U9

Each team in U9 receives 18 games and 18 one-hour practices over the course of the season. The regular season consists of three rounds of games with re-tiering occurring after the first and second rounds. We refer to these three sections as the "tiering round," "the regular season," and the "playoffs." Each team also plays a minimum of 2 games during Minor Hockey Week which is held in January. Teams may also seek additional exhibition or tournament games, at an additional cost.

Evaluations (held in September)

Hockey players may vary considerably in their individual skills. In general, players have a more enjoyable experience and develop better skills and confidence when playing with other players of similar abilities. In order to provide this, an evaluation process is necessary.

In the Hawks Athletics Club, all U9, U11 and U13 players will participate in evaluations based on their age and skill level. The purpose of evaluations is to create teams consisting of players with similar abilities. If your child is a first-time player, the evaluations can feel a bit overwhelming (for the parents in particular) but we assure you that your child will be placed on the correct team for their abilities.

Team Formation (end of September)

When evaluations are completed, the committees and category leadership will place players on teams based on the evaluation results. Each team will typically consist of 16 to 19 players, depending on the total number of U9 registrants. The maximum number of players permitted on a team is 20. After completion of the evaluations, the head coach of your team will contact you.

Tiering (until end of October)

The Federation Hockey Council organizes a tiering committee with a chairperson and representatives from each of the operating programs in the city. The committee is responsible for placing teams in divisions of approximately equal abilities. This committee meets prior to the start of the season and prior to round two (regular season) and round three (playoffs). Teams can be moved to higher or lower divisions depending on their level of play during the first round (tiering round). The purpose of tiering is to group teams throughout the city at similar competitive levels.

Please remember that Tier (division) numbers and Team numbers are not the same. For example, if you child is placed on Team 3, he/she may not necessarily play in Tier (division) 3 for league play.

Team Funding

Your registration fees provide practice, game, playoff and Minor Hockey Week ice times as outlined as a basic season by the Federation Hockey Council.

Individual teams may want to:

• obtain additional practice ice
• play exhibition games
• enter tournaments
• buy team apparel
• have team-building events

These activities are extras and are funded by the individual teams.  The source of the necessary money, to the limits the parental majority may set, is the parent group of that team and can be generated via a cash call, or fundraising, or most commonly, some combination of both.  All parents should consider fundraising as part of their commitment to their child's hockey season and expect the top 2 or 3 teams in any age category to be very aggressive. It is the coach and manager's responsibility to organize and meet with the parents and assistant coaches to discuss and set a seasonal course of action for the team. Parents with players in the top tiered teams should consider the fundraising requirements before committing their child to the team.