Effective for the 2020-2021 season, minor hockey associations, including those in the Ontario Hockey Federation’s Member Partners -
OMHA, ALLIANCE, GTHL, NOHA and the OWHA - will be following the U7 (IP), U9 (Novice) and U11 (Atom) Player Pathways.
With the implementation of the U11 (Atom) Player Pathway in the
2020-2021 season, key changes have been made to the Player Pathways at U7 (Initiation) and U9 (Novice). This will create consistency in all programming across the country and a seamless transition for players from U7 (Initiation) through to U11 (Atom) based on the Long Term Player Development model.
The Player Pathways provide local minor hockey associations a framework of age appropriate development guidelines which includes an optimal seasonal structure.
Please check out the reference material from the OMHA and OHF for more information:
https://www.omha.net/news_article/show/1073503
https://www.ohf.on.ca/news/2019/u7-initiation-u9-novice-and-u11-atom-player-pathway-implementation-for-2020-2021