NGHA - U22 House League Inaugural Season FAQs
The Nepean Girls Hockey Association is pleased to announce the launch of our new U22 House League program, beginning in September 2025.
As this program will be new for the 2025-2026 season, we have prepared a list of some frequently asked questions to help players decide if this program is right for them prior to registration.
We hope you will join us in September!
WHY IS THE NGHA CREATING A U22 HOUSE LEAGUE PROGRAM?
The NGHA is excited to introduce a new program designed to help players stay in the game longer and enjoy it to the fullest.
Over the years, our graduating players have let us know how much they have enjoyed being a Wildcat - and how they wished they could keep playing after they age out of their minor hockey careers. We wanted to give them a safe space to continue enjoying the sport they love.
One of the key goals of our U22 HL program is to create a fun, inclusive environment for all players — especially one that encourages them to stay active in the sport for longer.
Planning for this program has been underway for quite some time, with thoughtful input from players, coaches, parents, and league organizers, to ensure a well-rounded and effective approach.
Throughout the development process, we’ve received positive feedback from parents and players, who are excited about the direction we're taking. Now, we’re proud to say that we’re ready to launch and bring this vision to life!
With the creation of our new program, we aim to keep all athletes engaged, confident, and excited to play—for many seasons to come!
WHAT WILL A U22 HOUSE LEAGUE SEASON LOOK LIKE?
Players who register for our new U22 House League program can expect to play one game a week. There will be no practices assigned.
In total, a season will consist of between 21 to 24 games - including balancing games as required.
Games will likely be scheduled for Sunday evenings, typically between 8 and 10 p.m., with the occasional Saturday evening, and potential for weeknight games as well.
HOW MUCH WILL U22 HOUSE LEAGUE REGISTRATION FEES BE?
Registration for our inaugural season will be set at $400. There will not be any team fees required.
WILL THERE BE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY TOURNAMENTS?
There may be potential for our U22 house teams to participate in tournaments should they choose to do so. If a team decides they would like to register for a tournament, it will be up to the players and staff to coordinate. Tournament registration fees would be paid evenly by all members who choose to attend. Participation will not be mandatory.
WILL TEAMS HAVE FULL STAFF LIKE OTHER HOUSE LEAGUE TEAMS?
We are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment where everyone can enjoy the game.
We will require a minimum of two staff - one coach and one trainer to be rostered to each team. Additional volunteers may also be rostered so that teams may implement a rotation to ensure coverage.
Given that hockey is a fast-paced game, injuries can occur at every level of play. It’s important to have a trainer at every ice time who can help provide immediate medical attention, assess injuries, and determine if a player can safely continue.
HOW MANY TEAMS WILL THERE BE IN THE LEAGUE?
Based on our initial survey results, we are anticipating four teams for our inaugural season.
HOW MANY PLAYERS WILL BE ROSTERED PER TEAM?
This will depend on our final registration numbers.
We recognize that not all players will be able to attend their games every week, so it will be important to have larger rosters in order to ensure proper coverage.
With that in mind, we will be aiming for larger rosters, with a minimum of 16 players per team.
CAN MY TEAM USE AFFILIATE PLAYERS IF WE ARE SHORT FOR A GAME?
Yes! Our regular house league affiliation rules will apply, but our U22 house teams will have the ability to use pick up players from our U18 house teams. Goalies may be affiliated at level.
In the case of tournaments, teams may use players at-level, as long as they adhere to the tournament’s pick up player policy.
I ONLY WANT TO PLAY IN THIS LEAGUE IF I CAN PLAY WITH MY FRIENDS. WILL YOU BE ACCEPTING FRIEND REQUESTS?
Yes, we will be accepting one friend request per player. All requests must be mirrored (both players must request each other) in order to be considered.
It’s important to note that we will do our best to create balanced teams; however, this may not always be possible due to the added complexity of accommodating friend requests. While balance remains important to us, our initial survey results have shown that, at this level, players value the opportunity to play with friends more than having balanced teams. Considering this, our goal will be to allow mutual friend requests while still aiming for the best balance possible within those constraints.
WILL THERE BE ANY ADDITIONAL BALANCING?
Some additional balancing may be necessary once teams are formed. Our goal is to play a few initial balancing games to evaluate how evenly matched the teams are. Based on the outcomes of these games, we’ll determine if any adjustments are needed to improve overall team balance while still honouring friend requests wherever possible.
WHAT ABOUT JERSEYS?
The feedback we’ve received has shown that most players prefer to keep things simple by wearing regular white and black jerseys for games. Some players have also expressed a preference for wearing their own jerseys.
To that end, players will have the option to purchase their own jerseys, either as a new order or by wearing ones they’ve previously bought. For those who prefer not to purchase a jersey, the NGHA will provide the option to borrow a jersey for the season. This way, everyone can participate comfortably, whether they want to invest in a personal jersey or use one provided by the league.
If a player chooses to borrow a league-issued jersey, they will be expected to use it responsibly and return it in good condition. Any damages beyond normal wear and tear will be the player's responsibility and may result in a replacement or repair fee. This ensures that jerseys remain in good shape for future use by other players.
WHEN WILL THE SEASON BEGIN?
This information will be communicated to players in the coming weeks following registration, but will ultimately depend on ice availability during player pathways and sortouts for our U9 to U18 house league divisions. Once we know how many teams we will have at those other levels, we will be in a better position to communicate a start date for the U22 program.
At this time, we are estimating the season will begin with balancing games towards the end of September.
WHEN WILL THE SEASON END?
We hope to play right up to and including our regular house league championship weekend, which will be scheduled for the first weekend in March (March 7 to 8).
WILL THE LEAGUE BE RUNNING OVER THE CHRISTMAS BREAK?
No, the NGHA shuts down for a period over the holidays, so there will be no ice allocated during this time. We hope this break will give our players a chance to rest and enjoy time with their friends and family. This pause allows everyone to step away from the sport, recharge, and return refreshed for the remainder of the season. It's an important part of maintaining balance and keeping the experience enjoyable for all.
WILL THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AT THE END OF THE SEASON?
As this is our inaugural season, we view it as a learning opportunity and welcome feedback from players. Players will be provided with an opportunity to complete a survey at the end of the season. Your input will be essential in helping us identify what’s working well and where we can improve. This feedback will directly inform how we shape future seasons to create the best possible experience for everyone involved.
I’VE DECIDED TO REGISTER! WHAT’S NEXT?
Welcome! We are thrilled to have you participate in our inaugural season!
Now that you are registered, there is nothing more for you to do. We will reach out to you directly if anything further is required.
In the meantime, you can expect to receive a survey in the coming weeks touching on a variety of questions, including:
If you have any questions regarding the program, please reach out to our house league director at nghahldirector1@gmail.com.
We’re excited to launch this new program with all of you!