Handshakes

Shaking hands with the opponent after a hard fought playoff game or series is a sign of respect and a practice that has been going on for decades.  We would like to encourage our teams to continue that tradition in the playoffs this season.  We encourage players to leave their gloves on for a “fist-bump” in the line and for coaches to join the line as well.

The expectation is that all players and coaches behave in a calm and respectful manner in the handshake line.  This is the perfect opportunity to congratulate the other team on a game well played and a great season.  This is not the opportunity to engage in verbal or physical altercations – officials will assess the appropriate penalties for inappropriate behaviour in the handshake line.

For A Hockey, teams will shake hands after each A and B side bracket game and also at the conclusion of the championship series.

For AA and AAA hockey, teams will shake hands after each series is completed.

 

Female Hockey Day

Hockey Winnipeg’s Female Council is excited to host a Female Hockey Day for all female players participating in the following grassroots programs: U7 House League, First Shift & Hockey Winnipeg’s U12 Recreational Program.

All U7 female hockey players, Female First Shift participants & Female U12 Recreational Program participants are invited to take part in a free 1-hour ice session at the Hockey For All Centre (formerly known as the Bell MTS Iceplex) on Monday, February 19th.

This event is an opportunity for female hockey players to engage and play alongside other female players in a fun and safe environment, while getting the experience of playing on an all-female team. The ice times will be instructed by strong female leaders in the hockey community and families will have an opportunity to learn more about the Female Hockey Programs being offered by their area associations.

The ice times will be held from 9:30am – 3:30pm on Monday, February 19th. All scheduled ice times will be confirmed and communicated through email by Monday, February 12th.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Savannah Rennie, Grassroots Program Coordinator at grassroots@hockeywinnipeg.ca

Registration closes Friday, February 9th.

Spring Program Dates Announced!

Hockey Winnipeg is once again hosting our spring development programs in March and April, 2025. The details of our three programs are as follows:

Hockey Winnipeg U13 Female Challenge Cup: March 18-24, East End Arena. Open to 2012 and 2013 born AA and A1 Female athletes in Winnipeg. Registration cost will be approximately $180.00/athlete. The top players from this program will be selected to advance to Hockey Manitoba’s Female Prospects program which will be held at Stride Place in Portage La Prairie from April 11-13 (additional cost will be required to participate in the Female Prospects program). Registration will first be open to AA Female players, all remaining spots will be offered to A1 female players from the 2012 and 2013 birth year. Please note the change in dates for the female program have been moved to March. ALL female AA and A1 playoffs will be over by then.

Hockey Winnipeg U13 Prospects Cup: April 7-13, Southdale Arena (East rink). Open to 2012 born AA Male athletes in Winnipeg. Registration cost will be approximately $180.00/athlete. The top players from this program will be selected to advance to Hockey Manitoba’s Rising Stars Plus+ program which will be held at the Hockey For All Centre in Winnipeg from April 25-27 (additional cost will be required to participate in the Rising Stars Plus+ program).

Hockey Winnipeg U14 Vice President’s Cup: April 7-13, Southdale Arena (West rink). Open to 2011 born AAA and AA male athletes in Winnipeg. Registration cost will be approximately $180.00/athlete. The top players from this program will be selected to advance to Hockey Manitoba’s Director’s Cup program which will be held at the Hockey For All Centre in Winnipeg from April 25-27 (additional cost will be required to participate in the Director’s Cup program). Registration will first go out to 2011 born AAA players and remaining spots will be offered to 2010 born AA players.

****Registration will be sent out via email in late January.****

For more information, please contact: Ben Blankstein, development@hockeywinnipeg.ca

New Year, New Faces at Hockey Winnipeg!

Hockey Winnipeg is excited to announce the hiring of Ben Blankstein, Development Coordinator, and Savannah Rennie, Grassroots Coordinator, effective January 2, 2024.

Ben is a former minor league hockey player from Winnipeg, Manitoba who comes over from Hockey Manitoba, where he spent the last two plus years as the Coach Development Coordinator. Ben graduated with a Bachelor of Recreation Management and Community Development degree from the University of Manitoba in 2020. Bens experience from his employment with Hockey Manitoba, and his field work placement with Hockey Winnipeg in 2020, will help him in preparation to be the next Hockey Winnipeg Development Coordinator. Ben has been associated with a variety of community led recreation initiatives that involved working directly with children in sport, including his commitment as a youth hockey coach, serving as a positive role model to all participants. Ben is excited to apply his passion for the game of hockey and use his prior experience and knowledge to serve our hockey community.

