Division Information

2024 – 2025 Season

You can only be registered in one Hockey Association and House League division per season.

U6-U8 Initiation – Learn to Skate / Learn to Play (Formerly Hockey School)

We offer an entry level, learn to skate /learn to play program for 4-, 5-, 6- and 7-year-olds introducing skating and basic skills for first timers. It follows the Hockey Canada cross ice/half ice program. The children must wear full equipment and have a stick.

We recommend players should be at minimum, four (4) years of age prior to December 31, 2024.

It is a learn to skate, learn skills entry-level program. Our Learn to Skate / Learn to Play program be on ice for 40 minutes a week. It will focus mostly on skating skills. The skaters are grouped based on individual skills and abilities, as the skating improves, there may be a puck involved to enhance skill development. We have approximately 50 participants on the ice. Each group of skaters has a minimum of 1 -2 volunteer instructors as well as Parent and Student volunteers. We take kids starting at the age of 4 and some cannot skate at all, we even have a small group at the beginning of the year that uses walkers. The abilities are all sorted out within the first few weeks of the season, and as each skater progresses, they are moved to the appropriate group.

The season culminates at the end of a year with a fun game on Little Stanley Cup Day (Championship Day). It is the cutest thing ever!

U7 (Initiation formerly Tyke)

We offer an initiation program for 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds that runs for 50 min sessions on Saturdays between 7am and 5pm. Players registered in our U7 Division follow the Hockey Canada Timbits program and are introduced to the basic principles of skating, hockey shooting, and passing in a cross-ice format with an emphasis on skill development in a relaxed and fun environment run by volunteer coaches. Skills and drills are followed by a short scrimmage. Goalies will be rotated through each teams’ players and goalie equipment is available to be borrowed through EYHA. They have an opportunity to become members of a team, develop self-confidence and experience personal achievement, all through fun and fair play. They are scheduled anytime from 7am to 5pm. EYHA attempts to equally rotate the schedule throughout the season. This way not one division/team is stuck all year getting up early or at the arena late on a Saturday evening. Typically, the schedule rotates in 4/5-week blocks. For example, you may play the first 5 weeks from 7am – 9am, then the next 5 weeks from 10am to 12pm, then the next 5 weeks from 2pm to 4pm. etc.

Our U7 (5- and 6-year-olds) Division is also provided with practice sessions. Generally, our teams practice every Second to Third Sunday. The practices will either be at East York Arena from 6am to 11am or at another arena (not yet known) from 2pm to 6pm. These times are not fully confirmed and may change. The schedule for this is not known until October.

The season culminates at the end of a year with a fun game on Little Stanley Cup Day (Championship Day).

We recommend participants be able to skate one length of the ice unassisted, or shuffle around the ice without help. Players must be comfortable on the ice without a parent or have participated in our Learn to Play program for a minimum of one year.

U8 (Formerly Minor Novice)

Our U8 (7-year-olds) program runs on Saturday at East York Arena and uses a half-ice format as mandated by Hockey Canada. Players play their skills and drills using half the ice to increase stick handling and puck skills. Goalies will be rotated through each teams’ players and goalie equipment is available to be borrowed through EYHA. They have an opportunity to become members of a team, develop self-confidence and experience personal achievement, all through fun and fair play. They are scheduled anytime from 7am to 5pm. EYHA attempts to equally rotate the schedule throughout the season. This way not one division/team is stuck all year getting up early or at the arena late on a Saturday evening. Typically, the schedule rotates in 4/5-week blocks. For example, you may play the first 5 weeks from 7am – 9am, then the next 5 weeks from 10am to 12pm, then the next 5 weeks from 2pm to 4pm. etc.

As well as the Saturday session, our U8 Division is provided with practice ice. The schedule for this is not known until October. Generally, our teams practice every Second to Third Sunday. The practices will either be at East York Arena from 6am to 11am or at another arena (not yet known) from 8am to 2pm. These times are not fully confirmed and may change.

The season culminates at the end of a year with a fun game on Little Stanley Cup Day (Championship Day).

U9 (Formerly Novice)

Our U9 (8-year-olds) program runs on Saturday at East York Arena and uses a half-ice format in the Fall portion of our season as mandated by Hockey Canada. Players play their skills and drills using half the ice to increase stick handling and puck skills. Goalies will be rotated through each teams’ players and goalie equipment is available to be borrowed through EYHA. After the Christmas Break, the U9 Division transitions to full ice games to continue development of skating and puck skills. These dates may be modified at the discretion of the league. They have an opportunity to become members of a team, develop self-confidence and experience personal achievement, all through fun and fair play. The games are scheduled anytime from 7am to 5pm. EYHA attempts to equally rotate the schedule throughout the season. This way not one division/team is stuck all year getting up early or at the arena late on a Saturday evening. Typically, the schedule rotates in 4/5-week blocks. For example, you may play the first 5 weeks from 7am – 9am, then the next 5 weeks from 10am to 12pm, then the next 5 weeks from 2pm to 4pm. etc.

As well as the Saturday session, our U9 Division is provided with practice ice. Generally, our teams practice every Second to Third Sunday. The practices will either be at East York Arena from 6am to 11am or at another arena (not yet known) from 8am to 2pm. These times are not fully confirmed and may change.