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posted 04/05/2010 Q: Will CAHA have a traditional midget travel team next season?
A: Well sort of…..a new type of “travel” team is being formed to allow the midget level players the opportunity to continue to play with their teammates from the past seasons prior to going into either a High School Club team that plays in the CHSHL or an OHSAA (locally Moeller, St. Xavier, Sycamore and Talawanda) team.
Q: What will CAHA provide for midget players?
A: In addition to a healthy and growing High School League (13 teams for the 2009-2010 season), CAHA will support Pre/Post Travel Hockey at the midget level for the 2010-2011 season.
Q: What is Pre/Post Travel Hockey?
A: Now that the CAHA High School League teams follow a schedule similar to those of OHSAA teams, ALL high school players can play for Pre/Post Travel teams prior to the start of the CHSHL season starting in early November. Pre/Post Travel Hockey has been supported in other cities for years, but is fairly new to Cincinnati. Pre/Post Travel teams were traditionally formed to allow players who played Ohio sanctioned high school hockey an outlet for additional games, prior to the start of their official season. High school teams that are sanctioned through OHSAA are not permitted to begin practice until the first week of November. In order for Ohio players who play on OHSAA teams to stretch their hockey season and play more games; Pre/Post Travel hockey teams were formed. These players would join a Pre/Post Travel team in late August or early September and play games until their high school teams formed in November. By now combining the player pool talent between CAHA midget players and OHSAA players, high level teams can be formed that can compete with any teams in the state of Ohio and beyond. The Pre/Post Travel team would split up prior to the start of their regular seasons in CHSHL and OHSAA, and the players would play for their respective high school teams through March. After the high school season is over the Pre/Post Travel teams would re-convene and play more games (typically the Tier II State Tournament). In a typical season, the players would play 20 games pre season, approximately 25-30 games for their high school team, and 4 or 5 games post season giving them a total number of games similar to a midget travel team. Pre/Post Travel teams are also known as “before and after” teams.
Q: What’s wrong with midget travel?
A: Nothing is wrong with midget travel, but regionally there seems to be waning support. Columbus does not have a midget travel team (other than Tier I). Indianapolis does not have midget travel. Cleveland had only one midget team in the Buckeye League and Dayton had two last season. On the other hand, High School hockey (Club and OHSAA sanctioned) seems to be on the rise.
Q: How may Pre/Post Travel teams will be formed?
A: The plan would be to form a U18 team, a U16 team and another team or two based on the number of players at tryouts.
Q: Will everyone be able to play?
A: Ideally yes. The plan would be for the U18 and U16 teams to be formed by a competitive tryout (U16 age players would be eligible to play on the U18 team). These teams would play 20 games prior to the high school season with the idea of qualifying for the Tier II Ohio State Tournament. Other players would be placed on second U18 or U16 team(s) and play a similar number of games determined by the remaining number of players interested in playing at the Pre/Post Travel level.
Q: Who will these teams play?
A: Other Pre/Post Travel teams and midget travel teams. Dayton fielded four Pre/Post Travel teams last season. Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo and Sylvania also have Pre/Post Travel teams. In addition, Indiana high school teams are formed in September and are available for games. There are many tournament opportunities as well in the fall that these teams could participate in so getting enough games would not be a problem.
Q: Who will coach these teams?
A: We are working on securing top notch coaches for each of these teams. An announcement will be made as soon as they are confirmed. Some of the coaches who have shown interest in coaching these teams are: Kirk Taylor, Greg Ashton, Mike Fairbanks, Greg Banks, Tom Pecor, Andy Pokupec, Doug Burgdorf and Jason Skaggs.
Q: How much will it cost?
A: Cost has not been completely determined yet. Team sponsors are welcome. Last year the Cincinnati Pre/Post Travel team was sponsored so the cost of uniforms and some ice was covered by the sponsor.
Q: How many games and practices will they have?
A: The U18 and U16 teams would play 20 games and probably practice no more than one time per week. The other team(s) would play as many games as the coach and team members felt comfortable with. They would also likely practice one time per week.
Q: When are tryouts and what is the cost?
A: The tryouts will begin on Thursday, August 19 at Northland from 8:10pm-10pm. The cost is $40 cash/check only payable to CAHA at the tryout. Preregistration is not available.
Q: Are there any restrictions on team formation?
A: Yes, per OHSSA rules no more than five players from an OHSSA participating team may play on the same Pre/Post Travel team. There are no restrictions on the number of CAHA High School league players playing on a Pre/Post Travel team.
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