Recreational Hockey – Start of Season Information – North Delta Minor Hockey Association

Recreational Hockey - Start of Season Information

Welcome to the 2024 Season!

This page will hold the most up to date information for the start of season sessions being held for the U7 to U18 C divisions. We ask that you check this page throughout September for updates on schedules, rosters and any other session information we need to share with the participants.

SPORDLE PLAY TRAINING - ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THE PCAHA TRAINING

Every team will need people who know how to scorekeep using the Spordle Play app. It is not a difficult task, but many are nervous to volunteer for this very important task that is needed at every home game. PCAHA is hosting two training sessions to allow people to be comfortable and learn the correct way of inputting the information. Please consider joining the training so every team has a few people who can help.

Sept 12 @ 7:30pm to 8:30pm
Zoom link - click here

Oct 10 @ 7:30pm to 8:30pm
Zoom link - click here

U7 U9 U11 U13 U15 U18

Volunteer Sign up Sheet

We will need assistance at each of the upcoming sessions at our check-in table, HCSP safety personnel, timekeepers (games) and pinnie collection. If you are coming to the rink, please consider signing up for something to help keep everything flowing smoothly. Thank you in advance!

Click here to go to the sign up sheet.

Start of Season Assessments

The first skate of the season has been uploaded onto TeamSnap and you will be scheduled for either Wednesday, Sept 18 @ 3:45 pm NDRC or Saturday, Sept 21 @ 8:00 am NDRC.

Skill Group Rosters

Note that every player will be playing Sunday, September 22 at either 5:30 pm or 6:40 pm and you will be informed which session to attend following this weekend's skates have been completed.

Players will be assessed over several skating sessions by our Director of Hockey Operations and his team of evaluators and placed on to teams based on their abilities. In U7 we will be splitting the players up into two teams: U7 Major and U7 Minor.

Please watch your email for more information about the upcoming assessments.

Season Plan

Once the two teams are formed by the first week of October you will be provided with a set practice and home game schedule for the year. Games against other hockey associations begin January 2025.

ND Hockey follows the Hockey Canada U7 pathway program.

Volunteer Sign up Sheet

Click here to go to the sign up sheet.

Start of Season Schedule
The first two skates of the season are scheduled and uploaded onto TeamSnap. All players have been assigned to one of three skill group sessions.

Skill Group rosters

Skills session schedule:
Group A: Mon, Sept 16 - 5:00 - 6:00 pm @ Sungod and Sat, Sept 21 - 9:15 - 10:45 am @ NDRC
Group B: Thurs, Sept 19 - 3:45 - 4:45 pm @ NDRC and Sat, Sept 21 - 2:00 - 3:00 pm @ NDRC
Group C: Thur, Sept 19 - 5:00 - 6:00 pm @ NDRC and Sat, Sept 21 - 3:15 - 4:15 pm @ NDRC

Players will be assessed over several skating sessions by our Director of Hockey Operations and his evaluation team and placed on to teams based on their abilities.

Teams will be formed by October 1st.

Projected number of teams

In U9, we will have 1 Major Team and 4 Minor Teams.

2024-25 Pilot Program: U9 Full Ice
PCAHA has received approval for all U9 programs to play games in a full ice pilot project for the entire season. League games will be in the full ice format and will start on or after December 1, 2024.

Are you interested in being assessed as a goalie this season? Please let vp3@ndhockey.com know.

U11

Phase 1: Pathway Skates

For all participants registered for the U11 division, please watch your email for more information regarding the upcoming Pathway skates. These sessions will begin Saturday, August 24 through to Wednesday, September 4.

These sessions are optional and are not part of the assessment process which will begin in September. No evaluation will occur during the pathway skates. They are simply to provide an opportunity for skaters to be part of one or more high tempo practice sessions to help shake off the rust before the start of the season.

The pathway skates will be open to all players in the U11 division.

Phase 2: Start of Season Schedule

Week 1 & 2: on-ice sessions in Groups

Week 3: on-ice sessions and scrimmages in Groups

Week 4: on-ice evaluations begin after September 20th

Key Dates

September 28: Tentative date for teams to be finalized

October 4: Start of PCAHA balancing round

Frequently Asked Questions

How are teams formed?
All players will be assessed by a team of evaluators who will be looking at skills such as skating, passing, shooting, etc as well as game play. These scores will be used to create "balanced teams" to participate in the Fraser Valley West (FVW) league as part of the overall Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association (PCAHA).

What does "balancing" or "balanced teams" mean?
It is a requirement by PCAHA that all associations who have enough players to create two or more divisions in the same age category spend the first part of the season creating similarly skilled, or "balanced", teams in their recreational divisions. ND Hockey will conduct an internal "balancing" period with player evaluations and internal scrimmages to be able to form teams that best reflects a balanced structure.

Does my player need to attend all sessions?
Once evaluations begin after September 20th, it is very important that players make every effort to attend all assigned sessions in order to be fully evaluated and allow the balancing process to be successful. It is a short window but is so critical to the team formation, and ultimately the enjoyment of all players in the division.

Who should I contact if I'm interested in being a coach, team manager or HCSP?
Every recreational division has a division manager who will be supporting the teams all season. If you are interested in helping on the team staff for your player's team, you can reach out to your division manager, Zoey, and they will keep a list. While you can wait until the team is set to let the Head Coach know, it is really helpful during the team formation process to know who is willing to step into these roles so they can be spread amongst the teams.

U13

Start of Season Schedule

Week 1 & 2: on-ice sessions in Groups

Week 3: on-ice sessions and scrimmages in Groups

Week 4: on-ice evaluations begin after September 20th

Key Dates

September 28: Tentative date for teams to be finalized

October 4: Start of PCAHA balancing round

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should I contact if I'm interested in being a coach, team manager or HCSP?
Every recreational division has a division manager who will be supporting the teams all season. If you are interested in helping on the team staff for your player's team, you can reach out to your division manager, Raj, and they will keep a list. While you can wait until the team is set to let the Head Coach know, it is really helpful during the team formation process to know who is willing to step into these roles so they can be spread amongst the teams.

U15

Start of Season Schedule

Week 1 & 2: on-ice sessions in Groups

Week 3: on-ice sessions and scrimmages in Groups

Week 4: on-ice evaluations begin after September 20th

Key Dates

September 28: Tentative date for teams to be finalized

October 4: Start of PCAHA balancing round

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should I contact if I'm interested in being a coach, team manager or HCSP?
Every recreational division has a division manager who will be supporting the teams all season. If you are interested in helping on the team staff for your player's team, you can reach out to your division manager, Brandi, and they will keep a list. While you can wait until the team is set to let the Head Coach know, it is really helpful during the team formation process to know who is willing to step into these roles so they can be spread amongst the teams.

U18

Start of Season Schedule

Week 1 & 2: on-ice sessions in Groups

Week 3: on-ice sessions and scrimmages in Groups

Week 4: on-ice evaluations begin after September 20th

Key Dates

September 28: Tentative date for teams to be finalized

October 4: Start of PCAHA balancing round

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should I contact if I'm interested in being a coach, team manager or HCSP?
Every recreational division has a division manager who will be supporting the teams all season. If you are interested in helping on the team staff for your player's team, you can reach out to your division manager, Amy, and they will keep a list. While you can wait until the team is set to let the Head Coach know, it is really helpful during the team formation process to know who is willing to step into these roles so they can be spread amongst the teams.