U7 - Discovery -

Discovery is a program for beginning skaters learning to move and skate while wearing hockey equipment.

Eligibility: For the 2024-2025 season those born in 2020 are designated to the Discovery program.

Program Review:

• Discovery is a learn to skate, learn to play program and no hockey games are played.
• This structured program teaches basic movement and skating through development drills for about 2/3 of each 1-hour ice slot. (Based on the CHA Initiation program)
• The remaining 1/3 of the session is devoted to playing non-competitive fun activities that develop the skills learned in the practice.
• Non-competitive
• No scheduled games throughout the season - practices only.
• 18 Skill Development Sessions 1 hour each from October to March
• Fall Festival December 2024 (To be confirmed)
• Winter Jamboree March 2025 (To be confirmed)
• Ice times and location to be confirmed for the 2024-2025 Season (We have requested Callingwood Arena) Traditionally this program runs Saturday or Sunday (You choose one day for the whole season)

U7 - Junior Timbits -

JR Timbits is an introduction to hockey, focusing solely on practices.

Eligibility: For the 2024-2025 season those born in 2019 are designated to the Junior Timbits program. 2018-born players may also participate if more appropriate.

Program Review:

• No previous participation in Discovery is required. The focus is on developing skating (forward and backward, stopping) puck handling, and an introduction to the game of hockey
• 18- 1 hour Skill Development Sessions from October to March
• Fall Festival December 2024 (To be confirmed)
• Winter Jamboree March 2025 (To be confirmed)
• Ice time and location to be confirmed for 2024-25 Season (We have requested Callingwood Arena) ) Traditionally this program runs Saturday or Sunday (you choose one day for the whole season)

U7 - Senior Timbits -

The Sr. Timbits program introduces players to hockey with both practices as well as playing games.

Eligibility: For the 2023-2024 season those born in 2018 are designated to the Sr Timbits program.

Program Review:

• A child can register in SR Timbits even if they have not participated in Discovery or Jr Timbits.
• Focus is on skating, stopping, puck handling, and an introduction to the game of hockey.
• Equally skilled groups/teams of an average of 10 -12 players are formed after preseason skate (Date TBD)
• Third-ice games are played (i.e. boards separate the ice surface into thirds and two games are played at the same time on the end surfaces with active rest in the middle).
• All practices/games will be held on Saturday and Sunday.
• Games are non-competitive with no score kept.
• Players rotate through all positions, including goaltender. No goalie equipment is used.
• 18 Skill Development Sessions and 18 Small Area Game Sessions from October to March.
• Fall Festival December 2024 (To be confirmed)
• Winter Jamboree March 2025 (To be confirmed)
• All practices and games will be held on Saturday and Sunday. Ice time and location to be confirmed for the 2024-25 Season (We have requested Callingwood Arena).

U9  -

• A child can register in U9 even if they have not participated in Discovery, Jr Timbits, or Sr Timbits.
• For the 2024-2025 season those born in 2016 and 2017 may register for the U9 program.
• Half-ice games with a transition to full ice late in the season.
• U9 Game Format 4 vs 4
• Half-ice/shared-ice practices 
• Hockey Edmonton allocation: 18 games and 18 practices (October -March) ;
• Games - Weekend Only - can be either Saturday & Sunday
• Practices - Weekend - can be either Saturday or Sunday and will have 3 to 6-midweek practices (per team, per season) at 5:00 pm or later.
• Participates in Minor Hockey Week (2 games)
• No scorekeeping (game sheet), no standings
• Buzzers for shift change during games, faceoffs only to start halves.
• No playoffs, Jamboree to finish.
• Modified tiering system (1-6) – allow flexibility, club’s must have equally blended teams.
• No full-time goalies (equipment supplied)
• No position specialization - rotate all players through all positions.
• Regulation-sized nets AND Blue pucks only (practices and games)

U11 -

U11 hockey continues with the formation of tiered teams that play city-wide. The players will still vary from beginners who are learning basic hockey skills to those who have more experience.

• A child can register in U11 even if they have not participated in Discovery, Jr Timbits, Sr Timbits, or U9 hockey.
• For the 2024-2025 season those born in 2014 and 2015 may register for the U11 program.
• Tiered teams are formed after an evaluation skate process during September.
• Players wanting to try out for the U11 AA teams will register to try out with Whitemud West.
• The purpose of tiering is to have similarly skilled players on each team who are also playing against similarly skilled players from other clubs throughout the Edmonton Federation Hockey League program.
• Games will be held throughout the city.
• Locations of practices vary but will mainly be on rinks throughout the northwest/Westside of Edmonton.
• Games and practices will be held on both weekday evenings and weekends.
• Games will be played with Referees and scores are kept.
• Registered goalies will be evaluated as goalies  – number of goalies for the season permitting.
• 18 or more games and 18 or more practices (some will be half-ice) from September to March. Most ice times will be on Saturday and Sunday but there will be weekday afternoon and evening ice times as well.

U13 -

U13 hockey continues with the formation of tiered teams that play league wide. The players will vary from beginner players to those who have more experience.

• A child can register in the U13 category even if they have not participated in Discovery, Jr Timbits, Sr Timbits, U9, or U11 hockey.
• For the 2024-2025 season those born in 2012 and 2013 may register for the U13 program.
• Tiered teams of players are formed after an evaluation skate process during September. The purpose of tiering is to have similarly skilled players on each team who are also playing against similarly skilled players from other clubs throughout the Hockey Edmonton program.
• Players wanting to try out for the U13 AA teams will try out with the Canadian Athletic Club (CAC). You can register online with CAC for the tryout. If not selected for the CAC U13 AA teams they would return to Whitemud West and register.
• Games will be held throughout the league.
• Locations of practices vary but will mainly be on rinks throughout the Northwest/West side of Edmonton.
• Games and practices will be held on both weekday evenings and weekends.
• Games will be played with Referees and score is kept.
• Registered goalies will be evaluated as goalies – number of goalies for the season permitting.
• 20 or more games and 18 or more practices from September to March. Ice times will mostly be on weekends, but there is a possibility of weekday evening commitments as well.

Further inquiries can be directed to the Registrar.