LATEST UPDATE:
Registration opens soon!
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
The LPAA Hockey program offers a non-contact recreational hockey program for house-league calibre boys and girls. The goal of the program is twofold: a) to ensure the kids have a fun and sportsmanlike experience, and b) to help them learn and improve on their hockey skills. We want a fun but competitive league.
REGISTRATION:
LPAA Hockey registration includes: ice time, team sweater and socks, goalie equipment, coach's equipment, and the year-end banquet where pizza, trophies, prizes and medals are provided.
Registration is by on-line application form only. Registration deadline each year is the end of October. Registration is on a first-come, first served basis subject to space availability. In other words even if your application form is in by the end of October a space is not guaranteed depending on number of registrants (applications are numbered as they come in). Conversely, if we have space left after the October deadline we will still accept applicants up to the end of November. If you are registering between October and November, if the application form is still open on-line then that means we still have space available.
LEAGUE PLAY:
The league starts when the city opens the outdoors rinks (usually the first full week of December), and runs until just before March Break. We play 10 games, all played outdoors at Otter Creek (behind Lawrence Park Collegiate at Lawrence and Avenue Road) and at Hodgson (at Davisville and Mt. Pleasant, go east on Millwood and turn south at Harwood). Each Division (except for the Skills which plays only on Wednesdays) plays once a week on one of two nights each week (see "Divisions/Schedule" section for your specific age group below). In other words each child plays one game each week but on some weeks you will play on the one night noted in the schedule and the other weeks you will play on the other night. Games are either at 6:30 p.m. to 7:35 p.m. or 7:35 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. (see "Schedule" for the specific playing times for your Division), with the younger kids playing at the earlier times. Each game is divided into two activities: a) the first 20 to 25 minutes is for a practice, and b) a game for the remaining period.
LEAGUE DIVISIONS AND SCHEDULE:
The league is divided into four divisions based on age as follows (note: age as of the end of December and girls and boys play together): Before you register please ensure that your child can play on both of the nights (other than Skills which plays one night only) indicated for their specific division in the chart below!
|
DIVISION |
CHILD'S AGE (at Dec 31, 2010): |
Nights Played: |
|
Skills |
5 years old |
TBD |
|
Tykes |
6 and 7 years old |
TBD |
|
Pee Wee |
8 and 9 years old |
TBD |
|
Junior |
10, 11 and 12 years old |
TBD |
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS:
To be eligible to play in the LPAA hockey league, applicants must adhere to the following requirements:
- Boys and girls are welcome
- Players may play in another hockey league, however any “Select” (or higher) players from other leagues are NOT allowed. This is because our experience over the years has been that just one or two Select players on a LPAA team completely throws off the team balance, and lopsided scores result with some teams winning no games and other teams winning by 10 to 0, and less-skilled players rarely touching the puck. If a Select player is found to be on a team, he/she will be asked to leave the team. (note that “Select” includes “Taxi squad” players).
- As we are a community league, players must reside in the area bounded by St. Clair to the South, York Mills to the North, Bayview to the East, and Bathurst to the West
TEAM SELECTION:
Teams are made up based on the following criteria:
a: First and foremost, the skill level of the child. An unbalanced team is not fun for any child. To that end, please put some thought into the section on the application form in which you are asked to rate your child's ability, as we use this info to make up balanced teams.
b: The need to ensure that we have a Coach and at least one Assistant Coach on each team.
c: The age of the children (a mix of younger and older).
d: If possible, (e.g. it does not affect balance), a request to be paired with ONE other friend
.
PAIRED REQUESTS:
The application form allows you to request ONE friend your child would like to play with on their team. While we will try and honour requests, we will not do this if doing so materially affects team balance. When making your request, please: a) do NOT put down more than one child's name on the application form (we will have to ignore the second name) and b) BEFORE you fill out the application form check with the other parent to ensure that BOTH children have indicated each other on their application forms (if both do not request each other, we will have to ignore the request).
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EQUIPMENT:
All players must have CSA approved equipment including: skates (no figure skates); helmet, full face shield, neck guard, shoulder pads, elbow pads, jock (with garter belt, or separate garter belt), hockey gloves, hockey pants, shin guards, and hockey stick (for proper length, hold stick vertical with child on skates, and the stick should go to their chin). If you require help with your equipment purchase, stores like “Sport Chek” are good, or you can also purchase good quality beginner sets at Wal mart and/or Canadian Tire. Note that team sweaters and socks will be supplied by the league just prior to the first game. Also: remember to sharpen the skates prior to the first game, and at least once during the season.
GOALIE:
For each game in the Skills and Tykes division, players take turns each shift in net with their own regular equipment and with a goalie stick provided by the league for Tykes (Skills players use their own sticks). In the Pee Wee and Junior divisions, a child is allocated to play goalie prior to each game, and full goalie equipment is provided by the league. We encourage all children to try this position, but if your child is very averse, simply talk to the Coach.
COACHES/REFEREEING:
As this is a community league, we are 100% run by volunteers. On the application form is an area to indicate your interest in volunteering for Coach or Assistant Coach (we need one Coach and two Assistants per team), and we appreciate you volunteering! Coaches do not need to be at every game (that’s why we have 1 plus 2 Assistants per team), and we supply coaching skills tips (click here to get them) to help with your coaching. Each game will also be referred by one of the Coaches from one of the teams playing.
COACH CONTACT:
You will be contacted by a Coach by the last week of November with your team name and first game date as well as a team schedule.
GAME DAY CONDITIONS:
Note that since Otter and Hodgson are outdoor rinks, occasionally a game may be called off due to rain or excessive snow. However the Coaches and/or Convenor’s will not know in advance if the rink is closed, and hence please assume that all games are on. In most cases, you would be surprised at what we can play in light light rain, freezing cold, and snow! So please: just show up! |