The following resource is intended to provide a simplified overview of the key dates with the Playing Regulations for the 2025-26 season.
Playing Regulations and Seasonal Calendars for women and girls’ hockey will follow the policies adopted by the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA).
The seasonal calendar summary below applies to Minor Hockey within the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario (ALLIANCE), Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA), and the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA).
Reinforcement of Terminology Change
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Tryouts are referred to as Player Evaluations
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- To align OHF definitions with the Hockey Canada Player Pathways.
- Player Evaluations provide flexibility in the format that Associations’ tier their Registered Participants.
- Tryouts confirm whether a player either makes or does not make a team.
- Player Evaluations enables Associations to tier players at similar skill levels.
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Under-7 & Under-9 Seasonal Calendar
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U7 – U9 Player Evaluations
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- Formal Bulletin on U7 and U9 Player Evaluations will be sent out in January.
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Team Official Announcement Day
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Prohibitive Advertising Regulation
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- Associations can announce their Team Officials on or after February 15 for the 2025-2026 season.
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Under-11 & Under-13 Spring Player Evaluation Seasonal Calendar
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Preparation Phase
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- Also Known As – non-Team Development Opportunities
- Start: may begin March 2
- End: must end April 18
- Requirements: Minimum of four (4) skill sessions must be provided by a Minor Hockey Association (or group of MHAs) to all Players. Players are not required to attend the preparation skates; attendance does not impact eligibility to attend Player Evaluations.
- Eligibility: Refer to Playing Regulation G2.
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Player Evaluations
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- AAA: April 19 – April 25 (7 days)
- AA: April 26 – May 2 (7 days)
- A & Below: May 3 – May 9 (7 days)
- Note 1: All Players may attend Player Evaluations with multiple Associations during each of the seven (7) day periods in accordance with Regulation G3.
- Note 2: Associations may conduct fall Player Evaluations at AA and Below in accordance with Playing Regulation G4.
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Development Phase
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- Teams selected in the spring must run a twenty-seven (27) day Development Phase.
- Start: September 2
- End: September 28
- Note 1: For the Divisions of U11 and above following Labour Day Monday there is a twenty-seven (27) day Development Phase where teams may only practice and play a maximum of four (4) exhibition games or two (2) exhibition games and one Tournament in accordance with G3(i) ii, and two (2) practices for every one (1) game.
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Under-15 & Under-18 Spring Player Evaluation Seasonal Calendar
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Preparation Phase
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- Also Known As – non-Team Development Opportunities.
- Start: may begin March 2
- End: must end April 20
- Requirements: Minimum of four (4) skill sessions must be provided by a Minor Hockey Association (or group of MHAs) to all Players. Players are not required to attend the preparation skates; attendance does not impact eligibility to attend Player Evaluations.
- Eligibility: Refer to Playing Regulation G2.
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Player Evaluations
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- AAA: April 21 – April 27 (7 days)
- AA: April 28 – May 4 (7 days)
- A & Below: May 5 – May 11 (7 days)
- Note 1: All Players may attend Player Evaluations with multiple Associations during each of the seven (7) day periods in accordance with Regulation G3.
- Note 2: Associations may conduct fall Player Evaluations at AA and Below in accordance with Playing Regulation G4.
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Development Phase
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- Teams selected in the spring must run a twenty-seven (27) day Development Phase.
- Start: September 2
- End: September 28
- Note 1: For the Divisions of U11 and above following Labour Day Monday there is a twenty-seven (27) day Development Phase where teams may only practice and play a maximum of four (4) exhibition games or two (2) exhibition games and one Tournament in accordance with G3(i) ii, and two (2) practices for every one (1) game.
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Spring & Summer Programming Opportunities (U11, U13, U15, U18)
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Spring Programming Opportunities
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- Associations permitted to operated skill development programming in team-based setting.
- Start: May 12
- End: June 30
- Frequency: 1 or 2 times per week
- Note: Association must request/receive sanctioning through appropriate Member process.
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Summer Programming Opportunities
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- Associations and Members permitted to provide individual skills training or hockey schools that operate based on Regulation G3(g) and reference chart.
- Start: August 11
- End: August 29
- Note 1: Association must request/receive sanctioning through appropriate Member process.
- Note 2: Team building programming allowed (no exhibition games week prior to Labour Day).
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Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under 18 Fall Player Evaluation Seasonal Calendar
Applies to Associations that did not deliver spring Player Evaluations.
Dates listed are the earliest possible. Associations are permitted to shift dates subject to internal needs while ensuring each of the identified Phases are accommodated.
Does not apply to Under-18 AAA.
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Preparation Phase
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- Also Known As – non-Team Development Opportunities.
- Start: may begin September 2
- Requirements: Requirements: Minimum of four (4) skill sessions must be provided by a Minor Hockey Association (or group of MHAs) to all Players. Players are not required to attend the preparation skates; attendance does not impact eligibility to attend Player Evaluations.
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Player Evaluations
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- AA & Below: September 6
- Note 1: All Players may attend Player Evaluations with multiple Associations during each of the seven (7) day periods in accordance with Regulation G4.
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Development Phase
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- Start: September 13
- Requirement: Must be a period of development time equal to the requirements of G4(a)(iii).
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Tournaments
Tournaments for all Divisions and Categories (excluding U7/U9) permitted to start September 19, 2025.
Regular Season
The regular season for all Divisions and Categories permitted to start September 29, 2025.
Championships
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Central Region U18 AAA
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March 30 – April 5, 2026
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All-Ontario U15 AAA
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April 8-12, 2026
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All-Ontario U13 AAA
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April 8-12, 2026
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OHF Championships
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April 17-19, 2026
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Preparation Phase & Player Evaluation Resources: On-Ice
Hockey Canada has provided on-ice practice plans to support Associations in facilitating the Preparation Phase and Player Evaluations. Sessions are linked by age Division.
Player Evaluation and Selection Overview
Important Links
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