U13 News

Hello SMHA U13 Families,

Thank you for registering for the upcoming 2026-2027 SMHA hockey season. My name is Tim Kirkwood, and I will be your U13 House League Convenor for this hockey season.  

To all our returning players/families, welcome back to hockey! To all our new players (and families) to the U13 program, welcome to the SMHA family! We can't wait to meet you around the hockey rinks.

Please note, all U13 registrants have been included on these communication emails which consists of players registered for house league and the competitive RepB programs. All registrants will continue to receive U13 bulk communication until the competitive tryouts have been completed, and the teams have been formed. As these teams are finalised, the distribution list will be updated to only include House League players moving forward.

More correspondence will be sent out at a later date, but please see below for information on the first six weeks of the season, which will begin the weekend after Labour Day.

Conditioning Sessions(2):

These sessions provide players with a chance to get ready for the regular season and have some fun. The sessions will have a leader and on-ice helpers assisting with the skaters to ensure that all kids are having a great time and have a fair opportunity to develop. Players will be sorted alphabetically by last name.

Evaluation Sessions (Mandatory- 4):

These sessions are mandatory, as they allow us to properly assess each skater and place them on a team that best matches their skills and abilities. Evaluations help ensure balanced teams and a fun, competitive season for everyone. Skaters will begin sorted alphabetically by last name and will then be moved into appropriate tiers (1, 2, 3) based on their evaluation scores throughout the sessions. Goalies will also be evaluated during the combined sessions and will have an additional goalie‑specific evaluation session.

VSC Process

This is extremely important, and the process has recently changed. If you have a valid VSC, you MUST still complete a declaration form. If you do not have a valid VSC, you will need to obtain one.

If you are a returning volunteer for the upcoming season, please complete this as soon as possible, as each submission must be verified. For a complete overview, to submit your declaration, or to apply for a VSC, visit the HEO site: https://www.hockeyeasternontario.ca/vulnerable-sector-check/

Off Ice Volunteers

It takes many volunteers to make the hockey season a success, there are lots of opportunities to help. If you are interested in helping out, or have a high school student (13+) looking for volunteer hours, we would greatly appreciate your support. During conditioning and evaluations, we will need help checking players in, handing out pinnies, guiding families, assisting with administrative tasks, and in some cases helping on a bench. A volunteer sign‑up sheet for conditioning and evaluations will be sent out soon in a separate email. Please review the notes included on that sheet for further details on the specific roles we will be looking to fill.

Head Coaches who wish to volunteer and be considered for a bench position this season, will be required to participate as on‑ice leads during conditioning sessions and serve as evaluators during the four evaluation sessions. I want to thank everyone in advance for giving their time -- your support is essential to keeping the process running smoothly, and we truly couldn’t do it without our volunteers.

New Mandatory Training – The Shift Forward:

This Shift Forward program replaces the previous Respect in Sport program. To support a smooth transition, Hockey Canada will continue to recognize existing Respect in Sport certification for this season. Beginning in the 2028-29 season, however, all participants engaging with hockey will be required to complete The Shift Forward. If you do not currently hold a Respect in Sport certification, you will need to register for the new program this season.

There are two versions of the course: one for coaches and bench staff, and one for parents and guardians. Please ensure you register for the appropriate version. More information is available here: ShiftForward | Hockey Eastern Ontario
 
Schedule

To help families plan, the SMHA House season will begin as follows:

• Conditioning: 19, 20 Sep
• Evaluations: 26, 27 Sep & 3, 4 Oct
• Goalie Specific Evaluation: 28 Sep
*Initial teams should be formed/drafted during the week of 5–9 Oct*
• Potential balancing game dates: 10, 11, 17, 18 Oct


In the meantime, sit back and enjoy the rest of the summer. See you all soon at the rink.