Frequently Asked Questions

– 2020 born = U5 Positions do not begin until U11, and then only goalies are noted.
– 2018 – 2019 born = U7
– 2016 – 2017 born = U9
– 2014 – 2015 born = U11 U11 only named position is goalie
– 2012 – 2013 born = U13 indicate your preferred position
– 2010 – 2011 born = U15 indicate your preferred position
– 2007 – 2009 born = U18 indicate your preferred position

We have male and female teams in all these levels.
Intro to Hockey – U5, U7, and U9
Recreation hockey from U11 + U13 + U15 U15 may play in the All Peace Hockey League
Development hockey from U11 – U18 – Competitive, Travelling – Also U11 AA highest level for U11 in the province.
Elite teams for U13 – U18 (GPAC and PCFAC)

Intro to Hockey

  • Schedule may occasionally be affected by special events which will decrease our ice allotments.
  • U5 has one ice time on the weekend mainly Saturday mornings.
  • U7 and U9 have two ice times on the weekends.
  • Entry into exhibition games and tournaments must be a parent group decision, players who do not go are not obligated to pay.

Recreation

  • U11 & U13 have one practice during the week and two ice times on the weekends.
  • Weeknight practices will always be the same night of the week, which we will not know until fall team selections are done.
  • U15 ice times will be dependent upon registration and number of teams we have.
    All travel must be approved by the division Commissioner
    Recreation teams cannot collect team fees or have bank accounts, all funds must flow through the GPMHA office.
  • Any fundraising initiatives must be approved by the GPMHA Treasurer.

Development (also U11AA)

  • teams will have tryouts and will travel on a regular basis with league and tournament play.
  • Once player has made a Development team, the extra D & E fee of $ 175.00 per player must be paid to your team by Oct 30, 2023 Depending upon the budgets arrived at, there will be monthly team fees, as well as fundraising.
  • There will be two practices during the week, as well as the weekend league or tournament games.
  • One of the eeekday practices may be at 6:30 – 7:15 am.

Elite

  • teams will have tryouts and will travel on a regular basis with league play. League schedules usually do not leave much room for tournys.
  • Once player has made an Elite GPAC team, the extra D & E fee of $ 310.00 per player must be paid to your team by Oct 30, 2024.
  • Once player has made an Elite PCFAC team, the extra D & E fee of $ 200.00 per player must be paid to your team by Oct 30, 2024.
  • There will be two to three practices during the week, plus dryland, plus the weekend league play.
  • There are considerable costs involved in elite hockey as the teams belong to Provincial leagues.

Development and Elite

  • teams have their own team bank accounts and collect monthly team fees.
  • Each team must provide a full financial statement to each parent and to the GPMHA Treasurer and office MONTHLY.
  • All fundraising initiatives must be approved by the GPMHA Treasurer.

GPAC = Grande Peace Athletic Club PCFAC = Peace Country Female Athletic Club
These are subsidiary organizations created to oversee our Elite Zone teams.
GPAC runs the U13, U15, U17 and U18 AAA Storm male teams as well as the U13, U15, U16, U18 AA Storm male teams.
PCFAC runs the U13 AA, U15 AA and the U18 AA Elite Storm female teams.

Highway 43 in the north, the Smoky River in the east, the Wapiti River in the south, Range Road 71 in the west.

Hockey Alberta has mandated that each minor hockey association have their own boundaries.
We can take import (from other assns) players on our U11 AA, U11 FA, Elite AA and AAA teams – male and female.

  • We start on May 31, 2024 and run until June 26, 2024.
  • A late fee of $ 150.00 will apply on June 27, 2024 for all returning players who have not registered prior.
  • After June 27 any new players or imports registering, please call the office for a promo code to avoid paying the late fee.
  • We will still take registrations right up to one week before evaluation dates, providing we have room.
  • We are normally open Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.
  • We are located upstairs at the Design Works Centre Arena, 6 Knowledge Way, Grande Prairie. 780 539 6177 x 1

Payment of Fees

  • Payment can be made by mastercard, visa, debit, E-transfer, American Express, cheque or cash.
  • We accept post dated cheques. We only accept post dated mastercard or visa payments in special circumstances.
  • For post dated e transfer payments, please complete the Promissory Note on our Registration page on the website.
  • There will be a $ 45.00 admin fee on all dishonoured or late payments and the registration will be suspended.
  • Upon request, receipts can be issued for the base registration, evaluation/tryout and late fees only.

