Fellow Komets Families:

It’s time to get excited about hockey!  Fall registration is just around the corner!!  NEW this year — we are proud to announce that our ENTIRE organization, MITES through MIDGETS, is now a full-fledged,  AA Division, NIHL Club!  Our teams will experience a much greater level of equity in competition and play an increased game schedule with a longer playing season. 

We know there have been many rumors and questions about the status of MITE hockey for the 2013-2014 season.  The Komets will CONTINUE to skate a FULL-ICE Mite team in NIHL this year! 

AHAI, the state association to which NIHL belongs, has been granted an exception to the USA Hockey Mite Surface Playing Rules, to allow a continuance of full-ice Mite hockey for the 2013-2014 season with the following stipulations:

1. All 6U players will only be allowed to play cross-ice/half-ice, no exceptions.
2. 6U teams will not be allowed to travel outside the state.
3. 8U players will not be able to play any full-ice games until after November 15th.  All games prior to this date will be cross-ice/half-ice.
4. AHAI and the various associations/leagues will continue to host cross-ice jamborees throughout the full-ice playing season with a minimum of two each year.
5. 8U will play a geographical based schedule, with no more than 20% of their games outside their geography, excluding out of state tournaments.
6. There will continue to be no State Tournament for 8U age group.
7. 8U teams will only be allowed one out of state tournament each season.
8. No 8U skaters will be allowed to play up at 10U level, no exceptions.
9. All Associations must conform to the ADM practice program and will be monitored by AHAI and Association Boards.

There has been some misinformation spreading that clubs/skaters from Wisconsin would not be permitted to play in NIHL under the AHAI Exception.  David Lubben, NIHL President, was instructed by USA Hockey that out-of-state clubs wishing to continue participating in NIHL under the AHAI Mite Exception, would simply need to obtain approval from their home state association to do so.  Our NIHL President worked hand-in-hand with the Komets Board, providing additional support to obtain this approval from our Wisconsin association (WAHA). 

WAHA and NIHL worked in concert with USA Hockey and approval has been granted for our Mites to continue playing full-ice in NIHL.  Any other information to the contrary is false.  Rest assured, we have obtained all necessary approvals from the governing bodies of NIHL and WAHA. The Komets will continue to participate in NIHL at the Mite level.  Please share this great news with hockey families in the area!

If you have any more questions regarding the Mite Exception and how it relates to the Komets, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Hockey Director, Jason Myers at 262-620-3936.

Another exciting development for the Komets will be our return to the NOTRE DAME FRIENDSHIP SERIES in late October!  There will be great competition, in a superb location, with ample time to partake in friendship with others in our organization.  The experience is what we call, being part of the “Komets Family”!  We promise it to be a memorable experience for everyone!

We look forward to another great year of Komets Hockey!  GO KOMETS!

Jason Myers—Komets Hockey Director