweek games. Usually one home game and one away game each week.

How far do Rep teams need to travel to play games?

Teams come from all over the lower mainland, so Rep teams can expect to cross bridges and play games further afield than the C teams. There is a chance that a US team could be in your flight for the U13-U18 divisions, which could mean a trip or two across the border. As a comparison, C teams stay within the Sea to Sky, North Shore and Sunshine Coast.

How many tournaments should we expect in a season?

2-3 tournaments. Tournament expenses are not included in your registration fees for WMHA.