We would like to thank everyone who expressed interest in the SMHA Ombudsman position.

The SMHA Executive are pleased to announce the appointment of Barry Marchand as our 2025/26 Ombudsman. Please join us in giving Barry a warm welcome to the SMHA team!

Meet Barry Marchand

"My name is Barry Marchand. I am formerly from Cape Breton now living in Sackville with my wife and two adult children. Both of my children played hockey through Sackville Minor and continue in the sport actively. I work as a criminal investigator with Canada Border Services Agency and have been with the Agency for over 18 years. I have worked law enforcement, privately, provincially, and federally for almost 30 years. I have a deep passion for investigations with keen attributes attested over my career. I look forward to promoting integrity, transparency, and fluidity to the Ombudsman position with Sackville Minor Hockey Association. Our players, parents, volunteers, and the public need to have clear expectations as it involves disciplinary actions for consequence of behaviour in our association. I hope to bring that level of transparency to our group."

— Barry Marchand, SMHA Ombudsman 2025/26

We are excited to have Barry join the SMHA team and are confident that his experience and dedication will be a valuable asset to our organization.

To contact Barry, please email: Ombudsman@FlyersHockey.ca

The 2025 Sackville Minor Hockey Association AGM will take place on June 15, 2025.
 
The following Executive positions are open for nominations:
 

• VP Administration
• VP Development
• VP Recreation
• VP U9
• Secretary (One year term)
• Treasurer
• President

 Please review the newly approved SMHA organizational chart at the bottom of this page, as some of the Executive roles have changed in terms of oversight.

If you need to amend your previous nomination based on the updated chart, please email Natalie Lafleche at Secretary@FlyersHockey.ca.

Reminder: All nominations must be submitted by 12 midnight on May 25th.

 
Any member in good standing may nominate themselves or another member as a candidate for an Executive Officer position by providing the Nominating Committee with the following:
 
a. An email that includes the name of the member nominated and the Director position for which the member is being nominated; and
 
b. A signed statement by the nominee affirming that he or she is a member eligible as a candidate for the Executive Officer position for which he or she is being nominated and that he or she is willing to accept the position if elected.

AGM details to follow. 

Good evening Flyers Fans & Families,

We Want to Hear from You!

As the 2024–2025 season winds to a close, the SMHA Board and Executive are seeking feedback from SMHA Families on two different Google Forms as follows:

• 2024-2025 Competitive Tryouts Feedback Form
  • This is for parents or guardians of SMHA players who participated in 2024-2025 Competitive Tryouts
  • Families with more than one player who tried out: the Form can and should be completed multiple times (once per player to reflect each person's experience)
  • Form submission deadline: Friday, May 2, 2025

• 2024-2025 Coaching Feedback Form
  • This is for SMHA participants of all ages, U5 right up to U23.
  • Families with more than one player: the Form can and should be completed multiple times (once per player to reflect each person's experience, even if siblings were on the same team.)
  • Form submission deadline: Friday, May 2, 2025

Your feedback is incredibly valuable and it helps us better support our players at every level. SMHA is committed to improving and creating the best possible experience for our players and families.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.

CALLING EVERY AVAILABLE SMHA PARENT!!! (and players over 14 years old)!!

We need at least one hour of your time on April 4th & 5th!!

As you know we’re in the final 4 of Kraft Hockeyville and the final step to winning $250K and an NHL game is 32 hours of unlimited voting.

THE ASK: Take a 1-hour shift (or more) during voting hours to vote over and over for the Sackville Arena.

You can do this at home, or even better, we will be hosting a Vote-A-Thon in the mezzanine for the entire 32 hours!! Schedule below!! 

We’re looking for the highest possible level of engagement on this as the outcome of these 32 hours will greatly impact our Arena, players, and families for years to come!! This is not the time to wait for someone else to vote for us; this is a time for all of us to come together and win together.

Thank you Sackville Minor Families! Let’s bring this one home!!

Other ways to help:

1. Donate Food for the Mezz for voting day. Looking for snacks, chips, granola bars, juice boxes, water bottles, etc.
2. Lend an iPad or tablet for use in the Mezz.
3. Ask your workplace and your co-workers to vote for a half hour or more on Friday the 4th
4. Reach out to all your 50/50 supporters and ask them to take an hour or two to vote!
5. Ask grandparents or other community groups to also take an hour to vote.

Kraft Hockeyville Vote-A-Thon

Volunteer Sign ups 

We are looking for volunteers to help handing out QR Code sheets, explaining what we are trying to accomplish in winning Kraft Hockeyville and spreading the word to vote at the Lower Sackville Superstore on both Friday and Saturday!! Players, teams, families, etc. would be amazing help to boost interest! 

To sign up, please complete this google form - Superstore Volunteer Sign ups

Additional information will be provided directly as volunteers sign up. 

Player Video Request 

In an exciting move to foster teamwork and accountability, Sackville Minor Hockey Association is proud to introduce a pilot project for a groundbreaking rule change: Penalty Sharing.

Starting immediately, any player who receives a penalty will be given the option to share their time in the box with a teammate of their choosing. The rule applies to all minor penalties and is designed to reinforce the importance of supporting one another—on and off the ice.

“We believe this rule will bring players closer together and help them develop important life skills,” said SMHA’s President Rob Nurnber. “If you take a tripping penalty, now you’ll have to think about who’s got your back—or who owes you one!”

To ensure fairness, players cannot select the same teammate more than once per game. Additionally, goalies will not be allowed to participate in penalty sharing—except in cases where there are no other players available. 

The SMHA Board is looking forward to reviewing the new rule in action at the upcoming Day of Champions games involving our very own U13B CMHL Champion Team on April 5 in Truro. The Association is confident it will be a game-changer for minor hockey.