House League program (U7 & U9)     ​ 

The primary goal of the South Winnipeg Hockey Association House League is to ensure kids have fun while learning the fundamental skills of hockey and what it means to be part of a team.

Registration

As a requirement of participation in minor hockey in Winnipeg, at least one parent or guardian of each player must complete the Respect in Sport – Parent Program prior to registering. This one-hour online course promotes respectful behavior and positive experiences for all participants.

You’ll need to provide your Respect in Sport certificate number during the registration process.

If this is your child’s first year with SWHA, you must also provide their birth certificate registration number.

Learn more: Respect in Sport – Parent Program

Preseason Skates – Introduction & Assessments

After registration, the VP of House League or your Age Convenor will contact you in early September with preseason skate schedules.

Ice times usually begin the second weekend of September. All players must have full equipment by then. See our Equipment Guidelines.

The preseason sessions are not tryouts. They are designed to:

  • Introduce players and coaches
  • Review basic skills and drills
  • Assess player skill level for team balancing

Volunteers Needed: For U7, we need on-ice parent helpers during these sessions. Register as an On-Ice Helper through the same Hockey Canada Registration system used for player registration.

Team Formation

U7  Team Formation Process

Teams are created based on the following priorities:

  • Siblings are placed on the same team (unless requested otherwise)
  • Top-ranked players are divided evenly among teams
  • If there are 6 teams, the top 6 players are placed on different teams
  • Children of the head coach and one assistant coach are placed accordingly
  • One reciprocal friend request is allowed, provided it does not affect team balance

A reciprocal request means both friends must request each other. Chain requests will not be accommodated.

We will do our best to honor friend requests, but team balance is the top priority.

U9 Team Formation Process

U9 teams are split into:

  • U9-A (more competitive)
  • U9-B (developmental)

Teams are formed using preseason assessment results to ensure balanced skill levels in each division.

U9-A players participate in a more competitive environment, with additional practices and tournaments.
An additional charge applies for U9-A players, collected after team selection.

Players selected for U9-A may opt out and will be placed on a U9-B team.

Season Overview

The House League season typically begins in mid to late October.

Ice Time:  Teams are usually scheduled for 2–3 ice times per week, including:

  • Weekend games/practices (typically between 7:30 AM – 10:30 AM)
  • Occasional weekday evening practices
  • One outdoor ice session per week (when available)

Coaches will contact families after team selections. Please check your inbox regularly.

Tournament Participation: Most teams enter 2–3 tournaments per season.

The Balanced Line Concept

SWHA uses a Balanced Line system for House League teams. Players are grouped as:

  • Developed
  • Developing

This ensures:

  • Fair matchups on the ice
  • Increased puck touches and engagement for all players
  • Skill progression throughout the season

Children are not told which line they are on—it simply rotates like any other shift.

U7 Game Format

  • Coaches accompany players on the ice during games
  • 3-minute running time shifts
  • No scorekeeping
  • All players rotate through positions, including goalie
  • Games are played on half-ice with 4 teams sharing the surface

Half-ice games promote more puck touches and constant engagement.

Learn more: U7 Program Details

U9 Game Format

  • Full season played on a half-ice surface
  • No set goalies in U9-B — each player tries the goalie position at least once
  • Referees are on the ice during games

Learn more: U9 Program Details

Fees & Additional Costs

Your September registration fee covers:

  • League fees
  • Preseason ice
  • Game ice
  • Jerseys

Additional team fees: $300–$500 per player

These fees cover:

  • Practice ice
  • Tournament entry
  • Team events

Collected by your team treasurer in two installments (November & January).

Teams may coordinate fundraising events to help offset costs.

View full Fee Breakdown