ABOUT US - NORWICH MERCHANTS ANNIVERSARY YEAR

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ABOUT US

2017 TRYOUTS
 
 
 

The Norwich Merchants will be entering their 50th season of exciting hockey within the Ontario Hockey Association, with this being the second season in the newly formed Provincial Junior Hockey uniting all Junior “C” hockey teams across the province.

Founded in 1968, the Merchants won the Southern Counties Junior D Hockey League Championship the next season, then went on to win the OHA Cup as provincial champions by defeating the Halliburton Huskies of the Central League. In 1980, the Merchants were promoted to Junior C and joined the Niagara & District Jr. “C” League. In 1986, the Merchants were Niagara League Champions. They went on to defeat the Bradford Bulls of the Mid Ontario Junior Hockey League to win the Clarence Schmalz Cup as OHA Junior C champions. In 1987, they were again Niagara League champions. They again made it to the provincial final, but this time lost to the Lakefield Chiefs of the Central Ontario Junior Hockey League.

The Norwich Merchants are a Non-Profit, Community Owned and Operated Team.  Our team name originated from the desire of the local community MERCHANTS to have and support a Junior Hockey Program. To this day we have maintained this relationship with OUR COMMUNITY. Currently we still have members of the original FOUNDING EXECUTIVE of THE NORWICH MERCHANTS JR. “D” TEAM of 1968, serving either on the executive or volunteering their time to help support and operate our team. We presently have approximately 50 – 60 Volunteers, many of whom have been with us since day one. We truly are a FAMILY in good times and bad, we are there for each other. Once you are a member of our NORWICH MERCHANT FAMILY, YOU ARE ALWAYS A MEMBER.

As a member of THE NORWICH MERCHANTS FAMILY, each player will have the opportunity to develop both on and off the ice as a member of the Norwich Community. Our mandate is to help our young players develop both as a player, and individual. We take tremendous pride in promoting our players to succeed at the highest level they can achieve both on and off the ice.  Whether it is their desire to play in professional hockey such as Dwayne Roloson and Ryan VandenBussche, both graduates of our program, Gary Green former NHL HEAD COACH and TSN ANALYST, another former graduate, or Rick Amey and Gregg Knapp also former graduates, serving in the Canadian Military, we will assist in any manner we can for you to reach those goals.

The Norwich Merchants will provide you with the following:

• Team Dressing Room with personal stall.
• Stick and/or Equipment Allowance
• Home games are schedule on Friday nights 8:00 PM starts
• Away games usually on the weekends only
• Wednesday Night Practices  8:30 – 10:00 PM, with occasional Sunday afternoon practices 1:30 – 3:00        
• Some financial assistance for full time post secondary students
• We supply a team bag, helmets, pants, game and practice jerseys
• Community Exposure through organizations, schools, and minor sports
• Pregame and Postgame special events such as meet the players night, Karaoke Nights, Pot Luck Dinners            
• The opportunity for you to develop into a highly regarded member of the Norwich Community.

THE NORWICH MERCHANTS FAMILY COMMUNITY will provide you with the feeling of HOME AWAY FROM HOME. They will strive to make you feel welcome, respected, and idolized by the young adoring future Merchants Players.  It is our intention that your commitment to us will be earned by our commitment to you.


Contacts:

Andy Riley,   General Manager   519-608-1599               Ken Gillanders, President,   226-339-3171

 
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