Programs

Programs

Program Information

The Kanata Girls Hockey Association (KGHA) offers a variety of programs designed to meet the needs of players of all skill levels and ages. See below for an overview of each program. 

KGHA is committed to fostering a positive, respectful environment for all players, coaches, officials, and families. We value teamwork, fair play, and a love of the game!

First Shift

First Shift is a learn-to-play hockey program designed for girls who are new to the game. It focuses on fun, safety, and basic skills—no experience required! The program includes head-to-toe equipment and six on-ice sessions with certified coaches.

• Who It's For: Girls aged 6-10 who are new to hockey (who have never registered with a minor hockey association in the past)
• What’s Included: Full equipment, professional fitting session, and 6 on-ice sessions
• Goal: To introduce hockey in a fun, supportive, and welcoming environment
• Additional Costs: Second Shift is offered as an additional 6-week extension program at an additional cost.  
• Notes:  KGHA has applied to host a First Shift spring program starting in March 2026 and will offer a 6-week extension program (Second Shift) after the first 6-week learn-to-play sessions.

Registration will open June 2nd, 2025; the program begins in March 2026.  To learn more or to register, visit firstshift.ca.  

Junior FUNdamentals (U7 - Timbits)

An ideal introduction to hockey for young girls to learn skating, make friends, and—most importantly—have fun!

• Who It's For: Girls aged 5-6 (girls as young as 4 by December 31st may register)
• Practices: 2 sessions/week (Saturday & Sunday) focused on skating and puck-handling skills
• Games: Cross-ice scrimmages, local jamboree, and potential exhibition games
• Additional Costs: Small team collection for end-of-season party and team activities
• Notes: Season typically begins at the end of September / early October and runs until March.  Program is based on Hockey Canada’s U7 Player Pathways
  
  

Youth House League (U9, U11, U13, U15, U18)

A recreational program for girls who want to play hockey in a fun and supportive environment.  Teams receive two ice times per week typically one on Saturday and one on Sunday.

• Who It's For: Girls at all skill levels looking to play recreational hockey
• Games: ~1 league game/week, league playoffs and championship games
•  U9 follows half-ice play until Jan. 15 then transitions to full ice games as per Hockey Canada guidelines
• Number of games played depend on the age division and number of teams at this division
• Practices: Typically a minimum of 1 practice/week (2 practices if no game that week)
• Tournaments: Up to 3 per season, local and/or out of town, including our home tournament in March
• Additional Costs: May include fundraising, sponsorships, or parent contributions for extra ice time, tournaments, and travel expenses not covered by registration fees.
• Sort-Outs Begin: Early to mid-September
• Notes:  House league is not tiered.  Players are evaluated and sorted in a way to balance all of the teams.
  
  

Development Stream (DS) -(U11, U13, U15)

A subset of House league, DS is an enhanced development opportunity for house league players seeking more challenge and competition.

• Who It's For:
• Players aspiring to transition to competitive hockey
• Players wanting more development without the full commitment of competitive play
• Team Structure: Players remain on their house league team and are also rostered to a DS team
• Games: Up to 8 DS league games
• Practices: 1 or more per week
• Tournaments: Up to 3 (local or out-of-town)
• Additional Costs: All costs (ice, tournaments, travel) are covered by the team since no separate registration fees are collected by the league for DS
• Season Runs: Early November through April
• Notes:  Players are selected via a tryout process.

Youth Competitive Tier I

• Appeals to: girls wanting to play at the highest level of hockey, and who are prepared to make hockey their primary extracurricular activity
• Games: 20 ODWHA league games. Exhibition games throughout the season. ODWHA Playoffs. OWHA Playdowns.
• Practices: typically 2 to 3 sessions per week, on and off-ice
• Tournaments: typically play in 5 to 6 tournaments, four to five of which will be overnight, plus Provincials in mid-April if qualify in regional Playdowns
• Additional costs: teams seek sponsors, fundraise, and or collect additional fees from parents to cover additional ice time, tournaments, and other team costs that are not covered by registration fees. Parents/players cover their own costs associated with travel, accommodations, and food when away from home. There are tryout fees as well.
• Tryouts: May for Bantam and Midget AA. Weekend and week prior to Labour Day weekend.

Youth Competitive Tier II

• Appeals to: girls working towards playing at the highest level of hockey, who are prepared to make hockey their primary extracurricular activity
• Games: 20 ODWHA league games. Exhibition games throughout the season. ODWHA Playoffs. OWHA Playdowns.
• Practices: typically 2 to 3 sessions per week, on and off-ice
• Tournaments: typically play in 4 to 5 tournaments per season, 2 or 3 of which will be overnight/away, plus Provincials mid-April if qualify in regional Playdowns
• Additional costs: teams seek sponsors, fundraise, and or collect additional fees from parents to cover additional ice time, tournaments, and other team costs that are not covered by registration fees. Parents/players cover their own costs associated with travel, accommodations, and food when away from home. There are tryout fees.
• Tryouts: the week after Labour Day.

Youth Competitive Tier III

• Appeals to: girls wanting to play competitive hockey, who are willing to make hockey a top priority, that have either not been selected to a higher level team, or have chosen not to compete to play in one
• Game: twenty league games. Exhibition games throughout the season. ODWHA Playoffs. OWHA Playdowns.
• Practices: typically two hours per week, on and off-ice
• Tournaments: Typically play in four to five tournaments per season, two to three of which will be overnight/away, plus Provincials mid-April if qualify in regional Playdowns
• Additional costs: Teams seek sponsors, fundraise, and or collect additional fees from parents to cover additional ice time, tournaments, and other team costs that are not covered by registration fees. Parents/players cover their own costs associated with travel, accommodations, and food when away from home. There are tryout fees.
• Tryouts: follow Tier II, typically the second weekend of September

Ottawa Senators Hi Performance Teams

• Appeals to: girls wanting to play hockey at the very highest level, against national and international competition
• Games: Intermediate AA - 38 League games across the province. Bantam & Midget AA - 20 ODWHA league games.  Exhibition games throughout the season, some of which may be against college/university teams. PWHL & ODWHA Playoffs. OWHA Playdowns.
• Practices: Typically 2 two-hour practices per week, 2 hours of on and off-ice conditioning
• Tournaments: Expect to play in seven to ten tournaments, six to eight of which may be overnight, plus Provincials in mid-April if they qualify in regional playdowns.
• Additional costs: teams seek sponsors, fundraise, and or collect additional fees from parents to cover additional ice time, tournaments, and other team costs that are not covered by registration fees. Parents/players cover their own costs associated with travel, accommodations, and food when away from home. There are tryout fees.
• Tryouts: spring tryouts, typically in April.

Contacts

Program inquiry:

• Jr. Fun (U7), House League (U9-U18), and DS:  vphouse@kgha.ca
• Youth Tier I, II, III, and High Performance:  vpcompetitive@kgha.ca

Registration:  registrar@kgha.ca