The president of the Merritt Minor Hockey Association (MMHA) has resigned after three years in the post.

Scott Robertson was originally acclaimed to a fourth term as MMHA president at the association's annual general meeting last May. However, he stepped down earlier in August with less than a month before the start of the new hockey season.

First vice-president David Zakall and second vice-president Cuyler Dickie will take over Robertson's duties for the 2010-11 season. Zakall and Dickie both served in the same executive positions for 2009-10.

The MMHA's 2010-11 season starts Sept. 7 with a series of hockey clinics. The regular season begins Sept. 20.
A new president cannot be officially nominated and elected until the MMHA holds its 2011 annual general meeting in the spring.

The presidential post is just one of several vacancies on the association's executive.

According to the MMHA's August newsletter, the association needs volunteers to take on the roles of ice ambassador and super-league director.

Both of the vacancies must be filled before the new season begins.

The ice ambassador is responsible for scheduling ice time for each division's games and practices.

The super-league director was added to the MMHA executive this year. Merritt is taking over super-league duties from the Summerland Minor Hockey Association.

That director will help co-ordinate the super-league schedule and oversee the super-league. True to its name, the super-league is an umbrella organization covering many of the minor hockey associations in the region.

Membership in the super-league gives MMHA teams the chance to play a full slate of games each season.

In addition to executive members, the MMHA is also looking to fill coaching spots.

“We're always looking for coaching volunteers,” said Zakall Wednesday.

However, assigning coaches and ice time for each of the MMHA's divisions has presented its own difficulties since many of the expected returning players have not yet registered.

Zakall said that about 200 players have signed up so far. That figure is considerably less than the number of players registered in the previous season.

“Last year, there was about 277, so we're kind of hoping for the same.”