This notice is to remind everyone about KMHA’s Winter weather practices. KMHA operates in both Alliance and OWHA leagues; there are subtle differences that we attempt to work through with each other.
As we have been enjoying a mild winter to date, this is of course January, and we must realize there may be questions and issues around the weather and we want to make sure that our players and volunteers are safe.
Due to the unpredictable nature of weather forecasting, we kindly ask final decisions made about travelling do not happen more than 90 minutes before expected departure time. Please note, this does not mean 90 minutes before the event time. It means 90 minutes before you would need to leave your home to arrive at the event. KMHA knows we all want to plan our lives, but ice is a limited resource. Too often, weather does not transpire as predicted. This timeline helps everyone make accurate and timely decisions regarding the weather and what is or will happen.
If weather and travel are a concern, please contact your Convenor about what policies apply to your particular case.
KMHA Convenors List (Kitchener Minor Hockey)
KMHA programs are operated locally in facilities that KMHA rents, and is responsible to pay for based upon contracts. If an arena is open our programs will operate as long as they can do so safely. This means that there are volunteers or staff to run them. (coaches, trainers, and referees). KMHA encourages all players and volunteers to make decisions that will keep them safe when facing winter weather conditions. We know that game results and practice attendance can be pressure-filled, and KMHA reminds all coaches that players should not be penalized for attendance if there is a weather event. All players and guardians have differing abilities to handle weather situations, including but not limited to vehicle type, tires, driving ability, physical ability to handle the
weather (shovel driveway or walk on ice) and comfort locomoting in those conditions.
Parents and coaches, we ask that you take the following steps when making your decisions about participating.
- All Stakeholders are able to make decisions for themselves regarding their ability to travel during Winter Weather. If you are not comfortable and cannot travel safely, please do not travel. You must notify your coach or designate if you are unable to travel.
- Coaches are instructed not to discipline players if they are not able to attend due to weather.
- If Coaches are unable to attend, they must notify their Conveners.
- As stated earlier, please do not cancel games or decide more than 90 minutes before your expected departure time to an arena that you are not travelling.
- Should the City of Kitchener close facilities, we will notify our volunteers and parents through our website. Any cancellation is posted there, under our Cancellation Notice system.
Our policy across all our programs is for the Convenors, Ice Schedulers, team contacts to be in contact with any issues per each programs' guidelines, and to make decisions on cancellations.
KMHA thanks everyone for enjoying the sport of Hockey safely.