This page contains everything U9 Families need to know about the U9 Division for the 2024-2025 Season. 

Please read on for information about U9 Evaluations and Team Placements. 

U9 Division Contacts:

• VP U9: Ryan Brewer VPU9@FlyersHockey.ca 
• U9 Division Coordinator: Kate Dufour U9DivCoordinator@FlyersHockey.ca

About SMHA U9 Division

U9 is a development program aimed at meeting these 4 outcomes:

1. Have fun and be active
2. Learn fundamental skills
3. Refine those fundamental skills
4. Cooperation and fair play

U9 Team Structure

Based on registration numbers, SMHA will have eight U9 teams for 2024-2025. The teams will be balanced within each category. The U9 Evaluations determine player and goaltender placement on the following teams:

• Two U9 Advancing Teams
• Four U9 Intermediate Teams
• Two U9 Developing Teams

U9 Season Structure

Each team will have four ice times: 

• Team Practice (weekly)
• Development practice (weekly)
• Game (weekly)
• Power Skating (bi-weekly)

The U9 Program plays half-ice 4v4 games, with 12 full-ice games allowed after a date set by Hockey Nova Scotia, usually in February.

The exact schedules will be shared to families by Team Managers once teams are finalized.

U9 Evaluation Format

Players and Goaltenders are placed on U9 Teams based on an evaluation process. There will be four evaluated sessions as follows:

• Session 1: Skills Stations (Players Only, No Goaltenders) - Saturday, Sept 28, 2024 - 3:00pm-6:00pm @ Sackville Arena
• Session 2: Skills Stations (Players and Goaltenders) - Sunday, Sept 29, 2024 - 2:00pm-5:00pm @ Sackville Sports Stadium
• Session 3: Skills Stations (Players and Goaltenders) - Saturday, Oct 5, 2024 - 7:00am-10:00am @ Sackville Sports Stadium
• Session 4: Half-Ice 4-on-4 Games (Players and Goaltenders) - Sunday, Oct 6, 2024 - 8:30am-11:30am @ Sackville Sports Stadium

*Each 3-hour session above will be broken down into three groups that will be listed below by Sept 20th; Players will attend one hour-long evaluation per session.

Evaluators will record scores using the TeamGenius App.

Goaltenders will be evaluated using specific goalie criteria at Session 2, Session 3, and Session 4 (Goaltenders do not attend Session 1). 

Opting Out of Evaluations

Families who would like their player placed directly on a U9 Developmental Team do not need to attend U9 Evaluations. This is a great option for players who are brand new to hockey, and also for experienced players who know they would like to be on a U9 Developmental team.

To opt out, please email Kate Dufour (U9DivCoordinator@FlyersHockey.ca) and Ryan Brewer (vpU9@flyershockey.ca) by Tuesday, Sept 17th. The Player Groups for Evaluations should be equal in numbers, so we would like to know if any players will not be attending.

U9 Evaluations Jersey Pickup

Please make arrangements to pick up your player's U9 Evaluation Jersey as follows:

• U9 Evaluation Jersey Pickup
• Time & Date: 4:00pm-5:30pm, Saturday, Sept 21, 2024
• Location: Sackville Arena Mezzanine

Evaluation Jerseys will be collected at the end of Session 2 (Sun, Sept 29) and redistributed at the beginning of Session 3 (Sat, Oct 5).

Evaluation Jerseys must be returned at the end of Session 2 (Sun, Sept 29) and Session 4 (Sun, Oct 6).

Failure to return Evaluation Jerseys will result in a $50 charge on the player’s account.

U9 Evaluation Player Groups

Player Groups are created at random, and will be posted below on Fri, Sept 20th. Player Groups will be shuffled following Session 2, and will be posted below when available.

Please remember to let Kate (U9DivCoordinator@FlyersHockey.ca) and Ryan (VPU9@FlyersHockey.ca) know by Sept 17 if your player is opting out of U9 Evaluations so that they are not included in a group.

Session 1 & Session 2: Group 1

[TBA Sept 20 - S1&2 - Group 1 List Placeholder]

• Session 1: Skills Stations (Players Only, No Goaltenders) - Saturday, Sept 28, 2024 - 3:00pm-4:00pm @ Sackville Arena
• Session 2: Skills Stations (Players and Goaltenders) - Sunday, Sept 29, 2024 - 2:00pm-3:00pm @ Sackville Sports Stadium

Session 1 & Session 2: Group 2

[TBA Sept 20 - S1&2 - Group 2 List Placeholder]

• Session 1: Skills Stations (Players Only, No Goaltenders) - Saturday, Sept 28, 2024 - 4:00pm-5:00pm @ Sackville Arena
• Session 2: Skills Stations (Players and Goaltenders) - Sunday, Sept 29, 2024 - 3:00pm-4:00pm @ Sackville Sports Stadium

Session 1 & Session 2: Group 3

[TBA Sept 20 - S1&2 - Group 3 List Placeholder]

• Session 1: Skills Stations (Players Only, No Goaltenders) - Saturday, Sept 28, 2024 - 5:00pm-6:00pm @ Sackville Arena
• Session 2: Skills Stations (Players and Goaltenders) - Sunday, Sept 29, 2024 - 4:00pm-5:00pm @ Sackville Sports Stadium

Session 3 & Session 4: Group 1

[TBA ~Oct 1 - S3&4 - Group 1 List Placeholder]

• Session 3: Skills Stations (Players & Goaltenders) - Saturday, Oct 5, 2024 - 7:00am-8:00am @ Sackville Sports Stadium
• Session 4: Half-Ice 4-on-4 Games (Players & Goaltenders) - Sunday, Oct 6, 2024 - 8:30am-9:30am @ Sackville Sports Stadium

Session 3 & Session 4: Group 2

[TBA ~Oct 1 - S3&4 - Group 2 List Placeholder]

• Session 3: Skills Stations (Players & Goaltenders) - Saturday, Oct 5, 2024 - 8:00am-9:00am @ Sackville Sports Stadium
• Session 4: Half-Ice 4-on-4 Games (Players & Goaltenders) - Sunday, Oct 6, 2024 - 9:30am-10:30am @ Sackville Sports Stadium

Session 3 & Session 4: Group 3

[TBA ~Oct 1 - S3&4 - Group 3 List Placeholder]

• Session 3: Skills Stations (Players & Goaltenders) - Saturday, Oct 5, 2024 - 9:00am-10:00am @ Sackville Sports Stadium
• Session 4: Half-Ice 4-on-4 Games (Players & Goaltenders) - Sunday, Oct 6, 2024 - 10:30am-11:30am @ Sackville Sports Stadium

If you have questions regarding the on-ice portion of the evaluations please contact Ryan Brewer (VPU9@flyershockey.ca).

Any other questions can be directed to Kate Dufour (U9DivCoordinator@FlyersHockey.ca).