Hamilton, ON - June 3rd was the day that registration opened for the 2024-25 First Shift programs across the country and like all other program hosts, Dwayne Sterling, President of the Chedoke Minor Hockey Association was hoping to have a successful sign up for the locally hosted Fall session.
However, never did he imagine that Chedoke would be the first program in the nation to fill all of their First Shift spaces within only 22 minutes of registration opening!
"Usually by the end of the first day of registration opening, most programs are still looking for players. Chedoke was lucky enough to have 30 registrants, including 9 female players sign up within 22 minutes of registration opening," noted Sterling.
For the second consecutive season, the First Shift program hosted by Chedoke MHA sold out the Fall program. With a waiting list in place, Chedoke’s First Shift program was granted permission to expand from 30 to 45 players for the upcoming season.
"Last year Chedoke hosted the First Shift for the first time in many years and the smiles on the players faces indicated just how much fun they were having learning the game. It was amazing! We can't wait for the new Fall session!"
The NHL/NHLPA First Shift is open to children, between the ages of 6 and 10 years old*, who have never previously enrolled in minor hockey within Canada or the NHL/NHLPA First Shift program. (*To be eligible to participate, children must be born between January 1, 2013 and May 1, 2019.)
Congratulations Chedoke MHA on being the first to sell out the Fall session and we look forward to watching the journey of all the Fist Shift participants this season!
Programs hosted by ALLIANCE Hockey Member Associations:
| HOST |
SEASON |
PROGRAM |
| BMHA - Brantford |
Fall |
Coed |
| BLOMHA - Burlington |
Fall |
Coed |
| Coronation - Hamilton |
Fall |
Coed |
| Rosedale - Hamilton |
Winter |
Coed |
| Chedoke - Hamilton |
Fall - SOLD OUT |
Coed |
| GLHA - London |
Fall |
Coed |
| SHA - Sarnia |
Fall |
Coed |
| CYO - St. Catharines |
Fall & Winter |
Coed
|
CLICK TO REGISTER FOR THE FIRST SHIFT
About First Shift:
The NHL/NHLPA First Shift is a program designed to ease kids and their families into the sport of hockey in a fun and friendly environment. We begin with a Welcome Event offering information and activities to help build kids’ confidence to make them and their parents more comfortable in the hockey environment. There are 6 sessions – one per week on the same day, at the same time to make it convenient for parents to schedule. The focus of the on ice sessions is fun, teaching kids basic skating and fundamental hockey skills through play.
The Transition Program is intended to provide families a path forward to ensure continued participation in hockey. Following the initial 6-week On-Ice Trial, families will have the opportunity to participate in a program hosted by the Minor Hockey Association. Details will vary slightly from location to location and program to program, but the parameters of every offering will fall in line with the key principles of the NHL/NHLPA First Shift. The Hockey Canada on-ice curriculum is progressive; moving from a Learn to Play, through the fundamentals of skating and hockey skills, on to a 3 on 3 play environment.