Our Programs

The West End Hockey League to proud to offer house league programs for youth as young as four years of age and up to under 20. Learn more about our Junior, Intermediate and Senior programs below.

  • Under 5 (U5) - Junior Initiation Program
  • Under 6 (U6) - Junior Program
  • Under 7 (U7) - Junior Program
  • Under 9 (U9) - Junior Program
  • Under 11 (U11) - Intermediate Program
  • Under 13 (U13) - Intermediate Program
  • Under 15 (U15) - Senior Program
  • Under 18 (U18) - Senior Program
  • Under 21 (U21) - Senior Program

Under 5 (U5) – Junior Initiation Program

This program is for players four (4) years of age as of December 31. The program includes one (1x) ice time per week between October and March. These young players MUST be able to stand up on the ice on their own. This is not a learn-to-skate program. Instead, players will have fun, learn basic hockey skills and build confidence. Full equipment is mandatory.

Each registered U5 player will receive a WEHL jersey and socks, which are theirs to keep.

Note: the U5 program can only run if there are enough registered players. If the program cannot run due to low registration, we will notify participants by early September to discuss options.

Under 6 (U6) – Junior Program

This program is for players five (5) years of age as of December 31. The program includes two ice times per week between October and March. Ice times are generally scheduled on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

These young players will have fun, develop basic hockey skills, build confidence and have the chance to try the goalie position. Note: the WEHL will provide goalie equipment. During the first part of the season, both on-ice sessions are run like practices and coaches will assess each players’ skill level. Based on these informal assessments, players will be grouped in balanced teams, so that all teams are as equal as possible. Then, starting in the second part of the season, one of the on-ice practice times will be replaced with half-ice scrimmages against other WEHL U7 players. The intent is to prepare these players for U9 where they will play games against other associations within the Bytown Minor Hockey League.

Each newly registered U7 player will receive a WEHL jersey and socks, which are theirs to keep. Each returning and newly registered player will also receive a Timbits jersey and socks, which are also theirs to keep. When possible, the U6 Convenor will explore the option to participate in jamborees and halftime experiences with the Ottawa 67s, for example.

Under 7 (U7) – Junior Program

This program is for players six (6) years of age as of December 31. The program includes two ice times per week between October and March. Ice times are generally scheduled on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

These young players will have fun, develop basic hockey skills, build confidence and have the chance to try the goalie position. Note: the WEHL will provide goalie equipment. During the first part of the season, both on-ice sessions are run like practices and coaches will assess each players’ skill level. Based on these informal assessments, players will be grouped in balanced teams, so that all teams are as equal as possible. Then, starting in the second part of the season, one of the on-ice practice times will be replaced with half-ice scrimmages against other WEHL U7 players. The intent is to prepare these players for U9 where they will play games against other associations within the Bytown Minor Hockey League.

Each newly registered U7 player will receive a WEHL jersey and socks, which are theirs to keep. Each returning and newly registered player will also receive a Timbits jersey and socks, which are also theirs to keep. When possible, the U7 Convenor will explore the option to participate in jamborees and halftime experiences with the Ottawa 67s, for example.

Under 9 (U9) – Junior Program

This program is for players seven (7) and eight (8) years of age as of December 31. The program includes two (2x) ice times per week between October and March, with scheduled conditioning and sort-out sessions in September. Ice times generally include one weekday practice and one weekend game against U9 players from other associations within the Bytown Minor Hockey League. Ice times will vary from week to week.

All games are played on half-ice and are supervised by a referee, who may call-out an offense but will not assign penalties. Goals and final game scores are not recorded, players do not play positions (exception if a player only wants to play goalie and no other player on the team wants to try goalie) and each player is given equal ice time of two-minutes per shift.

These young players will have fun, develop hockey skills of skating, puck control, passing and shooting, build confidence and have the chance to try the goalie position. Note: the WEHL will provide goalie equipment to those who need it.

Each registered U9 player will receive a practice/sort-out jersey as well as a set of two WEHL numbered jerseys and one pair of socks. Players can keep the socks, but must return the set of WEHL numbered jerseys and the practice/sort-out jersey at the end of the season.

Each team has an assigned Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Trainer and Manager. When possible, the Manager will explore the option to participate in local or away tournaments.

