House League Outline
Our fantastic group of volunteers, dedicated Coaches and their bench staff help make house league seasons enjoyable for our players and their families. Regardless of your child's skill level, we have a spot for them! At BMHA, we strongly believe in placing children in the appropriate division based on ability, not just age. Rest assured, we will make sure your child has fun and gets the assistance they need. Most house league hockey takes place on weekend mornings or early afternoons, with practices on Saturdays and games on Sundays. Midget-Juvenile games are Sunday nights. House League is recreational; it is for fun. While there will be games as children get older and scores are often kept, key focus is on skill development and fueling the love for hockey. To put icing on the cake, we play in the best hockey facility in Ontario, with all games and practices at Brantford's Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre.
Below, we have listed program offerings for recreational House League hockey. We include age level, number of ice times per week, and brief descriptions of each program.
Mini Mac (Learn to Skate)
Ages: 3 +
Number of ice times per week: 1 - Saturday morning
Mini Mac is a program for beginners wishing to learn skating skills prior to joining the Timbits hockey program the following season. Participants must be three or older to register and able to participate in a group setting without individual supervision.
The Mini Mac program will be comprised of two separate sessions per hockey season. (Fall and Winter) with a separate registration and fee for each session. Each session will run for 10 weeks, and each weekly ice time will have an early group and a later group, each 40 minutes in length. All participants must be dressed in full hockey equipment, including a regulation neck guard, and bring a hockey stick. Socks and hockey jerseys will be provided.
Timbits / Tyke
Ages: 5 +
Number of ice times per week: 2 - Saturday and Sunday (typically morning)
Timbits and Tyke are entry level divisions in minor hockey, also referred to at U7. Graduates from Mini Mac will typically move on to Timbits the next year and then Tyke the year following. Focus is on skill development and fun introducing children to hockey and team play. Games begin mid-way through the season and are played on small areas, either cross-ice or half-ice.
U9
Ages: 7-8
Number of ice times per week: 2 – Saturday and Sunday (typically morning)
Formerly referred to as Novice, this level of minor hockey continues to develop skills of our young players. Prior to Christmas break, games are played on small areas, half-ice. In the new year, games are played on full ice. Rotation of goalies is encouraged, to give all who would like the opportunity, the chance to try this position. Goalie equipment is available from BMHA.
U11
Ages: 9-10
Number of ice times per week: 2 – Saturday and Sunday
Formerly referred to as Atom, practices are typically held on Saturdays and games are on Sundays. Some exceptions may apply. Games are full ice, with all minor hockey rules enforced. There is NO bodychecking. House League Select is offered for U10 and U11, subject to interest from coaches and players. Tryouts are conducted in September. There is an additional cost for Select, paid directly to the team. House League games and practices are a priority over Select games and practices.
U13
Ages: 11-12
Number of ice times per week: 2 – Saturday and Sunday
Formerly referred to as Peewee, practices are typically held on Saturdays and games are on Sundays. Some exceptions may apply. There is NO bodychecking. House League Select is offered for U12 and U13, subject to interest from coaches and players. Tryouts are conducted in September. There is an additional cost for Select, paid directly to the team. House League games and practices are a priority over Select games and practices.
U15
Ages: 13-14
Number of ice times per week: 2 – Saturday and Sunday
Formerly referred to as Peewee, practices are typically held on Saturdays and games are on Sundays. Some exceptions may apply. There is NO bodychecking. House League Select is offered for U14 and U15, subject to interest from coaches and players. Tryouts are conducted in September. There is an additional cost for Select, paid directly to the team. House League games and practices are a priority over Select games and practices.
U18 / U21
Ages: 15-20
Number of ice times per week: 1 – Sunday evenings
Formerly referred to as Midget-Juvenile, this division provides games only with NO bodychecking. House League Select is offered for U16 and U18, subject to interest from coaches and players. Tryouts are conducted in September or October. There is an additional cost for Select, paid directly to the team. House League games are a priority over Select games and practices.
Specialty Programs
Toronto Maple Leafs First Shift
(Sold out for 2023-24 season)
Ages: 6-10
Number of ice times per week: 1 – Saturday afternoons
First Shift is open to children who have not previously registered for hockey. It is designed to ensure a positive experience for new-to-hockey families. We want to take away any intimidation as it relates to equipment requirements, and/or rules of the game, remove potential safety concerns, and most importantly, provide an experience that is memorable and fun. Players are divided into small groups and rotate to various skills stations, ensuring varying skill development with a positive ratio of instructors to skaters.
Participant registration includes:
- Bauer equipment (head-to-toe) that is yours to keep
- Welcome event with expert fit session and equipment distribution
- 6 on-ice sessions (1 hour on a consistent day and time)
99ers Second Shift
Ages: 6+
Number of ice times per week: 1 – Saturday afternoons
99ers Second Shift is aimed at (but not limited to) graduates of our First Shift program, who have not registered for House League. This is offered once per week and is an alternative to house league programming. This may assist families involved in other winter sports, that want to continue with hockey part-time or players that are not quite ready for House League. Coaches will offer on-ice skill development sessions, continuing to develop our participants’ hockey skills, increase confidence, and nurture their love for hockey.
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