Season Overview:
Our House League teams from U9 to U18 participate in the Simcoe Muskoka Girls Hockey League (SMGHL). The SMGHL season includes an 18-games between teams in Barrie, Midland, Collingwood, Orillia and Huntsville. SMGHL season starts at the end of September/early October and runs until mid March. The SMGHL Championships will be held on the last weekend of the season near the end of March.
2024/2025 Coaches
We are pleased to announce our House League Coaches for the upcoming 2024/2025 season.
U7 Craig Bowers
U9 Ashton Thornton, Brent Couling, David Churchill, Kent Pearce
U11 Nadia Broley, John Wiles
U13 Melanie Rahn, Mark Thomas, Steve Brown, Alex Hoffman
U15 Chad Hutcheon, Steve Brown
U18 Rob Dixon, Cliff Eastman
We still have some open teams. If you are interested, please reach out to the Director of Youth House League at [email protected]
Open Teams: U7 1 position, U11 2 positions, U15 2 positions, U18 1 position
Click here to review the Start of Season information, including the schedule for Pre-Season Development session, and Evaluation Skates.
Our U9 division will follow the OWHA / Hockey Canada Player Development Pathway, including playing half-ice games from September to December. Click here for more information
2024-25 House League Overview & Fees
|
Category
|
Birth Years
|
Practices
|
Games
|
Fee
|
|
U9*
|
2016, 2017
|
20
(18 practices
+ 2 pre-skate)
|
18 Regular Season
+ Championships
|
$820.00
|
|
U11
|
2014, 2015
|
20
(18 practices
+ 2 pre-skate)
|
18 Regular Season
+ Championships
|
$820.00
|
|
U13
|
2012, 2013
|
20
(18 practices
+ 2 pre-skate)
|
18 Regular Season
+ Championships
|
$870.00
|
|
U15
|
2010, 2011
|
20
(18 practices
+ 2 pre-skate)
|
18 Regular Season
+ Championships
|
$870.00
|
|
U18
|
2007, 2008, 2009
|
8
(7 practices
+ 1 pre-skate)
|
18 Regular Season
+ Championships
|
$780.00
|
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION NOTES:
- Payments can be made in two installments 50% at registration, and 50% on September 1.
- A $25 late registration fee will be added to all registrations after September 1
- Players who are not residents of the City of Barrie or Springwater Township must also choose the NON-RESIDENT FEE package when registering. Failure to select this package where required could result in late fees or other penalties.
Refund Policy: All registrations include a NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT that covers each player’s portion of league overhead and administration costs, OWHA registration and Hockey Canada insurance fees, and player jerseys and socks. This amount is 100% non-refundable once the players have been assigned to a team. Please review the BWHA’s refund policy for the 2024-2025 season
Included as part of your BWHA House League fees:
- 18 games per team – half as home games, half as away games vs. SMGHL opponents
- Practices (18 practices sessions for each player at U9, U11, U13 and U15, and 7 practices for U18 players)
- Pre-season development skates (2 sessions for each player at U9, U11, U13 and U15, 1 session for U18 players)
- Up to 2 games on Championship Weekend at the end of the season
- Team entry fees for the BWHA Family Day Winter Classic Tournament (4-game minimum)
- Team jersey and matching socks for each player
House League Player Eligibility:
- All House League players must participate in the scheduled Evaluation Skates. (Health exceptions for those unable to participate will be considered on a case-by-case basis - please contact [email protected] for more info)
- FRIEND REQUESTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
- House League registration is open to ALL players, regardless of the association they were registered with or the level they played in the 2023-2024 season.
- Non-BWHA players: any player who was a member of another OWHA association or team in 2023-24 (or before) will require a valid release from their former association. Registration with the BWHA will trigger a release from the player’s previous association and transfer of their membership to the BWHA. Players must ensure that all requirements for release from their previous association are met.
- Players who have previously played with an Ontario Minor Hockey Association team are eligible for registration, with no further action required, so long as they have never been registered with an OWHA association - otherwise a release will be required.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Where are House League games played?
Our House League teams play in the Simcoe Muskoka Girls Hockey League, (“SMGHL”) which includes teams from Huntsville, Orillia, Midland, Collingwood, and Barrie. SMGHL Rules can be found here and the SMGHL By-Laws can be found here. With half of all games played on home ice, and with multiple BWHA teams at each level, typically 55-70% of games for BWHA teams are played in Barrie. The BWHA schedules games at all Barrie-area arenas, as well as Stroud Community Centre, and Innisfil Recreation Complex.
When are House League games and practices?
The season typically starts with development skates and practices before league games commence. Once the regular schedule settles in, teams typically have two ice times per week - one practice and one game. Games typically will take place on the weekend with possible weekday practices for some divisions. Divisions typically play on the following days of the week:
- U9: Saturday and Sunday only
- U11: Saturday and Sunday only
- U13: primarily weekends with some weekdays evenings possible
- U15: primarily weekends with some weekdays evenings possible
- U18: primarily weekends with some weekdays evenings possible
Can we request that my daughter play with her friends?
BWHA DOES NOT accept friend requests. Player placement is made after evaluations based on skill level. Our House League divisions have multiple teams. A player has the best opportunity for fun and development when they are playing amongst a team that is balanced. BWHA encourages families to participate on new teams with new coaches as this provides a wonderful opportunity to make new friends from year to year. Having friends on an opposing team can be equally as fun as having friends on the same team.
When will the full season schedule be released?
The year will kick-off in September with Pre-Season Development Skates, and Evaluation Skates (which are mandatory for all players). In the days following Evaluation Skates, players will be assigned to teams, and parents will be contacted by the team coach with information about the start of the season. Click here to review the Start of Season information, including the schedule of dates and times for each level.
How long is the season? When is the SMGHL Championships?
The House League season will run through March 2025. It is anticipated that the SMGHL Championships will be held some time on the weekend of March 22/23, 2025. Details regarding the Championships will be provided once completed.
Will House League play on Thanksgiving weekend, Family Day weekend and March Break?
- The ice season is too short, and there are not enough weekends between October and March to complete our full regular season schedule if games and practices are not scheduled on holiday weekends.
- Games and practices may be scheduled as usual on Thanksgiving weekend, including Sunday afternoon and possibly Monday evening.
- The Barrie Sharks Winter Classic tournament is scheduled for the Family Day weekend in February and is mandatory for all of our House League Teams.
- Games and practices will not be scheduled Monday to Friday of March break, however there may be games or practices scheduled on the weekends before and after the week of March break.
Will House League play during the Christmas season?
- Games and practices may be scheduled up to and including Sunday, December 22, 2024
- Games and practices will NOT be scheduled between December 23 and January 2, 2025
- Games and practices may resume starting Friday, January 3, 2025.
How many tournaments do house league teams play?
All BWHA house league teams are automatically registered in our Barrie Sharks Family Day Winter Classic tournament, which will be held February 15 to 17, 2025. Registration fees are included in the House League player registration fees. Following OWHA rules, tournament schedules are released two weeks before the event. All teams should plan to play on Saturday morning.
BWHA House League teams are permitted to play in up to 2 additional tournaments per season. Each team will determine their own tournament schedule. Registration fees for these additional tournaments are NOT included in registration fees – teams will independently collect tournament registration fees directly from parents.
Will U9 teams play half-ice or full-ice games? Will U9 teams play tournaments or jamborees?
Our U9 division will follow the OWHA / Hockey Canada Player Development Pathway, including playing half-ice games from September to December. Click here for more information.
For questions about the 2024-2025 House League Season, please contact [email protected].