It’s September and time for hockey—almost!
We all miss hockey and want to get back on the ice as soon as possible. Waxers hockey will return later this month, but it won’t look like it normally does. Thank you for your patience as we work to get your children back on the ice. The health and safety of our players, coaching staff, and volunteers remains our highest priority. While current circumstances don’t allow us to offer normal hockey programming, we are offering a program that focuses on fun, fitness, and skill development.
The Waxers Return to Play protocol is in accordance with the safety protocols of our governing bodies—Hockey Canada (HC), the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF), and the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA)—as well as the City of Markham and the York Public Health Unit (PHU).
Key Dates
See Registration section below for full details.
| September 9 |
Registration (rep & house league) opens |
| September 16 |
Rep registration closes |
| September 23 |
House league registration closes |
| September 28 |
Rep on-ice development begins |
| October 13 |
House league on-ice development begins |
Background
We are in Stage 3B of the OHF Return to Hockey Framework and OMHA Return to Play Framework. In Stage 3B, we can offer registration and modified game play (no physical contact) following an initial two-week development period. All game play must be within our local PHU and conducted in conjunction with the local PHU and facility rules for the purpose of sanitation and physical distancing. Registration is limited to players who played with the Waxers or UMHA during the 2019-2020 season, those who are new to hockey, or those returning to their residence association.
As we’ve all experienced during this pandemic, plans are subject to change. We may have to adjust our program if we move into different stages in the province or our public health unit.
General Program Framework (Rep & House League)
See the Rep Program and House League Program sections below for details specific to each.
- To limit participants’ risk of exposure to COVID-19, after September 30, 2020, Waxers players may not participate on any other hockey team (sanctioned or non-sanctioned) while registered with the Waxers. Failure to comply will result in immediate dismissal from the team with no refund of fees.
Read the OHF Policy on Non-Sanctioned Leagues Operating Outside the Auspices of Hockey Canada Programming for details and definitions.
- Two-week development phase, followed by modified play
- Modified 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 game play with no physical contact per OHF guidelines
Download the OHF Game Play Structure (Appendix E of the OHF Return to Hockey Framework)
Download the OHF Rules for 3-on-3, 4-on-4 (Appendix F of the OHF Return to Hockey Framework)
- Rosters will consist of ten players for 3-on-3 or nine players for 4-on-4.
- Bench staff will include a minimum of one certified coach and one certified trainer.
- Tiered divisions (bubbles) will be limited to 50 players for the duration of the season. Players will not cross divisions/bubbles.
- One-hour practice and one-hour game per week
- Physical distancing must be maintained at all times. This means no intentional contact between players on the ice, on the bench, or anywhere in the facility.
- The City of Markham, under provincial guidelines, limits the number of people in a facility at any one time. At best, you can expect only one parent/guardian will be allowed to enter the arena with their child. We are working with the City of Markham to clarify this requirement and will post an update as soon as it is available.
- No access to change rooms. Players will come dressed and put on their skates in socially distanced areas. Goalies can come dressed except for pads and skates.
- Safety protocols will be put into place, including screening of all participants (players and spectators) prior to every game and practice, tracking all participants at each game and practice, and immediately notifying each member of any confirmed or suspected cases within their bubble.
These plans are subject to change as the stages and regulations of our governing bodies change.
Schedule
We are working with the City of Markham to create a schedule for the season. Not all City arenas are open or anticipated to open this season. With fewer rinks available, days may be extended and there will be an increase in ice times that start earlier and end later than we’d like. While not ideal, using these early and late timeslots enables as many participants as possible to take part in the modified programming. As always, we will do our best to distribute ice times as fairly as possible.
We hope to have a draft schedule in the next couple of weeks.
Calling all Coaches and Trainers
We need you now more than ever! Given the increase in number of teams, we anticipate needing nearly twice as many coaches and trainers as normal. Please register to volunteer.
Registration
Registration for both house league and rep programming will open on September 9. Registration for rep will close on September 16 and registration for house league will close on September 23.
Due to current regulations and limited ice availability, there are fewer spots than usual available in house league. If you intend to play, please register early.
Waxers House League Special Requests will be accepted, but are NOT guaranteed this year.
How to determine at which level to register your child
The level at which you should register for the 2020-2021 season is dependent upon the level at which you played during the 2019-2020 season. It is not the level you wanted to try out at this year. Please refer to the chart below prior to registering your child to ensure you register in the right place.
If you have any questions, please email us.
