Grab the muscle relaxants and the ice packs. A new season of Oldtimers Hockey gets underway in November.
Matt Giroday, president of the 100 Mile Oldtimers Hockey Association, said signup is underway and they are anticipating four or even five teams this year.
“Typical response. Unfortunately, our area tends to start off a little bit slow for the first week or two and then people all of a sudden will just rush in and we normally get our turnout the last week or two,” he said.
This is a draft league and players must be 35 by January 1, 2024, to be eligible. Registration fees are $450 for full-time, $350 for part-time and $300 for goalies.
“In the past we’ve had guys, especially mill situations, where they have shift work. Getting their schedule for work, not everyone can make it each week,” he said. The part-time option allows players who aren’t going to be able to make most of the games but still want to play a chance to sign up, he explained.
Play consists of a full regular season, plus playoffs. Many of the players have played organized hockey at some point in their lives and are familiar with the game, Giroday said. Because of the age range, there is no body-checking or slapshots allowed.
The league operates under the regulations of CARHA (Canadian Adult Recreational Hockey Association), an Ontario-based national, not-for-profit sport organization that provides resources including insurance coverage and league websites for adult recreational and old-timer hockey.
Giroday said the league is a mixed bag of playing for fun and competitiveness. For the most part, he said the players are just out having fun and getting exercise, though there is some degree of competition as they keep track of stats, season wins and losses that carry forward into playoffs.
The league is always on the hunt for new players and referees, he said.
“We pay pretty good,” Giroday said. “We pay $50 per game to be a ref for an hour, maybe an hour and a half of ice time.”
There is a doubleheader every Tuesday and Thursday, with games starting at 7 and 8:30 p.m. A ref usually does both games, making it worth their time, he said.
“$100 and a bit of exercise.”
Games take place at the Rolf Zeis Memorial Arena in Lac la Hache, a non-profit community arena run by local volunteers. It would be great to have some volunteers come out who want to learn to run a Zamboni, Giroday said.
The community arena has a good executive again this year, which he credits with good organization and getting everything at the arena repaired.
“We did a nice little overhaul to the arena, the ice system. Both compressors have been essentially refurbished,” he said. “That’ll create an efficiency out there that will hopefully make things better for the Lac La Hache society in keeping things cost-effective. And with that we’re extending the life of the arena for, hopefully, a few more years to come.”
Admission to the games is free and all are welcome to come out and cheer the teams on.
The association’s annual general meeting is being held at the Remax building in 100 Mile House on Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. It is open to the public for anyone who wants to attend. The first games get underway that week.
For more information call Matt Giroday at 250-395-0602.
