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Program Finder • Overview • FAQs • Contact

NORTH TORONTO IS YOUR CHILD’S PERFECT LAUNCHING PAD INTO THE SPORT OF HOCKEY

Hockey Program Finder

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Just make the selections below to find the perfect program for your child.

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Skill Level*
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“I like playing hockey with my friends but I’m faster!”
— Charlie K., Age 5

LTP-Main

Why Hockey?

  • As the fastest team sport on the planet, hockey offers kids a fun and high-energy physical activity that does not involve any electronics!
  • Hockey participation provides children and their families with a deep and extensive connection to their community. Hockey friendships can last a lifetime.
  • Hockey players learn important life skills such as respect, teamwork, leadership, resiliency and the tremendous value of learning how to practice and rehearse for success.
  • Hockey provides considerable physical benefits to cardiovascular health, strength, flexibility and endurance.
  • Hockey continually develops a young child’s critical psycho-motor abilities including balance, agility, power, speed and coordination.
  • Hockey continually exercises a young child’s brain with analytic and predictive cognitive challenges involving multiple fast-moving variables. (Shh! — the kids don’t know it but every hockey game is a actually a lesson in physics!).

Why North Toronto?

  • Since 1965 we have been this community’s home for hockey. We have served over 30,000 players with a wide range of high-quality programs for children of all ages and abilities. Through a combination of dedicated volunteers and professional instructors unique in the City of Toronto, our players receive the best instruction available in a large and dynamic community setting that creates lasting memories and friendships.
  • North Toronto is a Hockey Canada sanctioned non-profit organization that is required to ensure all coaches and instructors are properly insured and certified and undergo police background checks. We follow all the rules and recommendations of our sport’s national and local governing bodies.
  • For-profit private hockey schools are not obligated to follow any rules, codes or development programming nor to obtain any certifications or insurance.
  • Our development pathway is designed to adapt to every child regardless of when they enter hockey and it offers multiple growth opportunities as they become more skilled.
  • Our players get the exclusive opportunity to play at high-quality local ice facilities conveniently located in the midtown area, including the classic North Toronto Memorial Arena with its famous Hot Dogs. It’s all centrally located for the convenience of busy families.

I still have questions!

