U9 Welcome Letter
2026–2027 Season U9 Welcome Letter
My name is Josh Sitko, and I am LMHA’s U9 Director for the 2026–2027 season. This is my second year in the position, and I look forward to meeting you all at the rink in a couple of weeks and throughout the hockey season.
U9 is split into two divisions: Major and Minor. The purpose of this structure is to have players of similar skill levels playing with and against each other. Although there will still be a range of skill levels within each division, splitting the players into two divisions helps narrow that gap. This is done with player development in mind and allows players in both divisions to touch the puck more, which we hope results in a fun and competitive year for everyone.
This year, there will be 4–6 Major teams. The number of teams in the Major division will be based on the collective skill level of the entire U9 group, while also trying to keep both the Major and Minor divisions balanced from a competitive standpoint. Where player numbers allow, we will try to have an even number of teams in each division. If you would like more information about the Major and Minor divisions, please feel free to email me and I would be happy to contact you directly.
Evaluation Weekends
U9 2026-2027 mainstream evaluations ice slots
Attached is the evaluation schedule. Your child’s specific group will be sent out the week leading up to evaluations.
Your child will have 3 skates over the two evaluation weekends. All three skates will consist of a skating warm-up followed by a scrimmage. If your daughter is choosing to play on an all-girls team in the Minor division, she will have 2 scrimmages on the first weekend and 1 scrimmage on the second weekend. If your child is participating in mainstream evaluations, they will have 1 scrimmage on the first weekend and 2 scrimmages on the second weekend. Every player must participate in their evaluation group as a player. If your child would like to play goalie during an evaluation scrimmage that they are not assigned to as a player, please reach out to me. We will need goalies for all 18 scrimmages taking place.
Player Movement Throughout Evaluations
Last year, we started moving players to different groups throughout the evaluation process (Major side only). This is done to try to group players of similar skill levels as closely as possible, or when the evaluation team would like to get a different look at certain players. Player movement will be based solely on the evaluation team’s decisions. If your child is moved up, moved down, or does not move at all, it does not mean anything conclusive about whether they have made Major or Minor.
It is important to check your email and phone in the evenings after your child’s skate to see if they have been placed in a different group for the following day. After evaluations conclude, your child will be placed on a mixed team in either the Minor or Major division. If your daughter is choosing to play on an all-girls team, she will be placed on a team in the Minor division. Evaluations are an important part of helping us create balanced teams and ensure players are placed in the division that best fits their current skill level.
A Note About Evaluations
Our U9 program is a bridge for LMHA players and parents from our U7 program to our U11 program, where AA and tiered hockey begin. I know evaluations can be a stressful time of year for some players and parents, especially if it is your family’s first year going through our Major/Minor process, or “tryouts”. I’ve had a child in both the U9 Major and Minor divisions in the past, so I’ve had the opportunity to see both sides of the process. I’ve watched many kids make the Major team, and while it can be a great opportunity, I’ve also seen some players struggle to find success at that level. For some players, that can lead to frustration, feeling defeated, and ultimately not developing or improving as much as they could have if they were in the Minor division. I think it is important to remember that whether your child makes Major or Minor, they will be placed in the division that is the best fit for them based on their evaluations. The goal is to have each player placed in the division where they can build confidence, continue developing their skills, experience success, and most importantly enjoy playing hockey.
Arrival and Jerseys
Please try to arrive 45 minutes early for your first session of each weekend to allow time to get your jersey and get signed in. Mainstream players will need to return their assigned jerseys after each skate for regrouping purposes. Players in the all-girls groups will keep their assigned jerseys until after their last skate. Please be diligent about returning your jerseys after each skate, as we only have a set number of jerseys available. Any jersey that is not returned after your child’s last evaluation skate will result in a $50 replacement fee.
Evaluation Volunteers Needed
I will need volunteers to help with evaluations. The positions we will need include:
- On-Ice Helpers: An skating warm-up will be provided to run the kids through, as well as assistance with managing the scrimmage.
