Open Borders and Freedom of Movement in the Ontario Hockey Federation
The Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) has announced a series of updates to its Player Movement Regulations to enhance participant experience and accessibility to better serve players and families across the province.
Beginning in the 2025–2026 season, OHF minor hockey players in the U10 age group and above will have the opportunity to participate with the association of their choice regardless of category (AAA, AA, A, BB, B).
What does this mean for you?
Any player aged 9 and older can play for any hockey club that is a member of one of the four OHF member partners: OMHA, NOHA, GTHL and Alliance. Releases and Permission to Skate (PTS) forms are a thing of the past. The Lake Ontario Region (LOR) rules no longer exist. If you want to try out for a team, you simply register for their tryout/evaluation and attend. It doesn’t matter where you live or who you played for during the last season.
What does this mean for the Waxers?
We need to continue to provide an excellent hockey experience for our players and coaches so that the Markham Waxers continue to be the place to play minor hockey.
Our focus is on providing a rich and rewarding experience for everyone involved while developing the skills, knowledge, and enjoyment of the game for both our players and our coaches. Our philosophy and goals are to develop minor hockey players and coaches in the Markham Waxers; to encourage and promote fair play, sportsmanship, and respect; and to develop a strong sense of community pride, respect and participation.
Who are the Waxers?
The Markham Waxers Hockey Club was established in 1965. We are proud to say that during the 2025-2026 season we will celebrate our 60th year of providing minor hockey programs in Markham. We are a community-based, not-for-profit organization with two paid administrative staff and hundreds of volunteers.
The Waxers provide minor hockey programming for players from age 4 through 20 at all levels from house league and select to AAA. We foster an inclusive atmosphere with the aim of making all participants feel welcome, valued, and respected. We encompass two organizations: the Markham Zone which provides AAA hockey for King, Markham, Richmond Hill, and Whitchurch Stouffville and the Markham Minor Hockey Association that provides house league, select, and rep hockey including MD, BB, A, and AA.
Program Success
The Waxers have had success on the ice, winning many championships over the years ranging from tournaments in Canada and the United States, local leagues—York Simcoe Minor Hockey League and the OMHA AAA League, OMHA Red Hats, and OHF championships. In 2024, our U18 AAA team represented Ontario in the Telus Cup.
Waxers players have been drafted to the OHL and NHL. Two players, Steven Stamkos and Michael Del Zotto, are recent Stanley Cup winners.
Coaching Excellence
Great coaches are at the heart of our program. It starts with selecting the best, but it doesn’t stop there. The Waxers are in the 16th season of providing our Coach Mentorship program, providing all coaches with the resources and support necessary to further develop their skills as minor hockey coaches. Not only does the program technically strengthen our coaching body, but it also provides our coaches with the opportunity for personal growth and development while fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie between our coaches.
We have a mix of parent and non-parent coaches. Most non-parent coaches and their staff receive some form of compensation. Parent coaches do not receive compensation.
We believe in coach stability, especially at younger age groups, and only make changes when necessary.
We host an anonymous parent and player survey annually each November to provide feedback on the current season and gain understanding on how we can improve our programming.
Player development
The Waxers have made long-term player development a priority. Through this program, players and goaltenders can attend specialty clinics and camps throughout the hockey season focusing on specific skills and allowing them to further practice, develop, and enhance their fundamental hockey skills in a positive, learning environment. Sessions are age and level specific (where appropriate) and run by qualified instructors, coaches, and/or members of our Hockey Development Program.
Program Highlights
- Implementation/Offering of Hockey Canada designed specialty clinics.
- Adopting Hockey Canada's Long Term Development Player Model.
- Low coach-to-player ratio for all clinics/skill sessions.
- Structured progression for skill development and team tactics.
- Promoting and providing additional opportunity for players to develop and practice the fundamental skills required for their age and level.
Leadership and Financial Excellence
We have a long standing and reputable volunteer board of directors. Most of the board are non-parents with years of minor hockey governance experience.
The club’s financials are strong. We track and report on the association’s finances at the monthly board meetings. Our treasurer reviews team budgets three times per season to ensure financial integrity.
We hold Annual General Meeting (AGM) for each organization each year to present financials, new initiatives, and governance reports.
Team Budgets
The Waxers have safeguards in place to ensure the financial integrity of the association’s team budgets. We have team budget templates and examples for each age category.
Teams pay an assessment fee to the association which covers administrative fees, insurance, uniforms, and ice for one game slot and a minimum of one one-hour practice slot each week. Teams have the freedom and flexibility to add more weekly practice slots based on their own team budgets. Teams are also free to invest in their own development with skill instructors, off-ice training, etc.
Codes of Conduct
The Waxers organization is committed to providing an environment in which all individuals feel welcome, valued, and are treated with respect. Members and participants of the Waxers sign a Code of Conduct indicating that they will conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the values of the Waxers which include fairness, integrity, and mutual respect at all times.
Extras
Then there are the extras that make the Waxers stand out above the rest.
- Senior’s Day
A special day-long event hosted each February to honour and thank our graduating U18 BB, A, and AA players.
- Year-End Banquet
A special evening that brings all our rep players—from MD to AAA and U8 through U18—together to celebrate each other and the season’s accomplishments. One player from each team is awarded the team’s Most Improved Player and Character awards. We recognize one team for their outstanding volunteer work in the community over the course of the season with our Community Appreciation award (this is a hotly contested award!). We recognize our long-standing coaches, referees, and timekeepers. Players who have played with the Waxers for five seasons are awarded a five-year pin and graduating U18 players are recognized. Our outstanding volunteer is awarded the Scott Badali Volunteer of the Year award. The Julianna Kozis award recognizes an individual Waxer who has embraced adversity and overcome challenges throughout the season.
- Neil Bullock Scholarship
We present the Neil Bullock Scholarship, an annual $500 bursary for post-secondary education, for which all U18 players are eligible to apply.
- Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
Coaches and team staff are recognized and thanked at our annual volunteer dinner. Outstanding coaches in each category are awarded the Paul Giallonardo Coach of the Year award.
Why play for the Waxers?
- Strong community ties
- History of excellence and success
- Player and coach development
- Community involvement
- Respectful environment
- Strong leadership
- Financial integrity
Where you play matters, come join the Waxers—The Player's Choice!