U9 Competitive Tryouts 2025-26

U9 Competitive Tryouts

The schedule for the 2025/2026 U9 competitive tryouts is as follows:

*Note: these dates are subject to change and may need to be updated closer to the tryout dates. Please check this website periodically to ensure you have the correct tryout times.

Check in for tryout sessions will begin 45 minutes prior to the start of the session.

To register for tryouts:

**DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR COMPETITIVE TRYOUTS IS FRIDAY AUGUST 15th**

• There are two steps that must be completed in order to register for tryouts:
• Step one: Complete the U9 2025/2026 season registration in RAMP
• Step two: Complete the U9 2025/2026 tryout package registration in RAMP
• Please note that only purchasing a tryout package does not register your player for the season. Players must register for the 2025/2026 season separately - players who do not register for the 2025/2026 season will not be permitted to participate in pathway skates or competitive tryouts. The deadline to register for the 2025/2026 season is August 1st.
• Fees for U9 tryouts are $125. Tryout fees are non-refundable.
• Players require NGHA-issued tryout jerseys which must be purchased in RAMP at the time of tryout registration and cannot be purchased at the rink. These jerseys will be available at the rink immediately prior to the first session that your daughter will attend.
• If you have jerseys from last year, please re-use them and confirm your daughters number at the registration desk.
• Players registered last season with another OWHA affiliated association must have a signed PTS form (found here) or a formal release from their previous association.  Before their first tryout sessions, documentation must be emailed to the competitive directors. 
• NGHA Import Policy can be found here.
• Players coming from outside of Ontario must contact OWHA prior to participating in tryouts to ensure they have met the specific eligibility requirements and registration procedures for out of province players.
• No player will be allowed on the ice unless all documentation and fees are in order.

Player Selection:

• There is one entry point for the U9 NGHA Competitive Stream, and one U9 team will be made.
• There will be three player sessions and one goalie evaluation session before the final team is determined. The breakdown is as follows:
• 1 x Goalie Evaluation Session (see more info below)
• 1 x Skills Session
• 2 x Scrimmage Sessions
• As with our other divisions, U9 will have a “Selection Committee” made up of:
• Head Coach of the team. The Head Coach may bring their own evaluator (cannot be a parent or related to anyone trying out at that age level) but the coach still only gets one vote.
• Up to 4 paid/non-paid non-parent evaluators with hockey backgrounds.
• A board member as an observer.
• Players are guaranteed two sessions (i.e., the skills and one scrimmage session), and releases may be made following the first scrimmage session.
• Players who have been selected to continue in the tryout process will be posted to the U9 continuation page.

***Year 2 of of NGHA’s 2-year U9 goalie pilot program***

U9 Competitive may select and roster one player as a goalie. The pilot will be reviewed at the end of the 2025-26 season. This initiative is being launched in conjunction with a new NGHA Goalie Development Program. Additional information on the 2-year goalie pilot is available here.  

• Only players registered as goalie will attend the goalie evaluation session
• Those registered as a goalie must also participate in the player skills and scrimmages sessions as a skater

Other Information:

• All releases will be posted on the NGHA website.  Every effort will be made to post the numbers the same evening as the tryout, but there may be times when they can only be posted in the morning.
• The Head Coach will contact the final roster for each team.
• Parents must observe the 24-hour rule on the day after these announcements.

Attendance: Injuries or missed tryouts

• If a player misses a tryout session, an email must be sent to the competitive directors 48 hours in advance.  They will provide you with more info regarding any impacts.
• Medical limitations or absences will impact tryouts and placement. The NGHA Committee will use past performance, coaching evaluations, and other pertinent information to place the injured or absent player at the right level.
• An injury or absenteeism may not mean automatic placement on a competitive team. Any placement by the Competitive Committee is not appealable.
• The injured or absentee player is still required to register and pay for tryouts to be considered.
• If a player is unable to participate due to injury, a medical note must be provided stating she is unable to participate and when she is expected to return to play.

Schedule:

• When available, families will be notified by email that the U9 tryout schedule has been posted to the NGHA website.
• Questions on the tryout process and schedule can be directed to the Competitive Directors

Directors:

• Rob Sample: NGHACompDirector1@gmail.com 
• Tara McCallum: NGHACompDirector2@gmail.com 

* NGHA competitive committee is made up of: 

• NGHA President 
• NGHA VP Operations
• NGHA VP Programs
• NGHA Competitive Director 1
• NGHA Competitive Director 2

Questions on the tryout process and schedule can be directed to the Competitive Directors at NGHACompDirector1@gmail.com and NGHACompDirector2@gmail.com