The development of our players begins with the Canadian Hockey Initiation Program (CHIP).  The CHIP is known as "Hockey for the fun of it." The objective is to teach the fundamentals of hockey, fitness, and fair play in a fun environment. One of the important elements of the Initiation Program is the development of self-esteem and self-confidence of the players as they progress through the program.  We believe if the introduction to hockey is a positive one, the players will develop a lifetime love of the game.

“ The background of the CHIP was fostered in the Canadian Hockey Summit of 1997, when the hockey minds were addressing the skills of the foreign players and how they seem so superior to skills of Canadians.  Out of this meeting came the CHIP and the focus was, and is to be Skills and Drills, and a push to teach and improve each player’s Individual Skills. ”   - Bob Payne

The CHIP is a progressive, fun approach to learning the skills of hockey. The program is based on a teaching curriculum that incorporates all the appropriate skills for the entire year. This curriculum was developed by Hockey Canada and continues to be one of the most advanced programs in the world.  We are teaching our players the skills of hockey, before they become involved in the pressures and competitiveness of a hockey game!

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

*  Making Hockey A Very Positive and Fun-Filled Experience

*  Having fun in a physical activity

*  Learning the basic skills needed to play hockey

*  Creating and refining basic motor patterns

*  Learning the concepts of co-operating and fair play

*  Developing an understanding of teamwork

*  Build self-esteem in the player’s minds.

*  Develop all the players to the fullest and encourage creativity.

The foundation for hockey in Canada!

PROGRAM FOCUS

The overall program objective is: To provide children a opportunity to learn and develop hockey Fundamentals and Fitness in an environment of Fun and Fair play (The Four F's)

Developing basic hockey skills:

*  Skating

*  Stopping

*  Turning

*  Puck handling

*  Passing and shooting

*  Each skill is introduced and refined in a progressive manner.

*  The goal is to build a foundation for the future years.

*  Focus on all the players.

What they learn first, they learn best!

Frequently Asked Questions

My player has never skated before, can they still participate?
Absolutely.  Our Pre-Novice program is designed to introduce them to skating and hockey.

My player can already skate, where should I put them?
All 4 - 6 year old players should start as a Pre-Novice, regardless of their experience. It is important for your player’s development to learn the skills of the first level before they move on.

I think my player is much more advanced than the other players. Can they play in a higher level?
Our coaches are trained to evaluate skill and in most cases, in a better position to make that call. Your player may be missing some very important skill training if they skip a level and it can be very detrimental to a player’s development if they play at a level beyond their capabilities.

Why don’t they play more “real” games?
A player must learn the skills of hockey before putting them into practice. Putting a player into a high-pressure situation such as an official game may be too stressful. We have found that introducing the players slowly to games is best for all players regardless of skill level. Remember, players develop their skills in practice, not in games.