U11 (formerly Atom) athletes registering with Hockey Calgary member associations for the 2020-21 season will now have three options when registration opens on July 1, 2020:

1. Skater
2. Goaltender
3. Hybrid Goalie

What is a Hybrid Goalie?

Hockey Calgary’s new Hybrid Goalie option allows eligible U11 athletes to dress and play as both a goaltender and a skater during the 2020-21 minor hockey season. Hybrid Goalies will participate in an equal share of practices and games at the goaltender position as other Hybrid Goalie(s) teammates, and are permitted to dress as a skater when not scheduled to play as a goaltender. All efforts will be made to place Hybrid Goalies on teams with other Hybrid Goalies.

How is a Hybrid Goalie different than a full-time goaltender?

From U11 onwards, players are designated as skater or goaltender in the Hockey Canada Registry. Players who are designated as goaltenders cannot play in a game as a skater as per Hockey Canada Rule 2.2 (a). Under this new policy, Hockey Calgary registrants who are selected as Hybrid Goalies will be permitted to dress and play in both positions. Hybrid Goalies will be designated as a skater in the Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) and on the official team roster.

Who can register as a Hybrid Goalie?

Any U11 athlete who is interested in the position of goalie but is not ready to commit to the position full-time may choose the Hybrid Goalie option at the time of registration. Its purpose is to introduce and ease the transition to goaltending for players and families at the U11 age group. While completing the Registration form, please complete the following steps:

  • GHC Registration Form Question: Hockey Canada Position *Choose “Skater.”
  • GHC Registration Form Question: U11 Only — Does your player wish to be considered as a Hybrid Goalie? *Choose “Yes.”

Athletes who choose this option at the time of registration must meet specific criteria at the time of evaluations to be officially designated a Hybrid Goalie.

What are the specific criteria to become a Hybrid Goalie?

To be approved as a Hybrid Goalie with GHC for the 2020-21 season, a player’s evaluation performance as both a skater and a goalie must trend within the same skill category. This is to ensure that registrants with wide skill discrepancies between the two positions are appropriately tiered, and that development benchmarks, league regulations and affiliation guidelines can be properly met.

What will evaluations look like for prospective Hybrid Goalies?

Prospective Hybrid Goalies will be evaluated as both a goaltender and a skater during evaluations, and will receive a minimum of two (2) sessions at each position:

  • Goaltender evaluation will consist of one (1) skills session and one (1) scrimmage session.
  • Player evaluation will consist of one (1) skills session and one (1) scrimmage session.

Following the minimum number of evaluation sessions, the Evaluations Committee will advise the prospective Hybrid Goalie(s) of the following scenarios:

A. If a prospective Hybrid Goalie’s skill category as a skater is trending within a different skill category than as a goaltender (i.e. As a skater, she is trending GHC U11 Tier 1, and as a goaltender, she is trending GHC U11 Tier 3) she is not eligible as Hybrid Goalie and must commit to one position for the remainder of the evaluation sessions.

B. If a prospective Hybrid Goalie’s skill category as a skater is trending within the same skill category as a goaltender (i.e. As a skater, she is trending GHC U11 Tier 2, and as a goaltender, she is trending GHC U11 Tier 2) she is eligible to continue the evaluation process as Hybrid Goalie. (Further evaluation does not mean that the participant has been approved as a Hybrid Goalie.)

After all necessary evaluations have been completed, remaining prospective Hybrid Goalies will either:

A. Be informed that that meet the criteria and will be an approved Hybrid Goalie the season.

B. Be informed that they will not meet the criteria and must choose to designate as either a goaltender or a skater for the season.

What development opportunities will GHC offer Hybrid Goalies?

GHC is committed to developing female goaltenders! Hybrid Goalies will have access to goalie development opportunities, equipment rentals, skill sessions, etc. Details of GHC’s Goaltender Development Program for 2020-21 will be made available soon.

Why did Hockey Calgary create a Hybrid Goalie option?

Hockey Calgary created a formal Hybrid Goalie policy for the following reasons:

  1. Hockey Alberta U11 Player Pathway states that U11 ‘goaltenders’ have the opportunity to dress as a ‘skater’ when not playing in goal.
  2. Guidelines and criteria are needed to ensure registrants with wide skill discrepancies between the two positions are not inappropriately impacting the game.
  3. Registrants transitioning from U9 to U11 have never had the opportunity to play the ‘goaltender’ position in a full ice environment and may not be comfortable committing to the position at the beginning of the year.
  4. Current shortage of goalies in U11 and U13.
  5. When in a Tandem, U11 ‘goaltenders’ may spend half of their games sitting on the bench.

More Information

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