First time playing? Waiting for that first email from the coach? Wondering what next year might be like? Thinking about trying out?

You can find a general description of the program formats by age group on Hockey Nova Scotia’s website (https://hockeynovascotia.ca/players/new-player/what-to-expect).

Note that our regular season starts in late October/early November, running typically to the first week in March with some teams playing later into March depending on how they do in playoffs.  Regularly scheduled hockey practices and games typically are paused in the last 2 weeks of December.

Below you will find information on what you can expect from our association at each age group.

U7 (players aged 4 to 6 by Dec. 31)

U7 hockey is played cross-ice and is focused entirely on fun and player development.

Registration is typically left open the longest for this age group to allow for “late starts”, so please contact registrar@westhantswarriors.com if you’re looking to register late and want more information.

There is no tryout or evaluation process at the beginning of the season, and on-ice activities typically start in early November.  You should expect to hear from the coaching staff (typically parents of older children in the age group) mid to late October with information on the schedule, calls for volunteers, and more information on plans for the season.

Beyond the odd travel costs if your team decides to attend a jamboree, your expenses at the U7 level are typically limited to registration fees and equipment.

U9 (players aged 7 to 8 by Dec. 31)

U9 hockey is played cross-ice and starts to incorporate games with other teams.  Our association has 3 levels for U9: Development, Intermediate and Advanced.

All U9 players must participate in a placement evaluation that happens in early October (around the same time as tryouts).  The fee for this evaluation is typically $50.  This allows for U7 players moving to U9, and 2^nd year U9 players to be placed at a level with similarly skilled skaters.

Placement will typically be finalized by mid-October, at which point you should expect to hear from the coaching staff (typically parents of older children in the age group) with information on the schedule, calls for volunteers, and more information on plans for the season.

There are some tournaments and games at the U9 level, which typically requires your team to discuss a budget for the season and decide on what you’re looking to do.

You should expect to pay for registration, the placement fee, travel expenses for games (and tournaments if applicable).  Some teams at this age group will budget for the season costs not covered by registration (i.e. tournaments, end of year party, etc.) and ask parents to either help fundraise or “buy-out” their portion of the team’s costs for the season.

U11 (players aged 9 to 10 by Dec. 31) and U13 (11 or 12 by Dec. 31)

U11 and U13 hockey are full-ice hockey, with multiple levels of play:

• The House League or C-level (part of the Annapolis Valley Minor Hockey League)
• Representative Leagues, B, A or AA levels (part of the Scotia Minor Hockey League)

Any players who do not tryout are automatically rostered to the C-level team.  Players who tryout will be rostered either on a Representative league based on their tryout results, or on the C-level team.  If your player wishes to tryout, you must register them for tryouts and pay the tryout fee which covers ice-time and fees for the evaluators.  For more information on tryouts, check out the Tryout page.

The C-level team will often start practices in late October/early November, with coaches for the team reaching out in mid to late October with more information and to request parents to step forward to volunteer.  C-level teams have one hour of half-ice (practice) and one hour of full-ice (game) scheduled each week of the season.  From a budgeting perspective, you should expect to pay for registration, tryout fees (if applicable), travel expenses for games, and tournaments (if applicable).  Teams at this age group will budget for the season costs not covered by registration (i.e. tournaments, end of year party, etc.) and ask parents to either help fundraise or “buy-out” their portion of the team’s costs for the season.

The representative-level teams (B, A, AA) will often start practices in late October after tryouts are complete.  Coaches for the team reaching often reach out in mid October with more information and to request parents to step forward to volunteer.  Rep teams have one hour of full-ice (practice) and 1.5 hours of full-ice (game) scheduled each week of the season.  The extra cost of the full-ice practice, additional referee expenses and longer games relative to C-level teams is covered by a “Rep Fee” that is charged to the team (in 2021/2022, this was $4100/team which has to be paid by early December).

From a budgeting perspective, you should expect to pay for registration, tryout fees, travel expenses for games (and tournaments), and your portion of the Rep fee.  Teams at this age group will budget for the season costs not covered by registration (i.e. tournaments, end of year party, rep fees (B, A or AA only), etc.) and ask parents to either help fundraise or “buy-out” their portion of the team’s costs for the season.

U15 (players aged 13 to 14 by Dec. 31)

U15 hockey is very similar in structure to U11/U13, with the following key differences:

U15C games are scheduled for 1.5 hours (instead of 1 hour at the U11C/U13C levels).  The cost of this additional ice time and the increased fees for referees is covered by a “rep fee” that is typically half of that charged to B, A or AA teams.  In 2021/2022, the rep fee for the U15C team was ~$2050. This fee is charged to the team and managed through the team’s budgeting process.

B and C level teams are still considered non-contact leagues.  A or AA teams do permit checking.

All U15 players who plan to participate in tryouts must complete our associations “Checking Clinic” that is run in late Sept/Early October, typically right before tryouts are scheduled.  More details on this clinic are advertised once the tryout schedule is finalized.

U18 (players aged 15 to 17 by Dec. 31)

U18 hockey is very similar in structure to U15, with the following key differences:

U18C practices are full-ice (instead of shared ice at the U15 and lower divisions).  The cost of this additional ice time, the 1.5 hour games and the increased fees for referees is covered by a “rep fee” that is equivalent to that charged to B, A or AA teams.  In 2021/2022, the rep fee for the U18C team was ~$4100. This fee is charged to the team and managed through the team’s budgeting process.

B and C level teams are non-contact.  A or AA teams do permit checking.