As we transition out of the current season and begin preparing for evaluations, WMHA is offering several spring development opportunities.
Please review the information below carefully to understand what is being offered and how to register.
Important Reminder – Age Groups
For all spring programming (Prep Skates, Clinics, and Evaluations), players must register under the age group they will be playing in for the 2026–2027 season.
Example:
If your player is currently U13 (2025–2026 season), you should be registering and reviewing information for U14.
1. Prep Phase (Spring Prep Skates)
The Prep Phase consists of optional, development-focused ice sessions that take place after playoffs and before evaluations begin.
-
These sessions are not evaluations and are not team-specific
-
Designed to help players get back on the ice and prepare for evaluations
-
Each age group will receive 4 scheduled ice times (1 hour each)
-
Ice times are listed on the “A” team 2025-2026 calendar for each age group
-
Sessions begin the week of April 7, 2026
Cost:
-
Players: $75
-
Goalies: $40
Registration:
-
Completed through your player’s Spordle account (same as evaluations/season registration)
-
Opens Thursday, March 26, 2026
Eligibility:
-
Must have been registered with WMHA for the 2025–2026 season, or
-
Must be considered a local (non-import) player
2. Body Checking Clinic
WMHA will be offering Body Checking Clinics for players moving into U13 and U14 next season.
Clinic Dates & Times:
Option 1 – April 18, 2026
Option 2 – April 19, 2026
-
In-Class: 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM (Mezzanine)
-
On-Ice: 11:15 AM – 12:45 PM (Red Pad)
-
Players only need to register for ONE clinic
Important Requirement:
Registration:
Upon completion, the certification will be automatically added to the player’s Spordle profile, allowing them to be rostered if selected.
3. Travel Hockey Evaluations (A & BB)
Full details regarding evaluations can be found on the WMHA website:
Registration → Travel Hockey Evaluations
All scheduled ice times can be found on the "A" and "BB" team calendars for the 2026-2027 season. To view these, go to "Team Finder," drop-down list to "Other Seasons," and then "2026-2027," where you will find the "Team Calendar."
A/AA Program Classification for 2026–2027
For the 2026–2027 season, WMHA has classified as an “A” centre.
What this means:
-
Evaluations remain unchanged
WMHA will continue to offer evaluations during the earliest possible week, with teams formed based on performance.
-
League play is not impacted
Teams will still compete in the Alliance Seeded division, and split into A or AA halfway through the regular season, based on results.
-
Tournament eligibility
This designation ensures eligibility for events such as SilverStick qualifiers, while still allowing teams to enter higher-level tournaments where appropriate.
Why we are doing this:
-
Aligns with Alliance and OHF requirements
-
Maintains access to key tournaments
-
Provides flexibility within the league structure
Bottom line:
This does not limit the level our teams can compete at, and players will continue to have opportunities to play at the highest level appropriate to their development.
4. Reminder – Playing Up:
-
Any player requesting to play up must submit a completed form
-
Forms are due a minimum of 30 days prior to the first scheduled evaluation ice time
-
Additional details and full instructions can be found in the "Travel Hockey Evaluations" section of the website
If you have any questions after reviewing the above information, please reach out to [email protected], prior to the start of programming or evaluations.