Important Update: OCMHA and Ottawa East Minor Hockey to Merge

OCMHA Nation,

After thoughtful discussion and planning, OCMHA and Ottawa East Minor Hockey have agreed to come together to form a new, unified hockey association. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to strengthening the sport at all levels, improving access to resources, and creating the best possible experience for our players, coaches, and families.

With player registration in decline, as well as the continuous challenge to find volunteers willing to be on the executive committee, this is a necessary move for the health of our Hockey Community.

This merger allows us to:

• Pool resources and talent for stronger teams and programming

• Expand development opportunities for players and coaches

• Streamline operations and reduce duplication of efforts, to compensate for Board Volunteer shortages

• Continue to foster an inclusive, community-driven environment

As communicated to you at the 2024 AGM, we started to move in this direction in September, as we merged the U15 and U7 cohorts with great success.

Although technically we will merge at all levels, we will try to respect legacy grouping at older levels. For example, we will do our best to keep OC U18 teams together, as friendships are the main reason these players continue to play hockey. 

We understand you will have questions, and we encourage you to reach out and to attend the AGM, where we will provide more details and have the opportunity to answer those questions. Please see our website for AGM details and links.

We are confident this new chapter will bring lasting benefits to our hockey families, and we thank you for your ongoing support.

Many thanks and more news to come.

Steve Leon
OCMHA President