Registration Update
Registration for our U15 Non-Body Contact (NBC) and U18 Non-Body Contact (NBC) divisions is now closed, as both categories have reached capacity.
U15 Body Contact (BC) registration is currently waitlist only, and limited space remains in U18 Body Contact (BC).
We are still accepting goaltender registrations and encourage interested goalies to register as soon as possible.
Thank you for the incredible response this season. We are looking forward to getting everyone back on the ice!
NWZ Evaluation Information
NWZ is pleased to welcome Sports Evaluations as our new independent evaluation provider this season. Sports Evaluations will oversee the evaluation process and provide independent evaluators to help ensure players are assessed consistently and fairly.
Families are encouraged to review the evaluation criteria and practice plans before evaluations begin. These resources provide a good understanding of what players will be doing and what evaluators will be looking for.
Sports Evaluations Resources
- Evaluation Criteria & Scoring: https://www.sportsevaluations.com/pdf/Hockey-Evaluations-Criteria-and-Scale-PDF.pdf
- Goalie Practice Plan: https://www.sportsevaluations.com/pdf/2023-goalie-practice-plan.pdf
- U15–U18 Skater Practice Plan: https://www.sportsevaluations.com/pdf/2022-u15-18-practice-plan.pdf
- Sports Evaluations Resources: https://www.sportsevaluations.com/resources/
Skate 1 – Overall Skill Evaluation
Volunteers Required: 4 Skaters + 1 Check-In
The Overall Skill Evaluation is the first stage of the assessment process and allows evaluators to assess players' core hockey skills before moving into game situations.
Players are initially evaluated as one independent group. Following the skills assessment, players will be placed into balanced Body Contact (BC) and Non-Body Contact (NBC) evaluation groups based on their selection and comparable skill level.
Skate 2 – Game 1
Volunteers Required: 2 Bench Bosses + 1 Timekeeper + 1 Check-In
- 5-minute warm-up. Game begins five minutes after the scheduled start time.
- Two 20-minute periods with a 2-minute break. Second-period time may be adjusted if required.
- Shifts are approximately 1 minute.
- Clock stops for whistles and faceoffs.
- At the buzzer, teams complete a full line change without a stoppage in play.
- Referees stop play only for penalties, major offsides and goalie stoppages.
- Goalies are encouraged to play the puck.
- Close offsides and icings will not be called.
- Penalties are awarded as penalty shots. Opposing players remain on one knee at the blue line until the shooter touches the puck.
- Teams do not change ends between periods.
- If two goalies are assigned, goalies will rotate approximately every 10 minutes as needed.
Skate 3 – Game 2
Volunteers Required: 2 Bench Bosses + 1 Check-In
- 5-minute warm-up, with the game beginning five minutes after the scheduled start time.
- Two 25-minute run-time periods with a 2-minute break between periods.
- The game is played using standard rules, with penalties administered as outlined above.
- If two goalies are assigned, they should rotate approximately every 12.5 minutes during play, as needed.
- Referees stop play only for penalties, major offsides and goalie stoppages.
- Goalies are encouraged to play the puck.
- Close offsides and icings will not be called.
- Penalties are awarded as penalty shots. Opposing players remain on one knee at the blue line until the shooter touches the puck.
Skate 4 – Game 3
Volunteers Required: 2 Bench Bosses + 1 Check-In
Game 3 provides evaluators with another opportunity to assess players in a game environment and evaluate overall hockey ability, decision-making, compete level, positioning and hockey sense.
Additional Game 3 instructions will be provided at the rink as required.
Evaluation by Position
Players will be required to declare in advance of the game evaluations whether they wish to be evaluated at the forward or defense position. Their relative rankings throughout the evaluation process will be based on their ranking at that position.
Goaltenders must declare their position when registering with NWZ and will be evaluated against all other goaltenders in their category.
Skill Skate and Game Grouping Formation
All players will participate in an initial skill skate designed to provide evaluators with an opportunity to observe fundamental hockey skills in a controlled environment. Players from the BC and NBC groupings will be mixed to establish a baseline score across all players.
Initial grouping for skill skate will be completed using a neutral, non‑performance‑based method, such as alphabetical order. Groupings at this stage do not represent rankings, tier placement, or team selection and may change as the evaluation process progresses.
Following the initial skill skate, players will be assigned to evaluation game groups. The group of players for each evaluation game will be divided into two teams of relatively equal strength.
At this stage of the evaluation process, some players who registered for the BC category may be assigned to NBC groupings due to limited roster availability on BC teams.
NWZ Hockey Association has a finite number of BC team positions, and placement decisions will reflect this constraint.
All players who registered for the NBC category will be placed exclusively in NBC evaluation groupings.
Ranking of Players Following Evaluation Games
Following each evaluation game, players will be ranked based on their performance score relative to other players at the same position (forward, defence, or goaltender). Based on these rankings, the Evaluation Provider, in conjunction with the VP Hockey Operations or Category Director(s), will determine whether players should be moved up or down to adjacent evaluation groups for subsequent evaluation games.
Evaluation Communication
Please continue to watch your email closely throughout evaluations. Sports Evaluations will be communicating your player's skate times and evaluation information directly to families.
Evaluation groups and skate times may change as players progress through the process. Please ensure you are checking your email regularly and attending the skate time assigned to your player.
We encourage families to review the resources above with their player before their first skate. Sports Evaluations' published criteria include areas such as skating, puck skills, passing, shooting, positional play, decision-making and overall game play. Goaltenders are assessed on position-specific areas including movement, positioning, rebound control, compete, save ability and puck handling.
Our goal is to provide every player with a fair, independent and consistent evaluation process and ultimately place players at a level where they can develop, compete and have a successful hockey season.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the rink and wish all of our players the best of luck during evaluations!
WHAT YOU GAIN
FITNESS
Participating in minor hockey promotes overall physical fitness. Players develop strength, endurance, coordination, and agility through regular practice and games, contributing to a healthy and active lifestyle..
TEAM BUILDING
Hockey provides an excellent environment for developing social skills. Players learn to communicate effectively, build friendships, and work together towards common goals, fostering a sense of camaraderie and community.
LEADERSHIP
North West Zone Hockey emphasizes the development of leadership skills. Players learn to take initiative, make strategic decisions, and inspire their teammates. This fosters confidence and prepares them to be leaders both on and off the ice.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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