- Wednesday August 30th 7 PM at Appleby Ice Centre Community Room (off the lobby at Pad 3) and
- Thursday September 7th 7 PM at Appleby Ice Centre Multipurpose Room (off the lobby at Pad 2).
We encourage all parents to attend one of these sessions. Please complete the online IP Program Information Session Attendance form if you do plan to attend, so that we can plan accordingly.
The IP program is designed to shrink the size of the game and focus on small area games, allowing the players more puck touches and the opportunity to develop skills more effectively than on full ice. The best way to illustrate is, when 4 and 5 year olds start in soccer, they are in small areas with mini nets, a system that allows the athlete to be successful rather than constantly chasing the ball.To put them on a regulation soccer field with regulation nets would be unfair to the players.
The BGHC have invested in new equipment for this program which includes, rink dividers, smaller nets and lighter pucks.
Hockey Canada developed the Initiation Program to make a child's first contact with hockey a safe and positive experience. It is a structured, learn-to-play hockey program designed to introduce beginners to the game's basic skills. It enables participants to become contributing members of a team effort, develop self-confidence, and experience a sense of personal achievement. These goals are achieved in an atmosphere of fun and fair play.
Recognizing the necessity to provide a positive experience for the beginner hockey player, the Initiation Program builds upon a number of values providing a qualitative experience, which include:
- Providing a safe environment in which to be introduced to hockey's fundamental skills.
- Developing an understanding of basic teamwork through participation in structured activities and adapted game-like situations.
- Introducing participants to the concepts of fair and co-operative play.
- Refining basic motor patterns and building self-confidence.
- Providing an environment that challenges individuals positively and rewards the participants for their efforts.
- Provides opportunities to experience a number of activities related to the building of a lifestyle of fitness and activity.
IP PROGRAM MENTOR: We are pleased to announce that Jana Harrigan from Harrigan Hockey will be a part of our program and will be mentoring coaches and providing valuable feedback to the coaches as well as the BGHC.
ONLINE REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT: Online participant registration and payment for the season is NOW OPEN. All participants MUST be registered through online registration. Registration will remain open until Sunday October 1st. You can access the online registration page HERE. Please read all details before registering.
SCHEDULE: Sessions will be approximately once a week, for a total of 16 sessions. Sessions will be at Appleby Ice Centre, Ice Pad 1, on Sundays, between the hours of approximately 10 AM and 2 PM, depending on registration numbers. Each session will be 50 minutes. The first session will be Sunday October 15th and the final session will be Sunday March 4th. There will be a 4-week “break” in late December/early January due to a combination of Christmas Break and ice allocation to other programming. The IP players will participate in the BGHC house league final championship weekend on either Saturday March 24th or Sunday March 25th, 2018 (details TBD at a later date). Specifically, there will be NO sessions on the following weekends.
- Sunday November 26th
- Sunday December 24th through Sunday January 14th inclusive
- Sunday March 11th and Sunday March 18th, 2018
COST: $49 for the full 16-week season (this is a subsidized price - the BGHC has a major sponsor secured for this program)
QUESTIONS: Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or e-mail our VP Hockey, Jason Crawford.
