Estevan Minor Hockey Association President’s Report – 2026 AGM

Good evening everyone, Welcome, and thank you for attending the Estevan Minor Hockey Association Spring AGM.

We have completed another busy and successful season for minor hockey in Estevan, and I would like to begin by recognizing the efforts of all of our volunteers. Our young athletes would not have the opportunity to play and develop without the dedication of officials, parents, coaches, managers, board members, and our EMHA administrators.

The countless hours contributed by volunteers often go unseen, but this association simply does not function without each and every one of you. Your time, commitment, and passion are what make EMHA successful. Thank you.

This season, we saw a slight reduction in registrations, down seven players from the 2024–25 season. However, we were able to increase by one team at the U9 level, returning to seven U9 teams, while all other divisions remained consistent. This demonstrates that hockey in Estevan remains strong, as we continue to support more than 500 players through our system year after year—a significant portion of our local population.

There are, however, some ongoing challenges from previous seasons. Our PD Development Days, which had traditionally been easy to fill, became more difficult to execute efficiently, and our end-of-season 3-on-3 program again saw lower participation numbers. While I believe both programs are valuable and important, they continue to place a significant strain on the volunteers who organize and deliver them. They may require a change in format or fresh ideas to remain sustainable and successful moving forward.

Player development remains an important priority for EMHA. One of my goals has been to introduce more in-season development opportunities to complement regular team practices, particularly for our younger age groups. This has proven more challenging to implement than expected. While there are several excellent local individuals and groups offering skill development opportunities, my goal remains to make that extra development more accessible and affordable for all players. We will be exploring a tender process to help identify someone who can support these needs.

Each season, we receive proposals for new initiatives and different ways to structure how our athletes participate in practices, games, and leagues. This year, we were approached with some new proposals around the structure of U9 hockey and the U15 division to name a few. EMHA will continue to explore ways in which we feel best develops all our athletes.

This season, EMHA entered a team in the U15A Hockey Regina League. While the team faced challenges rejoining the league after several years away, we remain committed to helping them grow into a competitive program. Additionally, Hockey Weyburn will be taking a leave from the U15AA league, meaning their eligible athletes will now try out in Estevan. We are hopeful this larger drawing area will strengthen both our U15A and U15 MMMHL programs moving forward.

Coaching and officiating remain integral to the success of our organization. While we made positive strides in officiating this season, we must continue to better support our volunteer coaches. Unfortunately, we were unable to take advantage of the Hockey Saskatchewan Coach Mentorship Program due to a lack of volunteers to lead that initiative. Continued communication, mentorship, and support for our coaches throughout the season must remain a priority.

This season, Barrett Fleck joined the EMHA Board as Officials Development Director, and we have already seen positive results. Barrett has been committed to building a stronger mentorship program for young officials and ensuring they receive quality game opportunities to continue their development. While there will naturally be growing pains, I believe the long-term results will be very positive.

John Lay, who has served as our officials assignor for more than ten years, will be stepping away from those duties. We sincerely thank John for his tremendous commitment to EMHA over such a significant period of time and wish him all the best moving forward. Barrett will be stepping into the assigning role for the entire association next season

. I am also pleased to share that our ice scheduler, along with EMHA Administrator Jill Desautels, have both agreed to return for another season. They are both invaluable to this organization—and to my own sanity—and continue to be tremendous assets to our association.

We were able to secure some equipment upgrades this year. Thanks to a grant made available by applying through the City, EMHA was able to fund the remaining approximately 50% of the cost for a new score clock in PDA. Also, due to the generosity of the Kingston Foundation, EMHA will be upgrading the divider pads used regularly for U7 and U9 practices. Thanks to Kingston for their continuous community support!

EMHA’s fiscal year-end is April 30. While we are still finalizing this year’s financials, it appears the association will finish with either a very small profit or a very small loss. This result is approximately $30,000 below budget. Thanks to EMHA’s strong financial position, this is manageable, but it is not something that can be repeated year after year.

To remain aligned with rising operational costs—including an expected 2% increase in ice rental rates, higher officiating fees, and increasing equipment and supply costs—the current board has approved a 3.5% increase in registration fees for the 2026–27 season. EMHA continues to maintain a strong financial position. Although it may feel like an uphill battle at times, my goal remains to ensure we stay financially strong until the opportunity arises for a new facility to be considered, allowing our membership to contribute meaningfully when that time comes.

Tournament registration fees will also see a modest increase next season. I believe we continue to offer some of the best tournaments in the region and across the province. However, fundraising for these events has become increasingly difficult. Our goal is to remain competitive in pricing while maximizing participation and overall event profitability.

A few final points to wrap up:

• Our current GIC expires May 1 with a value of $108,826.52. I will be asking for a motion tonight to reinvest those funds. EMHA is projected to finish the fiscal year with approximately $307,000 in total cash assets, including this investment.

• The 2026–27 City of Estevan ice rate is expected to be $134 per hour, although this has not yet been officially confirmed.

• Registration will open June 1 and close August 1. Late registrations will continue to carry a $250 penalty.

In closing, EMHA continues to be in a strong position. We will continue to face challenges in the ever-changing youth hockey landscape, but I am confident that we will continue to develop hockey players of all skill levels and abilities while providing a positive experience for our families. As I complete my second term and fifth year as President, I want to sincerely thank the current board for their tireless work in helping deliver another successful and rewarding season.

Enjoy the offseason and the summer ahead.

Thank you again.

Stephen Truman

President Estevan Minor Hockey Association