Welcome to the 2026-2027 Sylvan Lake Minor Hockey season!

Below is some important information on how teams will try out and get organized for the upcoming Sylvan Lake Minor Hockey Association (SLMHA) season. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at general@slmha.hockey.

 

PREP SKATES

  • Prep skates are NOT evaluated.  Their purpose is recreational while allowing kids to shake off the rust from the offseason in preparation for evaluations.  Prep skates are recommended but are completely OPTIONAL. Our goal is to ensure that all players feel comfortable to start the season, and especially for those heading into evaluations.
  • Each player in SLMHA will be offered one (1) prep skate as part of their registration.  There are some circumstances where second prep skate is made available, depending on evaluation schedules and ice availability.   Your family will be notified by your Director if a second prep skate is made available.
  • Players will go through a series of drills/gameplay during these prep skates. Prep skates are designed to offer up familiarity to help players to be comfortable and prepared for evaluations.

 

EVALUATIONS

  • SLMHA hires an external, third-party evaluator for all U11, U13, U15 & U18 evaluations. Evaluators with children in SLMHA are not allowed to evaluate the age group their child competes. Evaluators are only provided jersey numbers; player names are not attached.
  • U11, U13 and U15 will have a goalie-only evaluation skate.  This session will likely fall on a scrimmage day skate and goalies are REQUIRED to compete in all sessions they are assigned. This is part of the evaluation/try out process.
  • Final Rosters will be named at the conclusion of each respective Black/White intrasquad games; head coaches will also be announced at this time, if they haven’t been previously announced by SLMHA. While our goal is to provide final rosters and head coaches immediately following the Black/White intrasquad games, this is a diligent process and we cannot guarantee a timeframe as to when rosters are communicated.
  • SLMHA reserves the right to change/alter schedule and format at any time, as well as remove any player from an evaluation at our discretion.

 

U9

  • All players will be placed in groups and given three (3) skates; one (1) prep skate and two (2) evaluation skates of drills, skills, and gameplay.  ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ rosters will be named following evaluations.   There are  no goalie evaluations

**Opportunities for any players interested in goalie will be given throughout the season.  We encourage any parents with a child who wants to commit more goalie time to reach out to your U9 Director and VP Development ASAP for further discussion**

 

U11 ‘A’

  • One (1) goalie session for ALL GOALIES IN U11 (including B & Below registrants)
  • Each player will get three (3) skates; one (1) skills skate followed by two (2) scrimmages.  The highest evaluated players will form 2 teams for a Black/White intrasquad game
  • The ‘A’ team will be selected following Black/White game.  Players who do not make the ‘A’ final roster will report to U11 ‘B’ & Below
  • Players who were not selected for Black/White game will directly report to U11 ‘B’ & Below evaluations

 

U11 ‘B’ & Below

  • All goalies should report to the U11 goalie session (see above)
  • Players will get two (2) scrimmages. The highest evaluated players will form a Black/White intrasquad game
  • Players who do not make the ‘B’ Black/White game OR ‘B’ final roster, will report to a ‘C’ Black/White game, or will be placed directly to a ‘C’ or ‘D’ team.

**PLEASE NOTE** – Placement on a ‘C’ or ‘D’ team will be determined by registration numbers. This information is subject to change, so please check back if this scenario affects your player

 

U13 A

  • One (1) goalie session for ALL GOALIES IN U13 (including B & Below registrants)
  • All players get (two) 2 scrimmages.  The highest evaluated players will form two (2) teams for a Black/White intrasquad game
  • Players who do not make Black/White game will report to ‘B’ & Below
  • The ‘A’ team will be selected following Black/White game.  Players who do not make the final ‘A’ roster will report to ‘B’ & Below.

 

U13 B & Below

  • All goalies should report to the U13 goalie session (see above)
  • Players will get two (2) scrimmages.  The highest evaluated players will form a Black/White intrasquad game
  • Players who do not make ‘B’ Black/White game will be sent directly to ‘D’ team
  • ‘B’, ‘C’, and ‘D’ rosters will be selected following the conclusion of the ‘B’ Black/White game

 

U15 A

  • One (1) goalie session for ALL GOALIES IN U15 (including B & Below registrants)
  • All Players get (two) 2 scrimmages. The highest evaluated players will form two (2) teams for a Black/White intrasquad game
  • Players who do not make Black/White game will report to ‘B’ & Below
  • The ‘A’ team will be selected following Black/White game.  Players who do not make the final ‘A’ roster will report to ‘B’ & Below.

 

U15 B & Below

  • All goalies should report to the U15 goalie session (see above)
  • Players will get two (2) scrimmages.  The highest evaluated players will form a Black/White intrasquad game
  • Players who do not make ‘B’ Black/White game will be sent directly to ‘D’ team
  • ‘B’, ‘C’, and ‘D’ rosters will be selected following the conclusion of the ‘B’ Black/White game

 

U18 A

  • Players will be divided onto two (2) rosters.  They will play two (2) scrimmages followed by one (1) Black/White game
  • ‘A’ and ‘B’ rosters will be revealed following Black/White game

 

SLMHA reserves the right to change/alter schedule and format at any time, as well as remove any player from an evaluation at our discretion.

Posted in Association News