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
Hockey Canada is pleased to share new equipment-fit resources
- Player Equipment Fit Video
- Player Equipment Fit Playbook
- Goalie Equipment Fit Video and Playbook
- Goalie Equipment Fit Playbook
The videos and playbooks were created to provide parent-friendly guidance and practical tips to help ensure that both player and goaltender equipment fits properly, safely and comfortably, while making the experience easier and less stressful for families who may be new to hockey.
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.
