Under-9 (U9) Games

In Saskatchewan, ALL games must be played at U9 will be in a Half-Ice format for the whole duration of the season.

Total Games: 40-45

Start Date for Games:

• Exhibition - November 15^th 
• Tournaments - December 1^st
• League Games - January 1^st
• League Playoffs - Must be tournament-style format over no more than two weekends.

Basic Rules:

• Games can be played 5-on-5 or 4-on-4 or 3-on-3 depending on the number of players.
• Each game will be played with a Blue 4oz puck.
• Mini nets are recommended, but regular ones are accepted.
• Puck shot out of play: Official blows whistle, defending team backs off and non-offending team gets possession.
• Goalie freezes puck: Official blows whistle, attacking team backs off and defending team gets possession.
• Goal Scored: Official blows whistle, attacking team backs off to their net and defending team gets possession with the official or coach placing the puck behind the net.

Game Length:

• Warmup for 3 to 5 minutes.
• For a 60-minute ice allocation; play two (2) twenty-five (25) minute straight time periods.
• For a 75-minute ice allocation; play two (2) thirty (30) minute straight time periods.
• For a 90-minute ice allocation; play three (3) twenty (20) minute straight time periods.

Shifts:

• Clock can be stopped after each two minute or three minute shift, then start the clock when the puck is dropped for the next shift.
• Both teams should use one players bench with a team at each end of the box or one players box and a penalty box (in the event the penalty box is across from the players boxes).

Faceoffs

• Start of each shift.
• There will be NO face-offs after a goal is scored. In this instance, the official or coach will place the puck behind the net and the team that got scored can bring the puck up the ice while the team that scored goes back to their net.

PENALTIES

• Officials will raise their non-whistle arm, note the player’s color, number, and infraction, and blow the whistle when the player’s team gains possession of the puck.
• They will then stop, lower their arm, and, with an open hand and fingers together, point at the player, record the color, number, and infraction, and make the appropriate signal.
• The official will escort the player to the skills area, their team bench, or the penalty box, depending on the rink setup.
• Next, they will gather the puck at center ice and blow the whistle to start play for the non-penalized team.
• Penalties will last for the remainder of the player’s shift or until the opposing team scores a goal.

Considerations

• Coaches should try to match lines so the stronger players from both teams are on the ice at the same time.
• All players should have the same opportunity to contribute, regardless of skill or ability. A coach’s responsibility is to develop all players. Shortening of the bench to win games is not permitted. All players and goaltenders should receive fair and as close to equal as possible ice time.
• Score can be kept; however, goals and assists will NOT be recorded.
• Goalies may not be pulled at any time.

Reminders

• NO permanent goalies.
• NO specific skater positions.
• PROMOTION OF SAFE & FUN!

Half-Ice Boards Suppliers

HALF-ICE LAYOUT OPTIONS

Under-9 Regulations

6.04.05

iv)  U11 and Lower

Players must play with the closest center that has a team for them to register with.

NOTE:  If players do not wish to register in the closest center with a team of their age group they will require a release from that center in order to play in the next closest center, etc.  A player cannot play with a center that is more than 80 km from their parent’s residence.

6.04.14    U9

a)  All Minor Hockey Associations must constitutionally adopt and implement the U9 Hockey Saskatchewan curriculum for hockey in the age classification of U9 and below.

b)  All U9 games and practices must be in the half-ice format.

c)  There will be no U9 Exhibition games sanctioned by Hockey Saskatchewan prior to November 15th.

d)  There will be no U9 Tournament games sanctioned by Hockey Saskatchewan prior to December 1st.

e)   There will be no U9 League games sanctioned by Hockey Saskatchewan prior to January 1st.

f)   U9 League Playoffs must be in a Tournament style format over a maximum of two weekends.

g)   Geographic Subdivisions 2-5 are closed for all U9 League play.

h)   Tiered U9 teams must have a minimum of four (4) skates/practices prior to formal evaluations starting and those Evaluations/Try Outs cannot start until the 3rd weekend in September.

i)   Communities outside of Geographic Subdivisions 2-5 who choose to tier their U9 teams can have a maximum of two (2) tiers and the players registered on these teams must be residents of the sponsoring center of the team or reside closest to the sponsoring center of the team.

j)  The maximum number of games a U9 team can play is forty-five (45) per season (Carded team games are not included in the 45 game maximum).

NOTE:  Any coach, team and/or association found to be non-compliant with the U7 Cross-Ice format at any time during the season; or the U9 Half-Ice format; or the seasonal maximum game limits for U7, U9 and U11, will be subject to sanctions from both the Minor Hockey Association and/or Hockey Saskatchewan.

Sanctions may include but are not limited to:

• Head Coach suspension
• Minor Hockey Association (and members) not being able to enter Hockey Saskatchewan Provincial Playoffs.
• Minor Hockey Association (and members) not being able to host any Hockey Saskatchewan sanctioned event.
• Minor Hockey Association (and members) not being able to attend any Hockey Saskatchewan sanctioned event.
• Minor Hockey Association’s Hockey Saskatchewan membership reviewed.

6.04.16 - Carded Teams

• U9 and U11 teams outside of Geographic Subdivisions 2-6 who are registered with Hockey Saskatchewan may combine to form a team for tournaments/exhibition game purposes by drawing players from within an 80 km radius.
  
  a)  Carded teams may apply to register online starting November 1st and until 5:00 p.m. on November 15th.
  
  b)  Once the application is approved, the applicant will receive a team registration form which they must complete and submit to Hockey Saskatchewan by 5:00 p.m. on December 1st.
  
  c)  Carded teams are allowed to practice once per week beginning on December 1st provided it does not conflict with their regular season team's schedule.
  
  NOTE:  Club/League team play takes precedent over carded team play.  Any team official(s)/parent(s) who choose not to follow this note will be subject to disciplinary action which may include action taken against the player(s) under Hockey Saskatchewan minimum suspension guideline 6.09.04 e).
  
  d)  There are four (4) Carded weekends throughout the winter season which prohibits League play scheduled for the U9 and U11 divisions throughout the province (no exceptions):

1)  2nd weekend in December
2)  2nd weekend in January
3)  3rd weekend in February
4)  Last weekend in March

e)  Carded teams can register a maximum of nineteen (19) players.  If registering the maximum 19, two (2) must be goaltenders.

f)  Carded teams are not allowed any affiliate players (APs).

g)  A player can only be registered on one (1) carded team per season.

h)  Carded teams must secure written letters of permission from the association that each player is registered in during the season in order for them to be eligible to play.

i)  Players must be age appropriate for carded teams.

j)  Players registered on Tier 1 teams within an Association are not eligible to be registered on a carded team.

k)  Players registered on a Provincial team are not eligible to register on a carded team.

Other Links

Under-7 Hub

Under-9 Hub

under-11 Hub