Under 9

Directors

What to Expect

Practices will start the week following Thanksgiving weekend. Your child will need her or his own practice jersey, as well as all the mandatory equipment found on the U7 Homepage.

Team Selection is usually around the end of October.  Parents will be notified once teams are finalized. Teams are meant to be made as equal as possible, however, children develop differently over the year. Please be mindful UMHA executives, board members, coaches, and managers are doing the best they can to make each season positive for your child.

Jersey Selection will follow shortly after team selection. Each player will borrow a dark and a light jersey to be worn for games only and returned to your manager at the end of the year.

Team Pictures will be held Early to Mid November.

U9 Games

Start Date for Games:

• Exhibition - November 15^th 
• Tournaments - December 1^st
• League Games - January 1^st
• League Playoffs - Must be tournament-style format over no more than two weekends.

Basic Rules:

• Games can be played 5-on-5 or 4-on-4 or 3-on-3 depending on the number of players.
• Each game will be played with a Blue 4oz puck.
• Mini nets are recommended, but regular ones are accepted.
• Puck shot out of play: Official blows whistle, defending team backs off and non-offending team gets possession.
• Goalie freezes puck: Official blows whistle, attacking team backs off and defending team gets possession.
• Goal Scored: Official blows whistle, attacking team backs off to their net and defending team gets possession with the official or coach placing the puck behind the net.

Game Length:

• Warmup for 3 to 5 minutes.
• For a 60-minute ice allocation; play two (2) twenty-five (25) minute straight time periods.
• For a 75-minute ice allocation; play two (2) thirty (30) minute straight time periods.
• For a 90-minute ice allocation; play three (3) twenty (20) minute straight time periods.

Shifts:

• Clock can be stopped after each two minute or three minute shift, then start the clock when the puck is dropped for the next shift.
• Both teams should use one players bench with a team at each end of the box or one players box and a penalty box (in the event the penalty box is across from the players boxes).

Faceoffs

• Start of each shift.
• There will be NO face-offs after a goal is scored. In this instance, the official or coach will place the puck behind the net and the team that got scored can bring the puck up the ice while the team that scored goes back to their net.

PENALTIES

• Officials will raise their non-whistle arm, note the player’s color, number, and infraction, and blow the whistle when the player’s team gains possession of the puck.
• They will then stop, lower their arm, and, with an open hand and fingers together, point at the player, record the color, number, and infraction, and make the appropriate signal.
• The official will escort the player to the skills area, their team bench, or the penalty box, depending on the rink setup.
• Next, they will gather the puck at center ice and blow the whistle to start play for the non-penalized team.
• Penalties will last for the remainder of the player’s shift or until the opposing team scores a goal.

Interested in Coaching?

Minor Hockey is run by volunteers. Coaches, assistant coaches, bench staff, and managers all put in alot of time to ensure your child learns the game while having fun. We need all parents to volunteer throughout the season to ensure the success of the season. This can include but not limited to, setting up and taking down the boards, working the score clock or score sheet, getting hot chocolate for the referees, and assisting with the home tournament, such as selling prize table tickets, puck toss pucks, etc.

Coach selection for the 2025-26 year will take place in September and team selection will be in the fall after players have a chance to skate at least 6 practices to allow coaches to make teams as even as possible.

Hockey Sask Coaching Requirements

U9 CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS BY POSITION

• Head Coach
  • Respect in Sport (Online)
  • Checking - (Could have one of either HU - Online Checking or HC Checking Skills or Checking Skills 1)
  • Coach 1 - Intro
• Assistant Coach
  • Respect in Sport (Online)
  • Coach 1 - Intro
• Manager, Trainer, Volunteer, Bench Person
  • Respect in Sport

ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR TEAM

• Hockey Canada Safety Program
  • HCSP Level 1 or HU SAFETY - One (1) of the registered team officials (manager, coach, trainer or volunteer) must have this certification.
• Goalie Certification
  • Either the Head Coach or Assistant Coach MUST have this certification.

 *FEMALE REGISTERED TEAMS MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF ONE (1) REGISTERED FEMALE COACH*

Register at Hockey Sask Coaching Clinics