Welcome to another exciting season with the Sarnia Jr. Lady Sting! We're thrilled to see returning players and welcome new faces to our U9 program.
Schedule Overview & Group Format
- Prep Skates: No evaluations – All our U9 Coaches will be on the ice and the focus will be fun & fundamentals to get the girls moving!
- Sort Skates: Evaluations based on skating, passing, shooting, hockey IQ, and more.
- Prep Skate Division: Alphabetically by last name.
- Sort Skate Division: 1st skate is grouped alphabetically by last name and then l#2 & #2 skates will be grouped by similar skill levels. Group assignments will be posted to the website.
How Team Competition Is Decided
We’ve heard the questions & chatter and want to be transparent just as we’ve been with our Coaches as we prepare for the season:
- No decisions on team levels (Competitive vs. House League) will be made until the Prep & Sort skates are inflight.
- Evaluations will be conducted by U9 Coaches and the Association.
- Decisions will be based on:
- Player skill and experience
- Input from Coaches & the Association
- Overall team balance and development goals
- Availability of divisions in WOGHL
Our priority is building strong fundamentals and preparing for the full-ice transition in January. We care deeply about placing each player where they’ll thrive, and we approach this process with fairness, thoughtfulness, and a strong commitment to development.
While we understand that not every decision will align with every parent’s hopes, our team brings many years of experience with the U9 half-ice program. We’ll be using that experience, alongside careful assessments and a focus on long-term growth, to guide our decisions.
Possible Team Structures
- 1 Competitive + 3 HL Teams: HL teams will be evenly distributed by skill and compete in the same skill division.
- 2 Competitive + 2 HL Teams: Competitive teams will be tiered (Tier 1 & Tier 2); HL teams will be evenly distributed by skill.
- The Association will make the final decision on team structures in this space with input from the U9 Coaches; Coaches will have responsibility for player placement with the guidelines outlined and the player evaluations completed
Important Reminders
- Prep & Sort Registration fees must be paid before the first skate.
- Players from other OWHA centers need a Permission to Skate form from their current Association. If a player arrives to their first skate without it, they will not be eligible to skate until provided. No exceptions unfortunately.
- Please arrive with plenty of time to check in. There will be a designated desk for attendance and pinnie distribution. Attending your assigned sessions is essential for proper evaluation, so we appreciate your punctuality and cooperation.
- Only approved roster staff are permitted in the dressing rooms during the Prep & Sort process. We’ll have Den Moms assigned to each room to assist the girls as needed. Players are welcome to step out for skate tying or any extra help, and if preferred, they’re also welcome to arrive fully dressed if dressing room logistics don’t work for them.
- For questions or attendance updates, Chris Hurst is the point of contact. His info is available on the U9 Hurst team page.
- All updates will be posted to the U9 Hurst Website --> https://sarniagirlshockey.com/Teams/1167/ Please check it frequently for changes and announcements during the Prep & Sort process. Website will show all the times within the 24 hours.
Let’s make this season fun, and full of growth for every player. We can’t wait to see the girls back on the ice!