Sherwood Park Minor Hockey

The SPMHA Community Stream is the main program offered by Sherwood Park Minor Hockey. It features 1300+ Sherwood Park based athletes from 4-18 years of age, combining to form over 75 teams that compete in the Edmonton Federation Hockey League in the U9, U11, U13, U15 & U18 divisions. It also features a house league program for our U7 & Discovery divisions. Our SPMHA teams compete against teams from other hockey associations in Edmonton and it's surrounding areas. All teams are tiered based on the Alberta One Standardized Tiering Model, ensuring that teams are matched against other teams of similar skill sets.

Discovery U7 U9 U11 U13 U15 U18

Discovery

Discovery is a program designed for beginning skaters who are learning to move and skate while wearing hockey equipment. This program is required for players born in 2019 and is optional for those born in 2018 who are entering hockey for the first time.

Players will be taught basic movement and skating skills through structured drills for about 2/3 of each 60-minute session.
The remaining 1/3 of the time will be spent playing fun, non-competitive activities that help develop the skills learned in practice.
The program is structured and the players will be divided into groups based on the number of registrants.
There are no scheduled games throughout the season, only practices.
The season runs from October to March, with 1-hour sessions on Saturday or Sunday mornings at either the Strathcona Olympiette Centre Small Ice or Broadmoor
Season ends with a Mini-Jamboree (games) on the last weekend of the season.

Participation in Discovery is not required to join the U7 program, but it's highly recommended for beginning skaters.

U7 is an introductory program to hockey for children who will only have practices for the first part of the season, with games starting in December against other Sherwood Park teams.

Evaluations will be held to create balanced teams, but there is no tiering at this level.
6-year-olds who have never played Discovery or U7 before may still register for U7 if they meet the core skill requirements and are physically and mentally capable. They will be assessed at evaluations.
The program focuses on developing forward and backward skating, stopping, puck handling, and introduces children to the game of hockey.
Players rotate through all positions, including goalie, as there are no dedicated goalies.
Games are non-competitive, and no score is kept.
Half-ice games are played with bumpers separating the ice surface in half, and two games are played at the same time on either side of the ice.
Most ice sessions will be held at Ardrossan West or Broadmoor Arena on Saturdays and Sundays, but locations and times of practices may vary.
The program includes approximately 12 games and 30 practices from October to March, excluding tournaments.

The program emphasizes skating and learning basic hockey skills, as well as an introduction to team concepts.

U9 community hockey involves the formation of tiered teams that play throughout Edmonton and the surrounding area through the Edmonton Federation Hockey League (EFHL). The players will vary from beginners that are learning basic hockey skills to those that have more experience.

U9 Community Hockey is open to children born in 2015 and 2016.
Beginners and more experienced players are welcome to join.
A child can register for U9 even if they have not participated in Discovery or U7.
Tiered teams of 16 to 20 players are formed after an evaluation process that occurs over multiple skates during the month of September.
The purpose of tiering is to have similarly skilled players on each team that are also playing against similarly skilled players from other clubs throughout the EFHL program.
Games will be held throughout the city and surrounding area, and all games will be half-ice.
Locations of practices vary, but will all be within Strathcona County, predominantly in Sherwood Park.
Most games and practices will be held on the weekends, but there will be weekday evening ice times throughout the year. Home games will be played within Strathcona County, but away games can be played anywhere within the EFHL operating area.
Games will be played with Referees, however no scores will be kept as U9 is under the rules of Hockey Alberta's Intro to Hockey program.
The schedule includes 20 games and approximately 40 practices from September to March, mostly on Saturday and Sunday, but will also include weekday afternoon/early evening sessions.

U11

U11 community hockey is a tiered program that offers opportunities for players with varying levels of experience to continue to develop their skills. Players will be evaluated to create balanced teams and will compete in games throughout the Edmonton and surrounding area.

U11 is a tiered hockey program for children born in 2013 and 2014 who may or may not have played U7 or U9 hockey.
Tiered teams of 15 to 19 players are formed after an evaluation process that occurs over 3 or more skates during the month of September.
The purpose of tiering is to have similarly skilled players on each team that are also playing against similarly skilled players from other clubs throughout the EFHL program.
Games will be held throughout the Edmonton and surrounding area.
Locations of practices vary, but will all be within Strathcona County, mostly within Sherwood Park.
Games and practices will be held on both weekday afternoons, evenings and weekends.
Games are 1 hour long, and will be played with referees and scores are kept.
There are regular goalies in tiers 1-3. Goalies will be allowed to play non-goalie positions when not in net only if they have evaluated at this level as a skater.
In tiers 4-6, any player who wishes to play goal may do so for at least 2 practices and 1 game per season, and more if practical.
Development of skating and hockey skills considers the skill level of the team.
The program includes 20 or more games and 40 or more practices (~45% will be shared) from September to March.
Most games will be held on Saturday or Sunday, and practices will be held on weekday afternoons and early evenings as well as weekends.
There is potential for a limited number of weekday morning practices.