- Bench Helpers: Assist during scrimmages with line changes and keeping the kids focused and organized.
- Timekeepers: Set the clock and sound the buzzer to alert the kids when their shift is over.
- Jersey Table: Check players in, assign the proper jersey, and collect jerseys when they are returned.
I will send out a separate email with a link to sign up as a volunteer closer to the evaluation dates. If all positions are not filled, the kids will not be able to go on the ice, so your help is very much appreciated!
Throughout this process, please respect all of our volunteers and evaluators. Evaluating roughly 170 players each year is no easy task, and we appreciate everyone who takes the time to help make evaluations possible.
If you have any problems or concerns with our volunteers or evaluation team, please reach out to me directly.
Requests
There are always a large number of player requests each year. We review every request; however, most requests cannot be accommodated. In U9, the main objective when building teams is to make them as balanced and competitive as possible. The great thing about hockey is that it offers both parents and kids the opportunity to meet new people and build new friendships. We encourage everyone to embrace the opportunity to be part of a new team and community.
Practice Times
Each team will have two practices a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Practices will start as early as 4:00 PM and end as late as 6:30PM. The office tries their best to give each team a late and early practice in fairness to working parents. Practices can be sporadic at the start of the season. The U9 season will kick off mid to late October.
Coaches and Managers
If you are interested in managing or coaching or managing this season, please fill out the appropriate coaching or managing application below. We are always short on volunteers each year, so please consider helping. Your involvement makes a big difference in providing a positive experience for our players.
There needs to be at least 3 people per team willing to go on the ice for practices and on the bench for games for the season to run smoothly. The head coach position does not have to take on sole responsibility of coaching the team but can be a shared role amongst a group of people within the team. All required courses will be reimbursed by LMHA after filling out the required expense form.
https://lloydminsterminorhockey.com/coach-expense-form/
Coach 1 Clinics:
Clinic Registration | HOCKEY ALBERTA (Online portion)
Clinic Registration | HOCKEY ALBERTA (November 2, 2026)
Clinic Registration | HOCKEY ALBERTA (November 13, 2026)
Clinic Registration | HOCKEY ALBERTA (Online Safety)
Coach Application
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/06pwr09MLs
Here is a link to check all the needed courses to coach in U9. If you have coached before in U7 you will have some of the courses completed already.
https://www.hockeyalberta.ca/coaches/clinic-information/
Managers
-Each team will need a manager. There will be a coaches and managers meeting to assist those volunteers in getting started. An email with further information will be sent shortly after evaluation weekend. If you are interested in being a manager, please come forward early as this will help make the teams come together more smoothly. Here is a link to sign up as a manager:
Manager Application
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/qXPzefVhJy
RIS – Respect in Sport
The Shift Forward program is replacing the previous Respect in Sport course for parents. One parent/guardian must be certified in this course prior to the start of the season. If you have completed the Respect in Sport course, please check to make sure it has not expired. If it expires in 2026, you will need to complete The Shift Forward program. If it hasn’t expired, you do not need to take The Shift Forward course at this time.
Here is link to The Shift Forward program:
HOCKEY ALBERTA (Parent)
Clinic Registration | HOCKEY ALBERTA (Coach)
U9 Home tournament
The U9 home tournament is on Jan 22-24, 2027. We will need a tournament chair. If this volunteer position interests you, please let me know. It would be nice to have one in place early so that we can start to get organized once the season gets going. Thank you in advance to whoever takes this on. We have put in place a very good “how to” for this position to make it easier. Each team will also have to assign a person to be on the tournament committee for the year as well.
Questions
Please reach out at any time if you have questions.
My email is u9@lloydminsterminorhockey.com.
Thank you for your help in getting our season going! I’m looking forward to a great season and seeing everyone at the rink.
Josh Sitko
LMHA U9 Director
2026–2027