House (C) vs. Rep (A or B) Level Hockey

The Whistler Minor Hockey Association is a member of the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association, the governing organization for Minor Hockey in the Lower Mainland of B.C. The PCAHA consists of 41 Minor Hockey Associations ranging from Hope in the east to Sunshine Coast in the west, and from Whistler in the north to Whatcom County (Washington) in the south.

Within the PCAHA, players participate at three levels: “A” or “B” (Rep Hockey) and “C” (House Hockey). House level hockey is played against teams that are part of the Lion’s Gate League, which includes associations from Whistler, Squamish, Sunshine Coast, Hollyburn, West Vancouver, North Vancouver and North Shore Winter Club. Rep hockey is played against teams throughout the PCAHA, the extent depending on the player’s age.

In Whistler we have always been able to form at least one team at each age level. When only one team is formed in an age category it plays at the House level. If numbers permit two teams at the same age level, there is an opportunity to also have a team play at the “A” level (a “B” level team can only be formed if there is already an “A” level team, we never have this opportunity). A second team in an age category does not have to be rep level, however we try to form a team of this caliber for a couple of reasons:

  • It allows better players to compete with and against players of similar ability, increasing their enjoyment of the game and creating more opportunities for their skills to improve.
  • If we do not form a rep team and the players are too strong for the house level, the league may force us to create to rep team (a lesson we learned this past season).

We certainly encourage stronger players to give rep level hockey a try when there is an opportunity.

Within the PCAHA Rep Level teams are tiered in to 2 or 3 levels, depending on the total number of teams in that age category. As far as level of competitiveness goes, there is not as much difference between a tier 3 rep team and a house level team as many players or parents might think. In addition to the level of hockey played, there are also schedule differences between rep and house that are often important to parents and players. These differences vary depending on age level. (Please note that the schedules outlined below are averages, actual number of games/practices may vary week to week)

Atom

In general the difference between house and rep is smallest at the Atom level considering both ability and travel commitments.
House – 2 practices and 1 game per week (an away game every other week)
Rep – 1 practice and 2 games per week (an away game every week)
Games at the rep level can occur mid week. The location of away games depends on which teams are in the Whistler tier, but all teams played against in Atom are within the greater Vancouver area.

PeeWee

House – 2 practices and 1 game per week (an away game every other week)
Rep – 1 practice and 2 games per week (an away game every week)
Away games for rep teams at the PeeWee level may become further a field, possibly ranging anywhere throughout the PCAHA. Games at sites outside the GVA would always occur on weekends.

Bantam & Midget

House and Rep – 1 practice and 2 games per week. (An away game every week)
Away games for rep teams at the Bantam & Midget level also occur anywhere throughout the PCAHA and can occur midweek.

Whistler’s ability to form a rep team always depends on two things:

  • Enough players in an age category to form 2 teams combined with interest among enough players (generally 13 or more) to play at the rep level.
  • The assessment of the team coaches and the Coach Coordinator that the interested players have the ability to competitively play at the rep level.

Depending on the number of players opting to play rep hockey, tryouts may be necessary. If so these will take place in early September. The number of players selected for rep will depend in part on the total number of players registered for that division (so that team numbers between rep and house are roughly equal). The division coaches will handle the selection process of players for rep teams with the assistance of the W.M.H.A. Coach Coordinator.