The Sault Senior Men’s Hockey League is looking to fill some slots for the upcoming season as they expand from one age division to two.
One of the oldest sports organizations in town, the 12-team league has brought together Saultites aged 45+ to hit the ice in organized fashion.
Now, players who are 60 years and older will have a new opportunity to compete in their own division under the SSMHL umbrella for the upcoming 2023-24 season.
Entering his sixth year as league president and 22nd year as a senior men’s player, Joe Della Savia says the move comes at a time when league participation has slowly dwindled.
The SSMHL was down to 11 teams last season, partly because the older players are aging out according to the president.
“I think it’s exciting for the guys who will be able to continue to play and continue to be in the game,” he told SooToday. “There’s a lot of guys who are 45 to 50, and that’s a huge difference for the guys who are between 60 and 70. In some cases, it’s a 25-year age gap.”
“Because it’s a pilot project, we’re asking players who left the league to come back, and current players who are 60+ to play in the older division. It’s already drawing guys back to hockey.”
Della Savia, a 61-year-old SSMHL player himself, is putting a citywide call out for competitors in both divisions. He’s aiming to have four teams of 16 players in the new division, while maintaining 11 or 12 teams in the younger division.
“I don’t expect it to be a cake walk, but I’m ready for it,” he says. “I’ve been thinking about this for four years. I’ve talked to a lot of different guys and have gotten a lot of different opinions, but I’m designing it with the players in mind.”
The president notes there are some exceptional athletes who are 60 and older that will continue playing in the younger division for the upcoming season. But for most, they’ll transition to the new division.
“It can be a challenge to run with the young guys,” he says. “I find it hard to play with the guys who are 45 and even up to 55 years old. It’s like a 15-year-old playing against a 30-year-old – it’s a big difference.”
“But the guys who are 60 – you can’t put us out to pasture. A lot of us are still in good shape. We’re just hoping to play a game at our level that’s not as aggressive.”
The owner of Inside Out Contracting, Della Savia is hopeful the transition will open the door for new players to break into the league and equalize some of the skill level.
“The demographic in Sault Ste. Marie tells us there are enough able players in town to house this many teams, and we’ve done it for years,” he says. “But it’s a matter of desire and whether the guys want to come in or not.”
The SSMHL will remain under the Canadian Amateur Recreation Hockey Association, a nationwide non-profit that provides members with “flexible and cost-effective options for comprehensive insurance coverage” according to its website.
The senior men’s league will facilitate its games at the new Northern Community Centre on Tuesdays and Sundays. The season will begin in early October and run through March, with a goal of maintaining a 44-game schedule in the 45+ division and a 28-game schedule in the 60+ division.
Interested players can email saultseniormenshockey@gmail.com or visit the SSMHL website for more information.
“It gets you out of the house and gets you looking forward to doing something twice a week with new friends who share a common interest,” Della Savia says. “It’s also a great way to get some exercise.”