Savannah is a former competitive hockey player from Winnipeg with a multifaceted background that seamlessly blends athletic prowess and social policy. With a foundation as a former competitive hockey player, Savannah dedicated four years to playing Division 1 Ice Hockey in the NCAA, proudly representing Syracuse University. Her commitment and skill extended to the professional arena, where she showcased her talents in the DFEL league in Germany. Transitioning from the ice to the professional realm, Savannah ventured into the field of policy where she served as a Policy Analyst for the Mayor’s Office in Winnipeg. Savannah’s dedication to making a positive impact in her community is evident in her work, where she channels the same drive and determination that characterized her extensive hockey career. She looks ahead with a keen appetite for knowledge and growth. Her passion for the hockey community in Winnipeg remains unwavering, as she aims to leverage her unique blend of experiences to continue fostering a thriving and inclusive environment within the sport.

 

Ben Blankstein: development@hockeywinnipeg.ca

Savannah Rennie: grassroots@hockeywinnipeg.ca

Hockey Winnipeg Statement

Click here for full statement: Hockey Winnipeg Statement November 10 2023

“Last month, Hockey Canada, Hockey Manitoba, and Hockey Winnipeg learned of an alleged sexually exploitative relationship between a coach and a player between 2019 and 2021 through a video circulating online. The Winnipeg Police Service was notified, and we sent this information to Hockey Canada’s Independent Third Party (ITP).

We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously and the individual is ineligible to participate in Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs, including as a coach, guest coach or volunteer while the ITP complaint process is ongoing.

As the police and ITP investigations are ongoing, we are not able to comment further at this time.”

Ian McArton – Executive Director
executivedirector@hockeywinnipeg.ca

 

 

Important Update Re: All MALE U18 A Division Scheduling

Due to issues with inaccurate team entry, the MALE U18 A (A1-A, A1-B, A2-A, A2-B) divisions need to be re-made and re-scheduled.  Hockey Winnipeg is working on this as quickly as we can.  Any game that was previously scheduled is no longer confirmed and there will be no games played on the weekend of October 28-29 in order to allow for the schedule to be redone, reviewed by the Associations and then posted. Thank you for your patience!

Thank you, Jonathan Schmidt!

Hockey Winnipeg knows all our volunteer coaches put in hours helping the players become better at the game and as people. That being said, we have one coach, Jonathan Schmidt, who went above and beyond this. We want to thank him for his quick thinking and heroic efforts to help save a player’s life after she was accidently cut at a practice in St Norbert.

Hockey Canada Maltreatment & Discrimination Independent Third Party

Hockey Canada and its Members want to end the culture of silence that exists in parts of hockey. To help ensure that we are a safe space for raising concerns, Hockey Canada has updated the Maltreatment and Discrimination regulations as well as developed an Independent Third Party (ITP) reporting mechanism to process certain complaints. Going forward, Hockey Winnipeg will be following Hockey Canada’s procedure for any concerns regarding maltreatment and discrimination.

 

If you have a matter to direct to Hockey Canada’s new Independent Third Party, please do so here:

https://sportcomplaints.ca/complaint-form/

To learn more, please review Hockey Manitoba’s informative post on this topic:

https://www.hockeymanitoba.ca/maltreatment-discrimination-and-itp/

U12 Recreational Program

Hockey Winnipeg is excited to announce the return of the U12 Recreational Program in hopes of providing an accessible and inclusive introduction to the sport of hockey. The recreational program will run for 20 weeks from October to March and will consist of 1 ice time per week, every Saturday with an emphasis on fun & skill development for 9-, 10-, and 11-year old’s. All skill levels are welcomed with no previous experience needed. Due to limited space availability, players cannot simultaneously play organized hockey and participate in the recreational program. The cost of the program is approximately $350 per player. Full equipment is required, including mouth guards. Jerseys and socks will be provided.

Registration is now live: https://page.spordle.com/winnipeg/register/1ee467d9-5384-63fe-a438-0294283b7376

If you have any questions, please reach out to Janelle Forcand, Hockey Winnipeg’s Grassroots Program Coordinator at grassroots@hockeywinnipeg.ca or 204-784-5454 ext 4.

 

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Female Hockey Financial Assistance

Do you know of a female hockey player who is being kept off the ice due to financial constraints? Grindstone Award is here to help.

Check out their website for more information on their grants:

https://grindstoneaward.com/apply/

Deadline has been extended to August 31, 2023.