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Hockey Careers & Development – Your Path to Pro Hockey. BOYS

Learn to Skate

  • When to Start: Age 3 or 4

  • Focus: Balance, coordination, basic skating skills

  • Programs: Learn to Skate, local arena programs, shinny   hockey, YouTube videos

Foundational Skill Development

  • When to Start: Age 5-6​

  • What to Begin: Start hockey-specific training

  • How:

    • Private sessions

    • Hockey schools and academies

    • Small group skills and skating classes

Leagues and Associations (Ontario Hockey Federation - OHF)

  • Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL): Competitive levels (A, AA, AAA) begin at U8 (age 7)

  • Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario (ALLIANCE): Competitive hockey typically begins around age 7

  • Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA): Programs start from age 6

  • Other Local Associations: Offer house league           and intro programs from ages 5–6

Competitive Development

  • When to Start: Age 9-12

  • Goal: Refine key skills (skating, puck control, shooting, hockey IQ)

  • Aim to play for AA and AAA 

  • Join tournaments and spring/summer programs for extra exposure

  • Support:

    • Off-ice training

    • Video review

    • Mentorship from experienced coaches

      High-Performance 

  • When to Start: Age 13-16

  • Goal: Prepare for Junior Draft eligibility

  • What to add:

    • Strength and conditioning

    • Nutritional guidance

    • Mental performance coaching

  • Representation:

    • Agents may begin working with players at age 14, but legal agreements (such as Standard Player Agent Certification) are typically governed by CHL/NHL rules and parental consent is required for minors

Draft to CHL

age: 15 turning 16

CHL (Canadian Hockey League) Draft:

  • OHL (Ontario Hockey League): April (15 rounds)

  • WHL (Western Hockey League): May (15 rounds)

  • QMJHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League): June (14 rounds)

! Players can be selected from any province but

must meet league-specific

  eligibility requirements.

     Other Junior Leagues​

  • U-Sport (U.S. college programs or       Canadian university teams)

  • OJHL (Junior A): Ages 16–20, under Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) and CJHL, great for NCAA exposure

  • Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL)

  • Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL)

  • British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL)

   Players not drafted to CHL can still try out or    move into Junior A leagues for alternative    exposure

NHL/AHL/other professional leagues

Draft & Pro Transition

  • NHL Draft: Takes place every June

       Players aged 18–20, 7 rounds total

  • Being drafted by an NHL team does not guarantee a spot on the roster

  • The contract is signed for three years and allows the player to play in both the NHL and AHL.

! NHL scouts attend games regularly​

Check all leagues

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