With hockey paused, we felt like everyone could use a little good news story.  Pictured above is U11A player Chris Wanzuk receiving a brand new jersey from Coach Jason.  Chris and all his teammates are excited to wear their brand new Westfort jerseys when they get back on the ice in the New Year.  The new jerseys were purchased using funding generously provide by Superior Shores Gaming Centre.  Westfort Hockey Association encourages everyone to stay home and stay safe so we can all get back to all the things we love!!! 

The U11 and U13 AA drafts are now complete.  Players that were selected have been contacted. 

Those that have not been selected will be contact by the association soon. Final plans are being made for player selection for the A division and more information will be made available in the coming days.

15 teams will be selected for each age group and in order to follow current pandemic protocols cohorts of 3 teams will be created.  The season will consist of approximately 15 games and begin in early January pending any further pandemic restrictions.  Games will consist of 3 - 10 minute periods for both age groups.  More details will be provided once final approvals are received. 
 

Please check back and watch the webpage for updates as they become available. 

Westfort Hockey Association is excited to congratulate former Westfort Ranger Kendra Fortin on being drafted to the Bemidji State University Beavers for the 2021-2022 season.  Kendra was a Westfort Ranger from IP to Peewee before moving over to the Thunder Bay Queens Program.  This year, Kendra is playing in the Provincial Women's Hockey League.  We are very proud of you Kendra and cannot wait to see where the future will take you.  Currently, many young girls are playing in the Westfort Hockey Association just as Kendra did, and are able to see their future selves in Kendra's successful shoes.  Thank you for being a great role model for our young players!

Westfort Hockey Association is able to provide all of these young players like Kendra with opportunities to play and succeed through the generous contributions of Superior Shore Gaming Association.

Video courtesy of the Fortin Family.

PAYMENTS

2020 / 2021 Season Payments - U7 - U13

With all of the uncertainties when the 2020 Return to Play started, it was decided by the six LMHL organizations that player fees would be collected in phases as the season progressed.

All players paid $100 upon Registration.  his fee covered the costs for the initial development skates now scheduled.

All additional fees will be collected via e-transfer,  please follow the instructions below for each division to properly submit your payments.  If you have any questions please reach out 

 http://westforthockey@gmail.com

Additional player fees will be collected as follows:

ALL PAYMENTS ARE DUE BY NOV 27TH 2020

U13 A AND AA PLAYERS

Phase 2 Fees of $300.00 will be collected, and will cover costs for Player Evaluations and Team Formation

Additional Fees will be collected by the teams when players are drafted to either U13A or U13AA Teams

E-Transfer Payments of $300 can be sent to westforthockey@gmail.com 

Be sure to include your players name in the message of each e-transfer to allow us to properly track your payment.  There are no passwords required for e-transfers sent to this address.

U11 A AND AA PLAYERS

Phase 2 Fees of $300.00 will be collected, and will cover costs for Player Evaluations and Team Formation

Additional Fees will be collected by the teams when players are drafted to either U13A or U13AA Teams

E-Transfer Payments of $300 can be sent to westforthockey@gmail.com 

Be sure to include your players name in the message of each e-transfer to allow us to properly track your payment.  There are no passwords required for e-transfers sent to this address.

U9 PLAYERS

Fees of $300 will be collected and will cover all ice time costs for the remainder of the season.   If teams elect to have any other activities, or items such as team clothing, these costs will be discussed by the teams and will be collected at the time by the teams.

The Season will consist of approximately 40 ice sessions in total.

E-Transfer Payments of $300 can be sent to westforthockey@gmail.com 

Be sure to include your players name in the message of each e-transfer to allow us to properly track your payment.  There are no passwords required for e-transfers sent to this address.

U7 PLAYERS

Fees of $300 will be collected and will cover all ice time costs for the remainder of the season.  The season will consist of approximately 40 ice sessions in total.

E-Transfer Payments can be sent to http://westforthockey@gmail.com

Be sure to include your players name in the message of each e-transfer to allow us to properly track your payment.  There are no passwords required for e-transfers sent to this address.

Westfort Minor Hockey is excited to have our U9 players back on the ice.  Young Caleb (pictured here) has been dreaming of getting back onto the ice and into the net since hockey abruptly ended last March.  With the help of donations from Superior Shores Gaming, Westfort Minor Hockey has been able to help young Caleb as he works on becoming the best goalie he can be.  Superior Shores Gaming Centre is open daily from for Cabinet and POD game play.

Hello Westfort hockey families and thank you for your patience. 

We are happy to announce the six associations within Lakehead Minor Hockey League have been working together to open registration. 

 Registration will open next week for Phase One (Development Phase) with a price of this phase at $100.00. 

 We anticipate phase One beginning shortly after Thanksgiving.  

Check the Westfort Rangers website and Facebook page regularly for details as they become available. 

As of August 31, 2020 we have HNO's return to play guidelines. Things look positive but now Westfort needs LMHA procedures for moving forward. Once they are put forward, Westfort can give parents a clear understanding of what we can provide. We hope to open registration very soon. Please stay tuned.

