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SEASONAL STRUCTURE

AN EXCITING NEW SEASON. A GREAT NEW FORMAT.

U10 and Above

U9 and Below

PREP PHASE
  • May begin Aug. 28 through Sep. 10
  • All players have access to a minimum of four (4) sessions prior to formal player evaluations.

EVALUATION PHASE
  • All Players must have at least three (3) evaluation sessions prior to tiering of Players.
  • No Evaluations the first week of school - Evaluations may begin Sep. 11

DEVELOPMENT PHASE
  • Must be a minimum of 14 days regardless of start date. 

 

Associations can provide sanctioned individual skills training or hockey schools beginning August 28, with the regular season starting as soon as October 2. All teams must be engaged in meaningful competition until March 1, 2024.

INTRODUCING PLAYER PATHWAYS:

With the new Hockey Canada Player Pathways our season will now follow its development model and have five phases, from the first steps onto the ice right to the last buzzer of the championships.

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#1: PREPARATION PHASE

RE-CONNECTING WITH OUR LOVE OF THE GAME
Players have the option to participate in warm-up skates, allowing them to reconnect with friends, both on and off the ice. It is a chance for players to get back on the ice in a stress-free environment, before entering formal tryouts or evaluations.

#2: EVALUATION PHASE

ASSESSING PLAYERS’ SKILL LEVELS TO PROVIDE AN OPTIMAL EXPERIENCE
For players U8 and below, this is the time when we assess each player’s skill level and group players with players of similar skill levels. Players U9 and above will have the opportunity to try out for Representative ("rep") programming. This will provide all players with the optimal hockey experience.

#3: DEVELOPMENT PHASE

SHARPENING SKILLS AND SKATES
Skill development and team building exercises are designed to help players gain self-confidence before starting the regular season. This phase gives players the chance to practice on-ice skills and settle in and feel comfortable with their team and coaches.

#4: REGULAR SEASON PHASE

THE PUCK DROPS, AND AN EXCITING NEW SEASON BEGINS
The details of this phase are set by each league. This includes the number of games, the season schedule, and the league’s playoff format. Always working to make hockey better for families, we have scheduled seasonal breaks during the December holidays and the March Break.

#5: PLAYOFFS / END OF SEASON PHASE

With the removal of elimination-style series, the need for travel for families will be reduced. As league playoffs wrap up, teams earn spots in the OMHA Championship Weekends.

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Welcome to the OMHA Championship Weekends.

As part of our new seasonal structure, the Ontario Minor Hockey Association is thrilled to announce details of our new playoff format. We will share more details in the new year but wanted to give you an idea of some of the exciting things you can look forward to in the coming months.

These new Championships still keep the tradition of #RedHats alive. The ultimate prize in minor hockey remains the goal for all competing and will be distributed to the winning teams.

The OMHA Championship Weekends will feature sponsor activations and gifts, excited crowds, official merchandise and live-streaming of games.

This new playoff format extends the length of playing meaningful hockey, minimizes travel for busy hockey families and aligns with the Player Pathway’s optimal season structure. It removes the elimination-style series, and keeps more teams playing during the year for a longer period of time.

HOW IT WORKS

These new OMHA Championships make League Championships even more important. League playoffs now turn into local qualifier showdowns to see who moves on to compete for #RedHats.

Leagues will determine their format of play to advance their assigned number of teams and identify the team(s) that advance. Each League is assessed and assigned a Tier to ensure fair competition during the Championship Weekends. Every League is guaranteed at least one representative at all age groups.