U11-U18 Canucks

Age Group Specifics

U11 (Atom)

• To prepare players for the transition to full-ice hockey at the U11 level, Hockey Canada and Hockey Manitoba have introduced the U11 Pathway program.
• Players are evaluated at the beginning of the season to be placed on teams by October.

U13 (Peewee)

• Players can choose to try out for AA

U15 (Bantam)

• Players can choose to try out for AA or AAA teams
• Body checking at A1, AA and AAA. No body checking at the other levels

U18 (Midget)

• Players can choose to try out for AA or AAA teams
• Body checking at A1, AA and AAA. No body checking at the other levels

2024/2025 Program Information

Program

• Follows Hockey Canada Long Term Player Development Model
• Emphasizes skill development (balance and agility, skating, puck control, passing, shooting)

Dates, Times and Locations

• Registration opens in July before the commencement of the season
• Season runs end of September to March once player evaluations have completed
• Usually one game per week, mostly on weeknights
• 1-3 practices per week, mostly on week nights
• Most teams register for 2-4 weekend tournaments
• Games take place at variable times at various arenas around Winnipeg
• Practices usually take place at arenas within St. James
• Approximately 60 - 70 total ice times during the season

Costs

• Registration Fees: $750-800 registration fees ($725-750 if you register by August 30) covers game ice time
• Team Fees:  Approximately $300-500 for team fees (paid in November to team manager) covers tournaments, extra practice ice, team apparel, wind-up party based on decisions made by coaches, manager and parents
• Fundraising: Some teams choose to fund raise to reduce team fees

Volunteers

• Volunteers act as coaches who must undergo Hockey Canada and Respect in Sport Training, as team managers, safety representative and tournament and event organizers and staff
• For more information on volunteering with the U10-18 programs, visit the Coaches, and Bench Staff resources pages.

Stages of Season

Evaluations/Tryouts (early- to mid-September)

• Hockey Winnipeg rules require all players to compete in an association-wide tryout process at the U11, U13, U15, and U18 age groups. At each age group, players will be pooled together from all SJAMHA community centres to create teams at different levels
• Players are evaluated by outside evaluators during 2- 4 evaluation skates
• Players who do not participate in tryouts will go directly to the recreational level.

Team Formation (mid-September)

• Directors of the community centres of the SJAMHA meet to determine how many teams there will be at each age group and which community centre will host each team. This decision is based on rules set by Hockey Winnipeg and by the number of children registered at each age group within the SJAMHA.
• Coaches are selected for each of the SJAMHA teams
• After evaluations, coaches at each level draft their teams consisting of 12-15 skaters and 1-2 goalies
• All U10-18 SJAMHA teams are called the Canucks, regardless of the host community club
• While you register your child as a member of a home community centre, they could end up playing on a team hosted by another community centre within SJAMHA

Regular Season (October-February)

• Games – Full-ice, 5 on 5, score is kept, referees manage game. Usually one game per week, mostly on weekends
• Practices – 1-2 practices per week, on weekends and week nights
• Tournaments – Most teams register for 2-4 indoor/outdoor tournaments, each consisting of 3-4 games

Playoffs (March)

• All teams make the playoffs, and play until they are eliminated
• Season is usually complete before the end of March