PARENT FAQ’s & Tutorials
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Nanaimo Minor Hockey Association teams play?
Nanaimo Minor Association Hockey teams play out of Frank Crane Arena, Cliff McNabb Arena and Nanaimo Ice Center.
What age levels can play in Nanaimo Minor Hockey?
- U6: 5 yr olds
- U7: 6 yr olds
- U8: 7 yr olds
- U9: 8 yr olds
- U11: 9 & 10 yr olds
- U13: 11 & 12 yr olds
- U15: 13 & 14 yr olds
- U18: 15-17 yr olds
- U21: 18-20 yr olds
note: This means they will be the specified age by December 31st.
What do my registration fees pay for?
Nanaimo MHA is a not-for-profit organization run by volunteers. The majority of your registration fee goes to pay ice fees to the City of Nanaimo. Nanaimo MHA also supplies goalie equipment throughout the organization for goalies that otherwise do not have equipment. Nanaimo MHA provides socks and jerseys to all players, and upkeep of these jerseys. Other costs include fees for referees and linesmen, clinic hosting and reimbursement to all bench staff for clinics attended and passed. NMHA overhead for the building at 750 3rd St., a full-time paid Administrator and a full-time Director of Hockey Operations. BC Hockey Insurance, team fees, player fees as well as VIAHA team fees and players fees.
What equipment do I need to purchase for my child?
- Hockey Canada Video
- C.S.A. approved helmet (with ear protectors)
- C.S.A. approved facial protector (full cage or full visor)
- B.N.Q. approved throat protector (collar or bib type)
- Athletic support cup (male)/Athletic Jill strap (female)
- Hockey pants
- Shoulder pads
- Elbow pads
- Garter belt for jock or jill shorts(if needed) • Shin pads
- Hockey gloves
- Skates
- Practice Jersey and socks
- Stick
- Tape for stick
- Shin pad tape
What is rep (representative) hockey?
Rep (representative) hockey is competitive hockey. Players are required to try out to make the team. Body contact in rep hockey starts at the U15 level. Rep players are expected to have a higher level of commitment to the team then house league players.
What is rec (recreational) – house league hockey?
Recreational league hockey is for players ages 5-20, regardless of the player’s ability and is not as competitive as rep hockey. There is no body checking in recreational hockey but there is body contact.
When are rep team tryouts held?
Schedules for Rep try outs will be posted to this site as soon as they become available, usually late August.
At what level does contact hockey start?
Body checking is introduced at the U15 competitive level.
When and how do I register my children to play?
Registration information for upcoming seasons will be posted on this site as soon as it becomes available. The current Registration information can be found on our registration page.
Who can play house league hockey for NMHA?
BC Hockey Residency guidelines govern the Nanaimo Minor Hockey Association. For further information email: administrator@hockeynanaimo.com
Who can play rep hockey for NMHA?
BC Hockey Residency guidelines govern the Nanaimo Minor Hockey Association. For further information email: administrator@hockeynanaimo.com
How often are recreational games/practices held?
In general teams will have one practice a week and one game. During playoffs teams will often have more than one game per week
Other than registration fees, are there other fees and expenses throughout the season?
Teams may collect additional fees or fundraise to pay for tournament entry fees and other team expenses. In general, team fees for Recreational hockey can range from $100-$300. This will be discussed and voted on as a team at the start of the season.
My child would like to play hockey but I am not able to afford it. Is financial help available?
Yes! Many local organizations have funding available to help cover registration fees. If you would like more details, please speak to the registrar and she will be happy to assist you. Please also see our Financial Assistant page for more information.
I want to know what days my child will play. Why is it not the same every week?
Unfortunately, hockey is not an activity that provides a rigid schedule each week. U11 & above Teams rotate to play other teams (including teams from Lake Cowichan, Cowichan Valley, Parksville and Port Alberni) based on the available ice. Therefore, practice times must rotate as well. Most ice times are on weekends, with competitive teams haveing weeknight and early weekday practices.
Does my child need to know how to skate before they can register?
Players are strongly encouraged to be comfortable on the ice to enhance their hockey experience. Brand new players in all divisions will be required to participate in an evaluation prior to the start of the season. A good starting point is to ensure your player can skate across the ice with their hockey gear on.
Where do I find the information for the start of the season?
Nanaimo Minor hockey website is the best information source, please get comfortable navigating for all information, also follow us on Facebook.
When will my child get their jersey?
Teams are formed between late September to mid October, your player will receive their team jersey once they have been placed on a roster. Please ensure your player has a practice jersey and socks in their gear bag.
Where do I find my players’ team schedules?
Nanaimo MHA uses Team Snap for all team managers to input the teams’ schedules and for contact with players. Please download the Team Snap App to your phone and your team manager will send you an invite once they have set up your team roster.
Can my player play as an overage or underage player?
All players will be evaluated in their age divisions, if you wish to move your child it is done by specific request to VIAHA and BC Hockey, please contact the office of Nanaimo MHA to get these forms.
Can my player be an Affiliate Player?
Players must be asked by a coach to AP for their team, and be only one year out of the division requesting. Do not fill in the AP form and send to the office, this must come from team coach or manager. Recreational teams must be below 13 skaters to ask and AP to play for them and can only go to 14 players, with the exeption of tournament games, with permision. Affiliate Players can only be activated for games in case of illness, injury or BC Hockey/Island League suspensions. APs can only play 10 games for only one team they are AP’d to. When a coach wants to use an affiliate player in a game, the coach must inform the player’s regular team coach BEFORE making contact with the player and asking the player to come up.
Adding a player to Parent Respect in Sport
You may add as many children as required to your Parent Program certificate.
Go to the Program where you originally completed your parent certification and log in.
Go to the “Profile” link in the upper-left of your dashboard
Click the button labeled “Child Management”
From this menu you can edit a child’s details, or create a new entry for another child. Enter the child’s details as prompted by the form, and click to save the entry.
Arenas
Associations
- Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey
- Alberni Valley Minor Hockey
- Campbell River Minor Hockey
- Comox Valley Minor Hockey
- Capital Region Female Minor Hockey
- Cowichan Valley Minor Hockey
- JdF Minor Hockey
- Kerry Park Minor Hockey
- Lake Cowichan Minor Hockey
- Oceanside Minor Hockey
- Peninsula Minor Hockey
- Powell River Minor Hockey
- Sooke Minor Hockey
- Tri-Port Minor Hockey
- Victoria Minor Hockey
- VRC Minor Hockey