The Ontario Hockey Association is bringing back Intermediate Hockey. The OHA announced yesterday the league will be primarily for 21-26-year-olds and will begin in the fall of 2016. It's a category that dates back to the beginning of the Association 125 years ago.
Doug Johnston of Blenheim is a spokesperson for the OHA initiative
"We saw a need for players who are done Junior but want to continue to play competitive hockey," he says in a release. "Guys we aren't ready for 'beer league' quite yet."
The OHA says it would like to see Intermediate Hockey "across its entire footprint." The first phase will see it in the southern most part of the province, from St. Thomas to Sarnia to Windsor.
The season will be shorter than junior with about 24 games and it wouldn't start until October. It would end in March.
The release also says it could include community colleges. While they don't fall into the age category, there may be an allowance for community colleges to make the Intermediate league on the basis of their competition.
The rules and regulations have yet to be worked out. There may be an allowance for a few players over the age limit and for players in the league to be able to affiliate with the OHA's AAA Senior League.
The new category will start with five to eight teams with the OHA committing to "controlled and strategic growth."
Anyone looking for more information can email Doug Johnston at joddoug@gmail.com.
