What are the different levels of competitive hockey available to my child?
In London, there are three levels of competitive hockey available to your child:
AAA
- AAA is the highest level of competitive hockey in London.
- The AAA program is offered in London only by the London Junior Knights for U10 to U18 players.
- There is one team per age division that is made up of players from across the city.
- Tryouts for AAA hockey are held in the spring and players must register through the London Junior Knights organization
- Teams play league games with the Alliance Hockey area from Windsor to KW
- Teams U10 to U13 are non-contact. U14 and above allow body contact.
Seeded Hockey (AA/A)
- Seeded hockey is the second highest level of competitive hockey available in London.
- Seeded hockey is offered by the London Junior Knights and the London Junior Mustangs for U10 to U18 players
- The London Junior Knights have two seeded teams per division
- GLHA Jr Mustangs will have two seeded teams per division
- All seeded teams within Alliance play each other until December and then are declared either “A” or “AA” for the second half of the season
- Tryouts for seeded hockey are held in the spring and players must register through the London Junior Knights or London Junior Mustangs organizations
- Teams play league games with the Alliance Hockey area from Sarnia to Burlington
- Teams U10 to U13 are non-contact. U14 and above allow body contact.
Minor Development Hockey (MD) and BB/B hockey
- Minor Development (MD) and BB/B hockey are the first levels of competitive hockey
- U8 and U9 teams are considered MD hockey and U10 to U18 teams are considered BB/B teams
- U8 and U9 teams will play half ice hockey for U8 and until January of the U9 season
- MD and BB/B hockey is only available via the through the four GLHA associations
- All BB/B teams within Alliance play each other until December and then are declared either “B” or “BB” for the second half of the season
- All MD and BB/B hockey is non-contact
- Tryouts for MD and BB/B hockey are run by the four GLHA associations and players register based on the boundaries outlined by the GLHA
- MD and BB/B teams generally practice twice weekly and play one game to two games
- Teams play league games with the Alliance Hockey area from Sarnia to Burlington
London also has a very large and robust House League program
- House league is offered for players from U8 to U21
- All games are played within the city of London against other
- Each local GLHA association offers multiple teams depending on registration numbers
- All house league hockey is non-contact
- Players can register at the GLHA association of their choice
- House league teams from U8-U15 practice once per week and play one game per week.
- House league teams U16-U21 play one game per week
- House league teams are permitted to play in tournaments throughout the year
Is competitive hockey more expensive the house league hockey?
- Yes, there are additional costs associated with competitive hockey
- Competitive teams are on the ice more often than house league teams and have additional team expenses. The associations charge a competitive surcharge to cover ice and other costs provided by the association.
- Teams may wish to purchase additional ice or go on tournaments. These costs would be managed by the team and a budget for families is established at the beginning of each season
- Many competitive teams fundraise to cover some or all of these additional costs
Are there additional costs for House League teams?
- Most house league teams also chose to attend tournaments throughout the season which come at an additional cost
- Many teams fundraise to cover some or all of these additional costs