New Player
Are you unsure about when your child can begin hockey? What division do they play in?
Minor Hockey Categories
Player’s age is determined for the current playing season by the player’s age at December 31 of the current season.
U7
Open to Players six (6) years of age and younger in the current playing season
U9
Open to Players seven (7) and eight (8) years of age in the current playing season
U11
Open to Players nine (9) and ten (10) year of age in the current playing season
U13
Open to Players twelve (12) years of age and younger in the current playing season
U15
Open to Players fourteen (14) years of age and younger in the current playing season
U18
Open to Players seventeen (17) years of age and younger in the current playing season
HNO is pleased to announce it has partnered with the Respect Group Inc. to provide an education tool that will further our commitment to fostering a safe and fun hockey environment for all participants.
The Respect in Sport Program for Parents is a unique, in-depth 1 hour online program geared to providing the parent with information on how to evaluate and understand:
Parental influence over a child
Protecting your child when outside of your immediate control
Coach and leader roles in sport
Concussion awareness & Return to Play guidelines
Role of the parent and coach in ensuring a child’s enjoyment of a sport
Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) model
The program is a proactive, educational program that empowers parents with the tools to ensure the game is enjoyable and respectful for themselves, their children and all other stakeholders in the game.
Effective the 2018-19 minor hockey season a minimum of 1 parent/guardian from each family with players at the U9, U11 and U13 level will need to take the program along with 1 parent/ guardian from any players entering Hockey Canada programming for the first time in the U15 to U18 age groups.
The cost of the one hour online program is $12.00+HST and you can complete the course at the link below:
Respect in Sport Parent Program
You can also complete the program on your iPad or Iphone via the Respect in Sport Parent Program App.
NOTE – The Respect in Sport Parent Program differs from the Respect in Sport Leader/Coach Program. Therefore parents that have taken the Leader/Coach Program must still take the Parent Program.
Initiation
Hockey Northwestern Ontario has adopted program guidelines and resources to support and provide direction for our Minor Hockey Associations to implement and operate a skill development program for players six years of age and younger — the U7 Program.
Based on Hockey Canada’s Long Term Player Development (LTPD) model, players who are six years old and younger should be focusing on having fun, learning skills and developing physical literacy. The ultimate goal of this level of hockey is to make the first impression of hockey a positive one for all players and parents.
Aligning with the LTPD model, HNO is developing a formal set of guidelines for U7-aged players based on the following principles:
- The technical curriculum should focus on physical literacy and having fun.
- The official playing surface for practices and games should be reduced to cross-ice or half ice size.
- The equipment should be amended to fit the size and skill level of the players.
- Registration and regulation should not be the same as for higher levels or older age divisions.
- Instructors should be trained in an appropriate manner to teach players of this age and level of development.
