HOCKEY CANADA ANNOUNCES CHANGE TO AGE-DIVISION NAMES



Changes to simplify the minor hockey system to go into effect next season. THIS IS NOT about the old atom, squirt, pee wee, bantam, midget nicknames. They've changed the age alignments. SEE THE AGE GROUPS!

CALGARY, Alta. – 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. The change was initiated by Hockey Canada and its 13 provincial and territorial members and will be implemented nationally with their input and support for the 2020-21 season.

YEAR OF BIRTH            AGE ON DEC. 31           AGE DIVISION

2014 and before            6 and under                  Under-7 (U7)

2012-2013                    7-8                               Under-9 (U9)

2010-2011                    9-10                             Under-11 (U11)

2008-2009                    11-12                            Under-13 (U13)

2006-2007                    13-14                            Under-15 (U15)

2003-2004-2005            15-16-17                       Under-18 (U18)

2000-2001-2002            18-19-20                       Under-21 (U21)

“We believe everyone should feel welcome in the game and in our on-going effort to make hockey more inclusive, the Members at the Hockey Canada Annual Meeting determined that the names of our age Divisions will change,” said Michael Brind’Amour, chair of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors. “Following a comprehensive review, we believe this change will simplify the system for families who may be new to the game. The new age Division names will be implemented for next season.”

For more information on Hockey Canada and its minor hockey programs, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or HockeyCanada.ca/MinorHockey.

2000-2001-2002            18-19-20                       Under-21 (U21)

Under 21? Is this supposed to be Jr or still considered youth travel hockey? If you're paying for your kid to play as an adult over 18 years old you are out of your mind!

how is dropping u16 nonsense? that's the same age range as a high school hockey. i would also like to see usa hockey make club hockey geographical. i think it would level the playing field. 

As for HS hockey, in most of the US it is not even remotely comparable to Tier 1.  Regarding giving USAH dictatorial power over where to play,  I fail to see how depriving players of the right to decide for themselves is an improvement.  No sport on any level is improved by hyperactive, meddlesome regulation.

Hs hockey often doesn't have any more than 4 or 5 club players on any given jv or varsity team. The number of former club players and hs only players far out numbers the active club players playing so they don't compare either.

I think not having such outrageous pricing would help keep kids playing a lot better than changing the wording and adjusting some age group 🤷‍♀️