Thanks again and we look forward to a seeing everyone when the guidelines allow.

Westfort Midget A Rangers take home the city Championship!!

Congratulations to the Wesfort PWAA Rangers on their 2 game sweep of the Westend Bruins. The boys had an amazing year!!

Congratulations to the PW A Martin Financial Rangers (Brick City) and the PW AA Westfort Rangers (NEEBING Thunder on Ice) on their Tournament wins!!

Respect in Sport Parent Program

HNO is pleased to announce it has partnered with the Respect Group Inc. to provide an education tool that will further our commitment to fostering a safe and fun hockey environment for all participants.

The Respect in Sport Program for Parents is a unique, in-depth 1 hour online program geared to providing the parent with information on how to evaluate and understand:

• Parental influence over a child
• Coach and leader roles in sport
• Role of the parent and coach in ensuring a child’s enjoyment of a sport
• Protecting your child when outside of your immediate control
• Concussion awareness & Return to Play guidelines
• Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) model

The program is a proactive, educational program that empowers parents with the tools to ensure the game is enjoyable and respectful for themselves, their children and all other stakeholders in the game.

Beginning with the 2016-17 minor hockey season a minimum of 1 parent/guardian from each family with players at the Novice or Atom level will need to take the program along with 1 parent/ guardian from any players entering Hockey Canada programming for the first time in the peewee to midget age groups.

The cost of the one hour online program is $12.00+HST and you can complete the course at the link below:

 Respect in Sport Parent Program

NOTE - The Respect in Sport Parent Program differs from the Respect in Sport Leader/Coach Program. Therefore parents that have taken the Leader/Coach Program must still take the Parent Program.

Westfort Minor Hockey is extremely thankful for Carter Hutton, the Boys and Girls Club of Thunder Bay and the NHLPA Goals and Dreams program for the donation of a full set of Goalie Equipment!! 

To learn more about this great NHLPA program, click here: http://www.nhlpa.com/giving-back/goals-and-dreams

STEP 1 - DEVELOPMENT & TEAM FORMATION

• October 13th – November 30th
• WMHA reserves the right to adjust the start dates based on player registration and ice availability.
• Player Registration will be through HCR website.  Registration is now closed for Stage 1. Please email westforthockey@gmail.com with any questions.
• Cost of this phase will be $100 (100% refund if Step 1 is cancelled due to COVID; 50% refund if Step 1 is cancelled with ½ or fewer sessions remaining when cancelled due to COVID)
• The player bubbles (50 or less players) will be determined by dividing players into U7, U9, U11 and U13 and further dividing based on where they register (A or AA).
• 10 - 12 sessions scheduled over 6 weeks (20-25 players per ice session)
• The sessions for this phase will be entirely focused on skill development with a potential for small scrimmages at the end of the session per HNO guidelines for Stage 3 (Team Formation); on-ice sessions to be organized by WMHA coaches while screening/documenting protocols will be handled by WMHA volunteers/organizations.
• Coaches will be able to use the sessions for draft evaluations but limits on attendees are expected to be required due to restrictions on the number of people permitted inside arenas. Specific rules to be determined.
• U11AA and U13AA team formation will be based on a city-wide draft format.  Details to follow.

STEP 2 – COMPETITION STAGE

(*If restrictions are lessened and it is possible to go to Step 3 prior to November 1, Step 2 will be skipped)

• There will be a break between Step 1 and Step 2 to facilitate the formation of teams.
• Stage 2 will take place December 1st to December 31st
• If a player did not register for stage 1 they will still have the opportunity to register for stage 2
• A player that participated in stage 1 will have the opportunity to opt out of stage 2
• The cost of stage 2 is to be determined
• Players who registered in U11AA and U13AA who do NOT make AA will be placed in the U11A and U13A draft pool for either the North side of Thunder Bay (PAMHA) or the South side of Thunder Bay (Elks, KC, Neebing, Norwest and Westfort), based on where the player registers.  It is possible that a player who has registered for U11 and U13 will be placed on a team with a different association other than the one registered for, but every effort will be made to keep these players within their home organization.  The intent is to ensure all teams have a full roster; all teams are of equal competitiveness and to maximize ice allotments. 
• Teams will be drafted as per the current guidelines in late November into 3 team loops.
• Game play and other rules are to be determined
• If Step 2 commences, it will not end early and will continue until December 31st
• No games will take place between December 24th and January 2nd
• There will be no tournaments or jamborees during this phase

STEP 3 - COMPETITION STAGE

• January 1st to a date to be determined
• This will be a continuation of Step 2 OR, if permitted, could combine the teams that were originally drafted and combine two 3 team loops into 6 team loops and play traditional 5v5 games
• Tournaments and jamborees MAY be possible during this stage

The Westfort Hockey Association is committed to providing a safe and fun environment for all of our youth hockey players.  By emphasizing sportsmanship, teamwork, fair play and respect, we believe we produce not only good athletes, but great people.