5 FAQs Answered

"Our family has no experience with hockey. The skates and the equipment and the rules are all a mystery. Is this a problem?"
  • Absolutely not. Our dedicated volunteers and instructors ensure that all children and their parents become familiar with skates/equipment and the basic procedures of helping a child get on and off the ice. In a few short weeks, everyone knows exactly what to do and it’s fun to learn.
  • The only requirement to enter our Learn to Play program is that children be able to stand on skates, get up on their own if they fall, and have some ability to walk or stride around the ice.
  • If your child has not skated before, a learn to skate program with the North Toronto Skating Club would help get these basic skills prior to learning hockey.
"Is hockey safe?"
  • Young children rarely get hurt playing hockey because they wear full equipment from head to toe, they have smaller bodies and their speeds are relatively slower.
  • There is no body checking allowed in any programming except at the highest competitive levels for player over age 13.
  • North Toronto is one of the only minor hockey clubs in the city with an in-house Player Safety Committee. This committee is dedicated to education and policies around injury prevention and, in the case of concussions, detection and return-to-play protocols.
  • As with any sport, injuries are always possible and teaching players how to skate and behave properly is an important part of prevention. If a child does get injured, the experience of recovery and return to sport becomes an important life lesson.
"How much does it cost?"
  • The initial investment in equipment for a beginner child can cost from $250-$400 and is available from the North Toronto Arena Pro Shop or our Authorized Apparel provider Majer Hockey.
  • Learn to Play and House League Programs cost $750 for a full season which includes all sessions, a custom jersey and paid, professional instructors for House League divisions under 11 years old. Check individual program pages for complete details and more inclusions.
  • A cup of steaming hot chocolate costs $1.50 and fries are just $3.00 at the North Toronto Arena Snack Bar!
"Is your hockey programming just for boys? What about girls?"
  • All girls are welcome and many are currently involved in our programming at all levels.
  • Most girls benefit tremendously from undifferentiated hockey participation with boys.
  • Some of our female graduates have earned hockey scholarships to U.S. and Canadian universities.
  • As girls get older, they are provided with safe, separate change room facilities.
"I have heard that hockey is really competitive and that people sometimes go crazy? Is this true?"
  • In the past few years, hockey programming for young children has evolved dramatically and is focussed on providing young children with a fun community experience that maximizes ice time and skills development.
  • The ratio of skills development to games is 2:1 or higher in all our programming for kids under 9.
  • In games played by children under 9 years old we do not keep scores, standings, or statistics. There are no elimination playoffs and all players continue until the last day of the season.
  • North Toronto is a leader in the hockey community and we work very hard to encourage a culture of respect and integrity with all our Members (players, parents, coaches, volunteers). All are required to follow our comprehensive Code of Conduct
  • Absolutely not. Our dedicated volunteers and instructors ensure that all children and their parents become familiar with skates/equipment and the basic procedures of helping a child get on and off the ice. In a few short weeks, everyone knows exactly what to do and it’s fun to learn.
  • The only requirement to enter our Learn to Play program is that children be able to stand on skates, get up on their own if they fall, and have some ability to walk or stride around the ice.
  • If your child has not skated before, a learn to skate program with the North Toronto Skating Club would help get these basic skills prior to learning hockey.
  • Young children rarely get hurt playing hockey because they wear full equipment from head to toe, they have smaller bodies and their speeds are relatively slower.
  • There is no body checking allowed in any programming except at the highest competitive levels for player over age 13.
  • North Toronto is one of the only minor hockey clubs in the city with an in-house Player Safety Committee. This committee is dedicated to education and policies around injury prevention and, in the case of concussions, detection and return-to-play protocols.
  • As with any sport, injuries are always possible and teaching players how to skate and behave properly is an important part of prevention. If a child does get injured, the experience of recovery and return to sport becomes an important life lesson.
  • The initial investment in equipment for a beginner child can cost from $250-$400. Equipment is available from retailers such as the North Toronto Arena Pro Shop and Majer Hockey.
  • Learn to Play and House League Programs cost $750 for a full season which includes all sessions, a custom jersey and paid, professional instructors for House League divisions under 11 years old. Check individual program pages for complete details and more inclusions.
  • A cup of steaming hot chocolate costs $1.50 and fries are just $3.00 at the North Toronto Arena Snack Bar!
  • All girls are welcome and many are currently involved in our programming at all levels.
  • Most girls benefit tremendously from undifferentiated hockey participation with boys.
  • Some of our female graduates have earned hockey scholarships to U.S. and Canadian universities.
  • As girls get older, they are provided with safe, separate change room facilities.
  • In the past few years, hockey programming for young children has evolved dramatically and is focussed on providing young children with a fun community experience that maximizes ice time and skills development.
  • The ratio of skills development to games is 2:1 or higher in all our programming for kids under 9.
  • In games played by children under 9 years old we do not keep scores, standings, or statistics. There are no elimination playoffs and all players continue until the last day of the season.
  • North Toronto is a leader in the hockey community and we work very hard to encourage a culture of respect and integrity with all our Members (players, parents, coaches, volunteers). All are required to follow our comprehensive Code of Conduct.

Still have questions?

Contact Us

North Toronto Hockey offers many programs, so it’s hard to know who to reach out to sometimes. To chat with someone who can answer your questions, please email hl@nthockey.ca. We look forward to hearing from you!

Full List of Contacts

President – NTHA: president@nthockey.ca
Registration: registrar@nthockey.ca
House League & Learn to Play Program: hl@nthockey.ca
Skills & LTP: natali.robinson@nthockey.ca
CDS Program: cds@nthockey.ca
Select Program: select@nthockey.ca
GTHL Program: gthl@nthockey.ca
Head of Referees: referee@nthockey.ca
Sponsorship: sponsorship@nthockey.ca
Coaching: coaching@nthockey.ca
Volunteers: volunteer@nthockey.ca
Alumni and Recognition: greenwall@nthockey.ca

174 Orchardview Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1C3