Welcome to Thunder Bay Elks Hockey!
U11 and U13 Update
U11 AA and U13 AA evaluations will take place between November 15th and November 29th, and the AA drafts for both age groups will take place on Monday November 30th. Dates, times, and locations for the evaluations are still TBD but we're expecting they'll be published soon.
U11 A and U13 A evaluations will take place between December 1st and December 15th, and the drafts for both will take place the following week. Dates, times, and locations for these are also TBD.
Players will be issued evaluation jerseys at the first evaluation skate. During the evaluation period PARENTS WILL NOT be allowed in the arena in order to stay within arena capacity rules to accommodate the number of coaches performing the evaluations.
Game play for U11 and U13 A and AA divisions will commence January 2nd.
Players that are currently skating with a Single A cohort will have the opportunity to skate at a AA evaluation if they choose. Likewise, should there be any players that are currently skating in a AA cohort that wish to move to A they will be allowed to switch if they choose. Note that THESE REQUESTS MUST BE MADE TO THE ELKS REGISTRAR NO LATER THAN FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6th. Please email Janine at jnarbonne@live.ca if you wish to switch from AA to A or switch from A to AA.
U7 (2014, 2015 & 2017) Hockey is Back!!
The U7 Phase 1 South Side Schedule & preliminary groups for the Elks, KC & Westfort has been released.
U9 Hockey is Back
U9 (2012 – 2013) Hockey is Back!!
The U9 Phase 1 South Side Schedule & preliminary groups for the Elks, KC & Westfort has been released.
Stage 1: Groups, Schedules, and Return to Play Update
As we move forward into Phase One of the Return to Play framework with skates starting this week, there are a few items to review regarding how the practice times and protocols are different this year versus a normal year. All groups and skate times are posted on the LMHL website at http://lmhockey.com and U9 and U7 participants will be uploaded closer to their start times. Please review if you haven’t yet as the groups and cohorts cannot be interchanged and if you miss a skate, it cannot be made up at a later date or time.
All available arenas in the city are being utilized in order to get all participants back on the ice and skating and there are different protocols, depending on whether you are scheduled to skate at a COTB arena, First Nations arena, or NorWest arena. The most recent protocols are available to view on the LMHL website under the COVID Protocols tab.
Arena protocols (varies by location):
- City of Thunder Bay Arenas (Fort William Gardens, Neebing, Port Arthur, Delaney, Grandview, Current River)
- City of Thunder Bay Screening Form (to be completed before arriving at arena)
- Tournament Centre
- Norwest Arena
- FWFN Arena
All players and spectators (if allowed) MUST pass the screening and be signed in prior to entering the arena. Please follow all screening and arena instructions as failure to do so may result in loss of privileges for everyone.
All players to arrive no more than 15 minutes prior to the start of their ice times. Please be on time as late arrivals may disrupt the screening and practice. Due to most dressing rooms to be off-limits, players are asked to come fully dressed and ready to play with only helmets, gloves, and skates to put on at the arena. **If your child CANNOT tie their own skates, it is highly recommended that they arrive with skates on and in hard plastic walking skate guards**. The exception is NorWest arena as there are stairs to get to rink level. No hockey bags are allowed in the facilities
All players, coaches, and spectators must wear a mask into the arena and dressing areas. Masks can only be removed when helmets and mouthguards are on. Coaches can remove masks when stepping onto ice surface. All spectators must wear masks at all times in the arenas.
All players will have 15minutes to exit the facilities once their session is over. Please follow all posted exit signs and directions at each facility.
Spectators, where allowed, are limited to one (1) person per participant and must sign in with the check-in person. Check-in will end once the session begins. Late arrivals will not be allowed entrance. There are no spectators allowed in First Nations arena and Nor-west will not allow capacity to exceed 50 people total, so please plan accordingly that there may not be room if late. Once the new routine is established, parents will be asked to drop off their players for their sessions as the spectator limit may be altered for evaluation purposes (U7 & U9 excepted)
All players are to have their own practice jersey and socks and their own clearly labelled water bottle
Anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 may be turned away from the arena by the screeners at their discretion. Please be mindful that they are just doing their jobs and working to keep everyone safe and playing
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask us at elks82shockey@gmail.com
Looking forward to seeing you all at the rink,
Elks Executive
2020/21
Registration is now open for the 2020/21 season - check out the registration page for more details!
