It used to be that a midget-aged player faced a dilemma of sorts if the Ontario Minor Hockey Association centre they were a part of did not have a sufficient number of players to ice a team at the AA level or below.

With no rep teams at those competitive levels and with rules restricting their ability to go and participate in a nearby centre fielding teams in those competitive categories, it could discourage the individual from ever lacing up the skates going forward in their rep minor hockey careers.

Not any more, though.

When the puck is dropped to start the 2015-16 campaign, the OMHA will pilot a project directed at addressing circumstances such as when a centre does not have sufficient players to roster a minor or major midget team in a AA or lower representative category.

‘For the first time in 50 years, Peterborough did not have a AAA team and Newmarket shut down one of their midget teams.’

Known as the OMHA Midget Pilot Project, the focus of this two-year program is to encourage the retention of current midget-aged players by providing opportunities in a positive environment with an emphasis on safety and competitive balance, the Richmond Hill-based organization said in a media release.

Fielding midget rep teams at the AA and A levels, the Whitchurch-Stouffville Minor Hockey Association approves of the OMHA’s initiative.

“The project is definitely worthwhile,” cited Don Easter, WSMHA president. “We’ve seen a decline of players in juvenile hockey through the years and midget hockey could follow if we don’t take the correct steps.

“This is an attempt to return players at the midget level because we’re seeing a decline in those players after the minor midget draft year.

“We’ve even seen some large organizations that did not ice midget teams. For the first time in 50 years, Peterborough did not have a AAA team and Newmarket shut down one of their midget teams.”

If the program had been in place this season, Easter noted it could have helped their association as two goalkeepers from Newmarket could not play since they did not have enough players to field an A-level midge team for them.