Registering your child in the East Gwillimbury Minor Hockey Association (EGMHA)
Welcome to the East Gwillimbury Minor Hockey Association. The EGMHA provides an opportunity for children from the ages of 4 and up in all skill levels to develop their hockey skills and more importantly, have fun doing it.
This document has been created to welcome our first time registrants into the EGMHA and there are usually a number of questions parents have. Please take a few moments to read the following information and if you have further questions please feel free to contact our EGMHA Admin/Registrar.
The Registration Process:
Online registration will open in early June. You can get to the online registration form by clicking on the General Information option under the Registration menu on the EGMHA main page.
Please note that when registering for hockey for the first time at least one parent or guardian of each player registered in minor hockey in the OMHA is required to complete the Respect in Sport – Parent Program as a condition of participation. In other words, if at least one parent does not complete the course your child/children will be ineligible to play hockey until such time as the course has been successfully completed. Please see the Respect in Sport option on the website, it can be found under the Registration menu on the EGMHA main page.
Player Skill Requirements:
One of the common questions asked by parents when considering registering their young children in our program are related to their child's skill level. The EGMHA follows the Hockey Canada and Ontario Minor Hockey Association development models. All of the head coaches for our divisions are educated and certified through Hockey Canada's National Coach Certification Program. This means that they have all undergone training to help them properly instruct young players in becoming better hockey players. Obviously, skating skill dramatically improves as the age of the players increase. If you are registering your child as a new player in our U5 to U9 divisions it is not necessary that your child be an accomplished skater. However, if they are going to have a positive first time hockey experience we recommend that they be somewhat comfortable on skates and be able to navigate themselves across the ice with minimal assistance. Our experience has shown that when a first time player feels they have a chance to move with the play then they are more likely to enjoy the experience and hockey is more likely to become a continuing part of their life.
Player Equipment:
We recommend that you ensure your child’s hockey equipment is properly fitted for your child by your preferred retailer. However, two pieces of equipment that are required by the OMHA are often overlooked by parents registering their children for the first time. They are the neck protector to help guard against cuts and the mouth guard to help minimize the possibility of concussions. In addition, your child will require a hockey helmet and cage, shoulder pads, elbow pads, hockey pants, jock/jill, shin guards, skates, stick, hockey gloves and hockey bag. EGMHA provides each player with a hockey jersey and socks. To see more information on equipment requirements please click on our Equipment page.
Hockey Development in EGMHA:
It is important to understand that for all house league games, the EGMHA expects all its Coaches to play their players equally, irrespective of level of skill. Fun and skill development are the primary goals of our Association. EGMHA offers several different recreations programs depending on the age and skill of the player.
The House League program runs from October until the end of March. Practices and games are Saturday and Sunday mornings (exact times are determined in late summer and will be set for the full year at that time).
Initiation Program (ages 6 and below as of Dec 31st)
Our Initiation Program is delivered by a professional hockey instructor utilizing parent volunteers, who will be given support to obtain their Hockey Canada credentials to volunteer with the program. All ice times (practice and games) are at the EG Arena in Sharon.
Our Professional Development Coach will have a season development plan designed specific to each age group. The program will be adapted as changes need to be made, all with the ultimate goal of the most positive development of the skaters in mind. The Program covers all aspects of hockey player development: skating, shooting, passing, puck control, core work/balance/agility and increasing the skater’s hockey IQ.
In order to ensure players are adequately challenged, we focus on like skill players being grouped with other like skills players, so players in U7 are into two streams:
- U6 and below sessions:
- beginner players that are either 4 years or 5/6 years old and in their first year of hockey
- focus is on practices, may eventually move to scrimmage type cross ice games when ready
- U7 House League:
- players that are 5 or 6 years of age and are more advanced or returning for their second or third year of hockey
- Focus in both streams is considered recreational, providing equal ice time to all players regardless of skill level
- There are generally no goalies in these age groups, but as the season develops, teams may want to try letting player rotate through the goalie position. There is equipment available from EGMHA to borrow for the weeks players are taking a turn as a goalie
- You do not have to live in East Gwillimbury to play hockey in EGMHA House League
Interlock House League with Georgina Minor Hockey (ages 8 to 12 as of Dec 31st)
- Focus is considered recreational, providing equal ice time to all players regardless of skill level
- Two age divisions:
- U9 (for players aged 8 and below as of Dec 31st)
- U13 (for players aged 12 and below as of Dec 31st)
- Note for the U9 division, there are no full time goalies, any player that wants to try being a goalie will have opportunities to do so, there is goalie equipment available to borrow from EGMHA for the weeks that the player is taking a turn playing goalie
- All Practices take place at the EG arena in Sharon generally in the same timeslots
- All teams from EG are "EG Eagles"; away games will be against "Georgina Blaze" teams
- Home and Away games, home games at the EG Arena in Sharon, away games will be played in Keswick or Sutton
- You do not have to live in East Gwillimbury to play hockey in EGMHA/GMHA Interlock House League
Local League (ages 13 and older as of Dec 31st)
- Focus is considered recreational, providing equal ice time to all players regardless of skill level
- All practices at the EG Arena in Sharon generally in the same timeslots
- Games, however, are played at Sharon and other centres participating in local league (“away” centres may include Bradford, TNT, Schomberg, Lefroy, Beeton, Richmond Hill, Innisfil and Nobleking)
- You do not have to live in East Gwillimbury to play hockey in EGMHA Local League
- Regular season runs from October to February. Playoffs determine how far you go (typically into mid-March)
- East Gwillbury is part of the Simcoe Region Local League
- All teams are guaranteed 2 rounds of playoffs
- Costs are higher than House League due to:
- Full ice practices
- Home and Away jerseys
- More officials required per game
Minor Development: (geared towards advanced players between the ages of 7 and 8)
MD programming at the U8 and U9 age groups is offered through upperyorkminorhockey.com. Evaluations for these teams will be in late September with the season starting right away with practices and later in the Fall with games.
Representative Hockey:
Rep hockey is offered through upperyorkminorhockey.com
Volunteers:
The EGMHA is a volunteer organization. Here in East Gwillimbury we are already very fortunate to have a great number of dedicated volunteers. But the continued success of the EGMHA is very dependent on the strength of our volunteers and we are always looking for new people willing to contribute their time to our various programs.
You do not need to be a hockey expert to help us with our programs. We are always in need of good Coaching candidates, but we also need people who have good organizational skills and above all a passion to help and work with children. If you are interested in helping us in any of the many roles we need help with, please contact the Director of Operations.