Bauer, Canadian Tire and Hockey Canada are pleased to announce the launch of the 2017-18 application process for the Canadian Tire First Shift program. Since the inception of the program in the spring of 2014, more than 270 programs have been held, with more than 10,000 children trying hockey for the first time.
Minor hockey associations are encouraged to review the application criteria and submit an online application if they wish to be selected as a host community for fall 2017 or winter 2018.
The
Canadian Tire First Shift is a program designed to ease kids and their families into the sport of hockey in a fun and welcoming environment. It is open to boys and girls ages 6-10 years old, who have never registered to play hockey. The registration fee is $199 for each participant and includes:
- A Welcome Event – information, education, and an equipment fitting session;
- Six ‘Learn to Play’ ice sessions designed by Hockey Canada;
- A complete set of Bauer gear including: helmet combo (with facemask), shoulder pads, elbow pads, neck guard, shorts with jock/jill, pants, hockey socks, shin guards, jersey, gloves, stick and skates.
For minor hockey associations, the Canadian Tire First Shift offers:
-The opportunity to bring new families into your hockey community, and increase
membership
-Hockey Canada support
o on-ice programming
o instructor criteria and education
o welcome event execution support
o on-going program support
o a new management portal enabling complete control of registrations and forms
for host minor hockey associations in real time
-Bauer Support
o welcome event execution
o promotional program support
o positive media exposure
o head-to-toe equipment for participants
o a coach kit, including gloves, stick, helmet and training suit
The minor hockey association application process timeline will be as follows:
-February 8, 2017: Application process opens at www.thefirstshift.ca.
February – April :
-May 1, 2017: Selected host minor hockey associations to be notified by Hockey Canada
-June 1, 2017: Online participant registration opens
-October – November: Fall welcome events
-January – February: Winter welcome events
If you have any questions, please contact:
Ludovic Lord
Manager, Recruitment Initiatives
[email protected]