U13

U13 hockey continues with the formation of tiered teams that play throughout Edmonton and the surrounding area. The players will vary from beginner players to those that have more experience.

A child can register in U13 even if they have not participated in younger divisions.
For the 2023-24 season those born in 2011 and 2012 may register for the U13 program.
Tiered teams of 15 to 19 players are formed after an evaluation process that occurs over 3 or more skates during the month of September.
The purpose of tiering is to have similarly skilled players on each team that are also playing against similarly skilled players from other clubs throughout the EFHL program.
Players wanting to try out for AA will register to tryout earlier with the Sherwood Park Kings Athletic Club (SPKAC). They would return to SPMHA Hockey if not selected for a SPKAC AA Team.
Players who are not trying out for AA but wanting to try out for A (tier 1) are required to register through SPMHA and be sure to select the competitive stream option during registration, which includes additional fees for tryouts and the Competitive Enhanced Development program.
Games will be held throughout Edmonton and the surrounding area.
Locations of practices vary, but will all be within Strathcona County, mostly within Sherwood Park.
Games and practices will be held on both weekday evenings and weekends.
Games are 1.5 hours long, and will be played with referees and scores are kept.
There are regular goalies that have evaluated as goalies on most teams – number of goalies for the particular year permitting.
Development of skating and hockey skills considers the skill level of the team.
20 or more games and 45 or more practices ( ~30% will be shared) from September to March. Ice times will be on weekday afternoons, evenings and weekends as well. There is potential for a limited number of weekday morning practices.

U15

U15 community hockey continues with the formation of tiered teams that play throughout Edmonton and the surrounding area. The players will vary from beginner players to those that have more experience.

A child can register in U15 even if they have not participated in younger divisions.
For the 2023-24 season those born in 2009 and 2010 may register for the U15 program.
Tiered teams of 16 to 19 players are formed after an evaluation process that occurs over 3 or more skates during the month of September. Players wanting to try out for the AA or AAA teams will register to tryout earlier with the Sherwood Park Kings Athletic Club (SPKAC). They would return to SPMHA Hockey if not selected for a AA or AAA Team.
The purpose of tiering is to have similarly skilled players on each team that are also playing against similarly skilled players from other clubs throughout the EFHL program.
Games will be held throughout Edmonton and the surrounding area.
Locations of practices vary, but will all be within Strathcona County, mostly within Sherwood Park.
Games and practices will be held on both weekday evenings and weekends.
Games are 1.5 hours long and will be played with Referees and scores are kept.
There are regular goalies that have evaluated as goalies on most teams – number of goalies for the particular year permitting.
Development of skating and hockey skills considers the skill level of the team.
20 or more games and 40 or more full practices from September to March. Ice times will be on weekday afternoons, evenings and weekends.

U18

U18 community hockey continues with the formation of tiered teams that play throughout Edmonton and the surrounding area. The players will vary from beginner players to those that have more experience.

A child can register in U18 even if they have not participated in younger divisions.
For the 2023-24 season those born in 2006, 2007 and 2008 may register for the U18 program.
Tiered teams of 16 to 19 players are formed after an evaluation process that occurs over 3 or more skates during the month of September. Players wanting to try out for the AA or AAA teams will register to tryout earlier with the Sherwood Park Kings Athletic Club (SPKAC). They would return to SPMHA Hockey if not selected for a AA or AAA Team.
The purpose of tiering is to have similarly skilled players on each team that are also playing against similarly skilled players from other clubs throughout the EFHL program.
Games will be held throughout Edmonton and the surrounding area.
Locations of practices vary, but will all be within Strathcona County, mostly within Sherwood Park.
Games and practices will be held on both weekday evenings and weekends.
Games are 2.25 hours long and will be played with Referees and scores are kept.
There are regular goalies that have evaluated as goalies on most teams – number of goalies for the particular year permitting.
Development of skating and hockey skills considers the skill level of the team.
20 or more games and 40 or more practices from September to March. Ice times will be on weekday afternoons, evenings and weekends as well.