Before the regular season begins, typically following the Thanksgiving holiday in October, registered U9 through to U18 players undergo conditioning and sort-out sessions where they are evaluated and tiered based on their level of skill and knowledge. Teams are then created and balanced in an effort to give each player the best opportunity to develop and succeed. More detail on the sort-out and team balancing process can be found on our About Us page under Sort Outs Process.

Under 11 (U11) & Under 13 (U13) – Intermediate Program

The U11 program is for players ages nine (9) and 10 years old, and the U13 program is for players 11 and 12 years old as of December 31. The program includes two (2x) ice times per week between October and March, with scheduled conditioning and sort-out sessions in September. Ice times generally include one practice and one game against players from other associations within the Bytown Minor Hockey League. Ice times will vary from week to week.

All games are played on full-ice. Goals and final game score are recorded as well as penalties. Players, including goalies, will play position and Coaches are responsible for managing equal ice time.

These players will have fun, refine individual hockey skills, learn team tactics and play, and game strategy.

Each registered U11-U13 player will receive a practice/sort-out jersey as well as a set of two WEHL numbered jerseys and one pair of socks. Players can keep the socks, but must return the set of WEHL numbered jerseys and the practice/sort-out jersey at the end of the season.

Each team has an assigned Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Trainer and Manager. When possible, the Manager will explore the option to participate in local and away tournaments. Starting in U11, players can participate in district playoffs.

Before the regular season begins, typically following the Thanksgiving holiday in October, registered U9 through to U18 players undergo conditioning and sort-out sessions where they are evaluated and tiered based on their level of skill and knowledge. Teams are then created and balanced in an effort to give each player the best opportunity to develop and succeed. More detail on the sort-out and team balancing process can be found on our About Us page under Sort Outs Process.

 

Under 15 (U15) & Under 18 (U18) – Senior Program

The U15 program is for players ages 13 and 14 years old, and the U18 program is for players ages 15, 16 and 17 years old as of December 31. The program includes two (2x) ice times per week between October and March, with scheduled conditioning and sort-out sessions in September (sometimes early October for U18). Ice times generally include one practice and one game against players from other associations within the Bytown Minor Hockey League. Ice times will vary from week to week.

All games are played on full-ice. Goals and final game score are recorded as well as penalties. Players, including goalies, will play position and Coaches are responsible for managing equal ice time.

These players will have fun, refine individual hockey skills, learn team tactics and play, and game strategy.

Each registered U15-U18 player will receive a practice/sort-out jersey as well as a set of two WEHL numbered jerseys and one pair of socks. Players can keep the socks, but must return the set of WEHL numbered jerseys and the practice/sort-out jersey at the end of the season.

Each team has an assigned Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Trainer and Manager. When possible, the Manager will explore the option to participate in local and away tournaments. Players and teams can participate in district playoffs.

Before the regular season begins, typically following the Thanksgiving holiday in October, registered U9 through to U18 players undergo conditioning and sort-out sessions where they are evaluated and tiered based on their level of skill and knowledge. Teams are then created and balanced in an effort to give each player the best opportunity to develop and succeed. More detail on the sort-out and team balancing process can be found on our About Us page under Sort Outs Process.

Under 21 (U21) – Senior Program

The U21 program is for players ages 18, 19 and 20 years old as of December 31.

The program would include one (1x) ice time of an hour and a half (1.5 hrs) per week between October and March, and only includes games (no practices) against players from other associations within the Bytown Minor Hockey League (BMHL). Ice times will vary from week to week but are generally held on the weekend.

All games are played on full-ice. Goals and final game score are recorded as well as penalties. Players, including goalies, will play position and Coaches are responsible for managing equal ice time.

Each registered U21 player will receive a set of two WEHL numbered jerseys and one pair of socks. Players can keep the socks, but must return the set of WEHL numbered jerseys and the practice/sort-out jersey at the end of the season.

Each team has an assigned Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Trainer and Manager.

Note: the U21 program can only run if there are enough registered players. If the program cannot run due to low registration, participants will be notified in early September to discuss options.  At this point, the WEHL can explore the option of transferring the player to another BMHL association with a U21 program, or cancel the program for the season.