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2010/2011 Initiation Hockey H1 – H4

H1 Hockey – players born in 2005

H1 generally has one fun scrimmage on Sundays at NTR - around lunch time. This past season we also had a couple of practices during the week (around 16:30) at Magic Ice and also a weekend, Saturday or Sunday, practice late morning (around 11:00) at NTR depending on whether or not the group was involved in the fun scrimmage.

It depends a little on the number of children registered, not just in H1 but throughout the Initiation divisions. Last year we had three H1 groups.

H2 Hockey – players born in 2004

H2 generally practices and plays at Magic Ice and NTR. Balancing practices and scrimmages normally occur for the first six weeks and then you will be formed into official teams. Practices are likely to be after school one day per week and then a practice and/or a game at the weekend. No early morning ice at this age level.

For the first part of the season, you play other Langley teams but in the New Year you join a small league and play teams from other associations - such as Cloverdale, Delta and Semiahmoo - thus involving a small amount of travel. Some teams fundraise and some teams simply ask their parents for a sum of money to help to pay for these events.

All H2 teams enter the Langley Jordan Owens tournament, which usually takes place over Spring Break.

H3 Hockey – players born in 2003

H3 players generally practice at NTR and play games either at Twin Rinks or Sportsplex. Last year, the H3 teams generally had one or two early morning practices - a 6am during the week and sometimes a 7am at the weekend. And/or an early evening practice or weekend day practice. We start off in practice groups and divide into teams around the end of October (PCAHA rules). This gives time for newer players to get up to speed and hopefully makes for more balanced teams.

H3 teams play inter-association games from November on - this involves some weekend travel to places such as Cloverdale, Semiamhoo, South Delta, Surrey. PCAHA scheduling happens twice a season - November and the end of December. We have to wait for the PCAHA schedule before we are able to finalize our own Langley schedule, so please remember to bear with us and your coaches and manager at these times.

H3 teams are allowed to enter tournaments and also arrange exhibition games, although there is a limit to the number of games you can play (last year set at 35 games). All H3 teams enter the Langley Jordan Owens tournament, which usually takes place over Spring Break.

H4 Hockey – players born in 2002

H4 players generally practice and play games either at Twin Rinks or Sportsplex. Last year, the H4 teams generally had a 6am during the week as well as a 6 or 7am at the weekend. And sometimes an early evening practice or weekend day practice.

We start off in practice groups and divide into teams around the end of October (PCAHA rules). This gives time for newer players to get up to speed and hopefully makes for more balanced teams.

H4 teams play inter-association games from November on - this involves some weekend travel to places such as Cloverdale, Semiamhoo, South Delta, Surrey. PCAHA scheduling happens twice a season - November and the end of December. We have to wait for the PCAHA schedule before we are able to finalize our own Langley schedule, so please remember to bear with us and your coaches and manager at these times.

H4 teams are allowed to enter tournaments – including a travelling tournament - and also arrange exhibition games, although there is a limit to the number of games you can play. All H4 teams enter the Jordan Owens tournament, which usually takes place over Spring Break.

LMHA POLICY ON INITIATION PLAYER MOVEMENT

Langley Minor Hockey adopted the Initiation Program in 1999 for the introductory levels (5-8 yrs) and the program has now seen the players that started in the Initiation Program graduate to the next level of hockey (Atom) with improved proficiency levels in the fundamental skills of the game.
The Initiation Program is Canada’s premiere “Learn to Play” program for beginning hockey players.

The Canadian Hockey Association (Canada’s national hockey governing body) developed the program to ensure that the child’s first contact with hockey is a safe and positive experience.

It enables participants to become contributing members of a team effort, develop self-confidence, and experience a sense of personal achievement.
The Initiation Program is a progressive, learn to play teaching curriculum. Children learn through participating in practice drills and informal and modified games (such as shinny, freeze tag, and obstacle courses).
The skills of skating, puck control, passing and shooting are introduced and refined in a progressive “one step at a time” manner.
The season generally begins the weekend after the September long weekend. The Initiation Program implemented by Langley Minor Hockey is a blend between the group and team models. At the beginning of the season players are placed in practice groups according to age and skill level, and a group instructor begins the fundamental skills instruction that will be the first 5 weeks of the season. These practice sessions will be based on the age and skill level of the group and consist of individual skill development drills and structured practice plans that are designed to teach the fundamental skills in a progressive manner. In the first week of October there will be a skills evaluation session where players will be evaluated on their timed results of a set of nationally developed evaluation drills. This will help in assessing the stage of development that each player is in. After this session players will have 2 more weeks of instruction with the practice groups before being placed on teams and starting the team model component of the program. Although there are no structured, organized games during these initial 7 weeks of practice group sessions, there are fun games as part of every practice plan. Races, obstacle courses, freeze tag, etc. are implemented to the practice sessions to keep a fun environment and at the same time teach the skills of the game. Teams will be formed in the middle of October and shortly after that organized games will start.
Teams will travel to another association to participate in a tournament at Christmas. During spring break, Langley Minor Hockey hosts the JORDAN OWENS MEMORIAL Spring Tournament which concludes the season.
When you register for minor hockey you are joining a ‘team sport’ and are making a commitment to the other players and families that you will participate in practices, games, and other team events such as fund-raising, tournaments, etc. There is also a time commitment from the players and as well from the families. During the season there will be times when the association that you are joining requires parents to volunteer their time for the benefit of the kids, for scorekeeping/timekeeping at your kid’s game, tournament committees, etc. Fund-raising to cover team entry registration for tournaments, extra ice time, etc. is also to be expected for each team.

We are always looking for coaches, managers, and other support. If you can volunteer some time to coach or assist with a team please ask the registrar to mark that on the registration form. If you have any further questions regarding the Initiation Program please call the Initiation Coordinator for more information.