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Level Played 2019-2020
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Level for Registration 2020-2021
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HCR Registration System Page Title1
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House League
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House League
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Markham Waxers House League
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House League Select Teams
Initiation through Midget
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House League
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Markham Waxers House League
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Minor Novice Select
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House League
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Markham Waxers House League
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AE/MD2/A/AA
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AE-AA
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Markham/Unionville
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AAA
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AAA
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Markham Zone
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UMHA House League
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House League
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Markham Waxers House League
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UMHA Jets
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House League
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Markham Waxers House League
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UMHA Minor Novice Select
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House League
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Markham Waxers House League
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1The title at the top of the page when you enter the Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) Registration system.
2MD stands for Minor Development and only refers to teams in the U14 (Minor Bantam), U15 (Bantam), U16 (Minor Midget), and U18 (Midget) age groups.
Rep Program (Modified Program for Stage 3)
- No tryouts.
- No tournaments.
- Registration is limited to those players who played on a Waxers rep team in 2019-2020 or those who played rep level hockey elsewhere but are returning to the Waxers as their residence association. Rep players who did not play for the Waxers in the 2019-2020 season but are returning to Markham as their residence association for this season, will not be guaranteed a position on a rep team.
- Rosters will consist of nine skaters and one dedicated goalie for 3-on-3 or eight skaters and one dedicated goalie for 4-on-4.
- Bench staff will include one certified coach and one certified trainer.
- Players from last year’s AE/MD/A/AA rep teams will be grouped into divisions for game play and distributed between teams to balance the divisions. Last season’s category and evaluation by coaches, Hockey Development, and executive will all be considered for player placement. In some age groups, players may be merged to facilitate team balancing.
- Divisions (bubbles) will be limited to 50 players. Players will not cross divisions/bubbles.
- Players will play one one-hour game per week.
- Weeks one and two will be development skates. Players will be evaluated to be placed at the right level and to create balanced teams for 3-on-3 or 4-on-4.
- Initially, AE/MD/A/AA games will be played within our association, no traditional rep travel hockey. Games may be played against other OMHA centres within our PHU when allowed.
- We are exploring options for AAA teams to play games against Richmond Hill and York Simcoe Express as both are within our PHU.
- Games will be a modified 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 game play with no physical contact per OHF guidelines.
- Practices will be full rep team practices, e.g., U11A team, not the 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 team. This will allow for better development. Selection to the full team will be based primarily on the team played for in the 2019-2020 season. There may be some movement of players between levels based on evaluation by coaches, Hockey Development, and executive.
House League Program (Modified Program for Stage 3)
- Registration is limited to those players who played Waxers House League or UMHA during the 2019-2020 season or those who are new to hockey and reside in the City of Markham.
- Rosters will consist of ten players for 3-on-3 or nine players for 4-on-4.
- Bench staff will include one certified coach and one certified trainer.
- Players will be evaluated during the two-week development phase. Following that, teams will be drafted by our coaches with input from our convenors, Hockey Development team, and VP House League. In some age groups, players may be merged to facilitate team balancing.
- Divisions (bubbles) will consist of four to six teams and will be limited to 50 players. Players will not cross divisions/bubbles.
- Players will play one game per week and practice once per week. Minor Bantam and older divisions may play twice per week with no practice.
- Games will be a modified 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 game play with no physical contact.
- Select hockey will not be permitted due to current public health regulations.
Protocols at City of Markham Arenas
Download the City of Markham’s handout What to expect for your rental.
Entry
At present, the City of Markham allows 25 people in a facility for each rental. No spectators are allowed in the building. We are working with the City of Markham to clarify this requirement and will post an update as soon as it is available. We are working toward allowing one parent/guardian per player allowed in the arena while their child is on the ice.
Masks
The City of Markham requires that everyone must wear a mask while in their facilities. You cannot enter the arena without a mask. Players will remove their mask when they put on their helmet, if they maintain social distancing.
Covid-19 Screening and Tracking
All participants will complete health screening prior to each session. It will involve answering a series of questions and providing contact tracing information. Download the Health Screening Questionnaire and Session Tracking sheet. In addition, the City of Markham requires that each participant complete a one-time COVID-19 Acknowledgement, Waiver and Indemnification.
Change Rooms
Change rooms are closed. There is no access to change rooms for any reason.
Getting Dressed
Players will arrive at the arena fully dressed except for skates. Physical distancing will be maintained while putting on skates and while waiting to go on the ice. Goalies will arrive dressed except for pads and skates, which can be put on inside the facility.
Water Bottles
Players will provide their own, filled water bottle and carry it on and off the ice. Water bottles may not be shared, and water stations will not be open inside the facility.
We truly live in interesting times. Working together, we can make the best of the situation for our kids. Let’s focus on teamwork, friendship, and the joy that hockey brings to all of us. If we do that, we can enjoy a fun-filled season on the ice.
Do you have a question or concern? Please ask, we want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].
Stay safe. We look forward to seeing you in the rink soon!
Markham Waxers Executive
