Spring ID Camp Tryout Information - May 30th

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Thank you for your participation in the Bow Valley Timberwolves AA Spring Camps. As this was our inaugural year offering early identification camps, we appreciate your engagement and feedback throughout the process. We hope the information sessions proved valuable, and we were pleased to have our newly appointed AA team coaches in attendance.

We are writing to inform you of recent developments within the Cochrane Minor Hockey Association (CMHA) High Performance program.

Early Signing Now Permitted

Historically, minor hockey associations (MHAs) were not permitted to sign players to AA teams prior to fall evaluations. However, we have recently confirmed with Hockey Alberta that MHAs may now offer roster spots following spring identification camps.

In response, CMHA has decided to extend a limited number of offers for our AA teams based on Spring Camp evaluations and coach recommendations. This approach aligns with practices recently adopted by other associations and ensures we remain competitive in providing a high-quality, affordable hockey experience for our athletes.  We know that families have options when it comes to youth hockey, and our intent is to ensure we offer the best possible option to allow our players, in some cases, to receive similar certainty as offered by alternative streams prior to the fall.

What to Expect

Over the next week, select players will receive offers to join their respective AA team roster. These offers will be limited, intentionally leaving roster spots open to maintain opportunities for players to earn positions through the traditional fall evaluation process.

This model is similar to the approach used in the AAA program in Airdrie and is designed to balance early talent identification with open competition in the fall.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at vphighperformance23@cochraneminorhockey.com. 

Pierre Landry

VP High Performance, Cochrane Minor Hockey Association

Q&A

1.      My child is offered a place on the U15AA team.  Can he/she commit and then still tryout for the U15AAA team in Airdre? 

Yes. Players who accept a U15AA offer may still try out for the Airdrie Xtreme U15AAA team. If selected, they will be released from their AA commitment. The same would apply for U13AA players who still wish to tryout for the U13AAA BV Timberwolves.

2.      My U16AA player was offered a spot on U16AA.  Can they still tryout for U17AAA, U18AAA, and U18AA? 

Yes. Players who earn a spot on a higher-level sanctioned team (e.g., Airdrie Avalanche U17AAA, Airdrie Bisons U18AAA, Bow Valley Timberwolves U18AA) will be released from their U16AA commitment.

3.      My player did not attend the Spring Camps, can they still tryout for the AA teams in the fall?

Yes. Players may register for the Summer Warrior Camp and, if successful, proceed to the main fall tryouts.

4.      How many players will receive offers for the AA teams?

The number of players receiving offers for the AA teams will vary by team and be based on Spring Camp evaluations. In some cases, no offers will be extended at this stage; in others, a portion of roster spots will be offered. If an offer is declined, the position may either be reassigned or held open for the fall evaluation process.