Open Borders

Are they really open and what does this mean for the St. Albert Raiders?

There is a lot of information about 'open borders' circulating within the extended hockey community and on different forms of media. Much of this stems from a communication Hockey Alberta released in December outlining proposed changes.

To help you better understand how the changes announced by Hockey Alberta will impact you, and to introduce some new changes to the Raiders program, we have the following to share:

St. Albert Raiders (St. Albert Minor Hockey Association)

Elite Hockey Players (AAA/AA)

The following process and policy should provide clarity and transparency to families evaluating their hockey options. Should you require any additional information please refer to the FAQ or contact us at registrar@samha.ca.

Moving Out

Players wishing to move to another Minor Hockey Association must first request approval from the Raiders VP and Division Manager. If the outcome is not agreeable, players may pursue the Hockey Alberta Elite Player Movement process.

Hockey Alberta Elite Player Movement; application Period: May 1 – July 1.

If a player is granted a release through this process and later wishes to return to St. Albert Minor Hockey, they must submit an application to the St. Albert Minor Hockey Association Executive Committee before being reinstated for the remainder of their minor hockey eligibility.

Second Tryouts

• All players have access to the second tryout process. Hockey Alberta governs the Second Tryout process.

• If a player secures a place on a team outside the association through this process, their transfer is considered temporary.

• St. Albert Minor Hockey remains the player’s primary association, and players do not need permission to return.

Moving In

A limited number of players from outside the recruitment zone may be accepted into the program:

• Maximum of two skaters per team (excluding goaltenders).

• In the 2024-2025 season, six out of 256 players came from outside the recruitment zone, and this is consistent with prior years.

To be considered, players must demonstrate a positive impact on the program, and receive endorsements from both the Head Coach and the Raiders Committee. For more information, please contact registrar@samha.ca.

Note: The U18 AAA Female program does not have a residency requirement and is the only St. Albert Raiders team with truly open borders.

Non-Sanctioned Participation – Raiders

If your player participated in a non-sanctioned hockey league in the 2024-2025 season, their Hockey Canada file remains with the sanctioned association to which they were last registered.

If a player leaves the association and later wishes to return to St. Albert Minor Hockey (St. Albert Raiders), they must submit an application to the St. Albert Minor Hockey Association Executive Committee before being reinstated for the remainder of their minor hockey eligibility.

Players who opt to leave for non-sanctioned programs for a second time will not be eligible for future registration with the St. Albert Minor Hockey Association. This policy is effective February 28, 2025.

This decision was made to ensure fairness to all participants who remain committed to sanctioned hockey and to uphold the integrity of our development pathway.

We encourage families to carefully consider their options before making a decision, as this policy will be strictly enforced starting with the 2025-2026 season.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I do not live in the recruitment area but want to attend a Spring ID Camp. What do I need to know?

If you obtain a Letter of Permission from your host AAA draw zone and an invitation from the Head Coach of the team, you can attend. Otherwise, only players within the recruitment area can attend camp. Please contact registrar@samha.ca to initiate the process.

Can I attend the Spring ID Camp if I recently moved to St. Albert?

Yes, you or your player must complete the paperwork (Parent Declaration Form) and submit this information to St. Albert Minor Hockey.

What is a Standard Release?

Occasionally, an association may issue a player or family a Standard Release. This permanently severs the player from the home association and they are required to find a new home Minor Hockey Association.

Associations have the discretion to decline membership to players within their recruitment area if they believe it is in the best interest of their program, mutually agreed upon, or for disciplinary reasons.

Hockey Alberta must issue the release, the Association President must approve and sign the release request, and the member is notified. This release paperwork is added to the player's Hockey Canada profile and they are then free to move to a different Minor Hockey Association.

What is the Hockey Alberta Elite Player Movement process?

"Players are expected to access their first Elite Tryout with the Recruitment Area or Draw Zone that draws from the Minor Hockey Association the player is registered with. Should a player wish to access their first tryout with a different Recruitment Area or Draw Zone, they need to submit an Elite Player Movement Application to Hockey Alberta." - Hockey Alberta

Previously, both the player's home association and the association they were seeking to join were involved in the decision-making process. Effective 2025, all applications will be evaluated solely by Hockey Alberta staff.