PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

This learn-to-play hockey program is for girls aged 4-8 who have limited or no skating experience and want to play hockey for the first time. First Strides includes 17 on-ice sessions on Saturday mornings beginning October 20120 The registration fee is $325.

This fun, positive introductory program focuses on preparing players for hockey through skill development and small area games. There are no formal hockey games, tournaments or travel.

For more information, visit our Jr. Inferno First Strides page.

Hockey Alberta has finalized the Intro to Hockey Model, which provides the general structural and administrative guidelines and specific playing rules for all players ages 5-8 years. These rules and guidelines are required for all Initiation and Novice level hockey in Alberta.

The purpose of this model is to address the need for more skill development in the novice age category, to provide a positive environment for learning the fundamentals of hockey, and to stimulate interest and desire to continue playing the game of hockey.

Read more:

• Hockey Calgary Novice Development League (NDL)
• Hockey Alberta Intro to Hockey Model

GHC has introduced a Skill Sequence Training program designed to address a gap in the foundational skating and puck control skills of our players. The intention of this program is to minimize the spread of skill within our teams, and to promote a consistency in our coaching language and instruction delivery.

This program has been researched and designed by a group of passionate coaches, with the help of leading hockey experts, in order to meet the unique skill development needs of our female hockey players. It is a volunteer-based program that is delivered, modified and measured at no cost to GHC teams.

GHC has partnered with P3 Sports Inc to provide on-ice team training sessions to our Jr. Inferno Community teams in U7 (Timbits) and U9. GHC's goal in partnering with P3 is to identify age-specific skill progressions and teaching points, to maximize coach and player development, and to promote a positive hockey experience for our players.

As per Hockey Canada development guidelines, younger age groups benefit from development initiatives that focus on on-ice fundamentals. P3 training programming helps young athletes learn and practice proper technique while developing muscle memory that leads to increased balance, speed, edge control and confidence.

Access to P3 resources and programming is provided to U7 (Timbits) and U9 teams through the GHC Team Development Fund.

2019/20 GHC Community Development and Team Training Guide

GHC partners with local fitness training providers to deliver off-ice team training sessions to our Jr. Inferno Community teams in U11, U13, U15 and U18. Off-ice training programs are intended to establish correct movement patterns, develop a commitment and discipline to conditioning, and ensure proper strength and stability to minimize and prevent injuries.

2019/20 GHC Community Development and Team Training Guide

GHC worked in partnership with Hockey Calgary to create tailored, competitive, skill-balanced all-female divisions from U11 (Atom) to U18 (Midget) to better incorporate the needs of female hockey teams in a co-ed structure. Hockey Calgary now has five divisions featuring all-female teams: U18 (Midget) A Girls, U18 (Midget) B Girls, U15 (Bantam) Girls, U13 (Peewee) Girls and U11 (Atom) Girls. As the only all-female hockey association in Zone 9 (Hockey Calgary), those divisions are made up of our GHC teams.

All U7 (Timbits), all U9 (Novice), some U11 (Atom) and some U13 (Peewee) GHC teams play in co-ed divisions, while the majority of others play in these all-female divisions. Players are rostered to these teams based on their evaluation performance. All GHC teams play in Hockey Calgary’s Community stream.

GHC's Calgary Fire AAA/AA Female Hockey Program hosts Spring Identification Camps for potential elite players. This is an opportunity for athletes to experience an elite level of hockey and learn more about our Calgary Fire program. It also gives Calgary Fire coaches an opportunity to meet potential players and identify the skill level for the upcoming season.

GHC typically hosts pre-season conditioning camps for registered players from U7 (Timbits) to U18 AAA. These camps take place in late summer leading up to the evaluation schedule. Registration for conditioning camps is available at the time of league registration.

Participation in our pre-season conditioning camps and Spring ID camps is not required in order to register for GHC.