Elks Return to Play Framework (pdf copy)
Thunder Bay Elks Hockey Association is pleased to announce our Return to Play Framework for the 2020/21 season. Thank you to all six Associations within Lakehead Minor Hockey for coming together to come up with a safe way to get our kids back on the ice...looking forward to seeing everyone at the rink soon!
STEP 1 - DEVELOPMENT & TEAM FORMATION
- October 13th - November 30th
- Elks Minor Hockey Thunder Bay reserves the right to adjust the start dates based on player registration and ice availability.
- Player Registration through HCR website.
- Cost to be $100 (100% refund if Step 1 is cancelled due to COVID; 50% refund if Step 1 is cancelled with half or less of the sessions remaining due to COVID)
- Player bubble (50 or less players) will be determined by dividing players into U?, U9, U11 and U13 and further dividing based on where they register (A or AA). Players may be placed in a bubble with players from another association
- 10 - 12 sessions scheduled over 6 weeks (20 to 25 players per ice session sessions to be focused on skill development.
- for skill development with potential for small scrimmages at the end of the session per HNO guidelines for Stage 3 (Team Formation); on-ice sessions to be organized by Elks Minor Hockey coaches while screening/documenting protocols will be handled by Elks Minor Hockey Association.
- Coaches will be able to use the sessions for draft evaluations but limits on attendees are expected to be required due to restrictions on the number of people permitted inside arenas. Specific rules to be determined.
- U11 AA and U13AA team formation will be based on a city-wide draft format. Details to follow.
STEP 2 - COMPETITION STAGE
(*If restrictions are lessened and it is possible to go to Step 3 prior to November 1, Step 2 will be skipped with
draft rules remaining in place)
- If players did not participate in Step 1 they can still register for Step 2.
- A player can opt out of Step 2 after participating is Step 1.
- There will be a break between Step 1 and Step 2 to facilitate the formation of teams.
- December 1st to December 31st
- Cost to be determined
- Players who registered in U11AA and U13AA who do NOT make AA will be placed in the U11A and
U 13A draft pool for either the North side of Thunder Bay (PAMHA) or the South side of Thunder Bay (Elks,
KC, Neebing, Norwest and Westfort), based on where the player registers. It is possible that a player who
has registered for U11 and U13 will be drafted on a team with a different association other than the one
registered for in order to ensure all teams have a full roster, all teams are of equal competitiveness and to
maximize ice allotments. - Teams drafted per current guidelines in late November into 3 team loops.
- Game play and other rules to be determined
- If Step 2 commences, it will not end early and will continue until December 31st
- No games between December 24th and January 2nd
- No tournaments or jamborees will take place during this stage
STEP 3 - COMPETITION STAGE
- January 1st to a date to be determined
- This will be a continuation of Step 2 OR, if permitted, could combine the teams that were originally
drafted and combine two 3 team loops into 6 team loops and play traditional 5v5 games - Tournaments or jamborees *may* be possible during this stage
New Division Names?
At its Winter Congress this weekend in Montreal, the Hockey Canada membership approved a regulation change proposed by the board of directors to revise the naming of the age divisions used in minor hockey across Canada. Following the recommendations of a task team, the age divisions will become U7, U9, U11 through to U21, impacting all minor and female hockey programs under the Hockey Canada umbrella. More details are available on the Hockey Canada page.
Wolf Security Elks Peewee A: First place in the SuperRink Spectacular Thanksgiving (Minneapolis, MN)
Elks Peewee AA: First Place in the SuperRink Spectacular Thanksgiving (Minneapolis, MN)
Citi Centre Print ELKS Peewee A: 3rd place in the Brick City Classic (Chaska, MN)
Elks Atom AA: 3rd place in the Brick City Classic (Chaska, MN)
Thank you to our Sponsors!