Financial Support

  • We believe all children should be able to participate in hockey. If you need financial assistance, please talk to the office.
  • All such conversations are confidential and handled discretely. We can help with registration fees and equipment.
  • You can apply online with Kidsport Oil Country Hockey Assist Program, Hockey Canada Assist, Canadian Tire Jumpstart.

Equipment – What equipment do I need? See Hockey 1.01 on our website

We try to keep the skill level for each team as even as possible.

To pay for the ice and referees and other expenses involved in evaluations and tryouts.

  • When calculating the registration fees, we have one base fee per division, which is all that the Intro to Hockey / Recreation players pay.
  • The extra D & E fee covers the extra practice ice, league fees, etc. for the Development, AA, and Elite teams.
  • Sponsors – Intro to Hockey / Recreation sponsors pay $ 800.00 – $ 1100.00 per year to help defray the costs of Intro to Hockey / Recreation hockey.
  • Sponsors – Development sponsors pay $ 2600.00 – $ 2800.00 per year to help defray the costs of Development hockey.
  • Sponsors – Elite sponsors pay $ 5000.00 per year to help defray the costs of Elite hockey.
  • Once player has made a Development team, the extra D & E fee of $ 175.00 per player must be paid to your team by Oct 30, 2024
  • Once player has made an Elite GPAC team, the D & E fee of $ 310.00 per player must be paid to your team by Oct 30, 2024
  • Once player has made a PCFAC Elite team, the D & E fee of $ 200.00 per player must be paid to your team by Oct 30, 2024

Yes upon paying the difference in the tryout fee, providing the change is made one week before evaluations start.

Yes upon paying the difference in the tryout fee and approval from GPAC or PCFAC.

Special requests are not permitted.

If Exceptional Circumstances/Situations exist, there is a provision for you to formally apply in writing at least 2 weeks prior to first ice time.
Convenience is not considered “Exceptional”.

  • up to 20 hours for U5 shared
  • up to 20 hours shared ice U7
  • up to 24 hours shared ice U9
  • up to 45 hours shared ice U11 Recreation
  • up to 45 hours shared ice U13 Recreation
  • The teams below will pay an additional $ 175.00 – $ 310.00 per player to get additional ice and cover additional expenses.
  • The extra D & E fee pays for costs over & above the base fee for the U11 – U18 Development and Elite teams.
  • As well the sponsor portion for Development and Elite teams is quite a bit higher than for Intro to Hockey and Recreation
  • up to 90 hours U11 Development
  • up to 90 hours U13 Development
  • up to 90 hours U15 Development
  • up to 90 hours U18 Development
  • up to 100 hours PCFAC teams
  • up to 160 hours GPAC teams

we pay $ 141.70 in the City and $ 148.05 in the County per hour of ice. We must also pay for a .15 minute flood at the end of every practice or game.

Prices determined by municipality.

  • Yes – GPMHA has fundraising projects that all members participate in – regardless of where your child plays.
  • Each member of each team or division must participate fully in fundraisers. If you do not, you will be expected to pay your share.
  • There is a Fundraising Fee of $ 200.00 to each registration. This is paid along with the yearly registration, etc fees.
  • In the fall, raffle tickets will be available to each player’s parents to sell in order to recoup the fundraising fee if you so desire.
  • Once all of the tickets in a book are sold, the parent then turns the ticket stubs in by the appointed date.

Advertising, Coach Education, Coaching Mentor Expenses, Computer Costs, Equipment, Ice, Ice Coordinator, Insurance, League Fees,
Meeting Rooms, Office staff, Office supplies, Referees, Referee Clinics, Registration for Hockey Alberta/Canada, Rent, Socks
Memorial Awards, Sponsor Awards, Technical Director, Telephone, Fax, Travel, Xerox

Clothing – Team Apparel – GPMHA teams

Every 3 years GPMHA requests quotations on all GPMHA or Knight’s branded clothing from local suppliers. We award the contract in 3 year terms to the company which the executive feels will best be able to meet our needs, taking into consideration who will be able to provide the best service at the best price along with the vendor’s support of the community and our association. We are proud of the GPMHA and Knight’s names and want them displayed in the best possible way, treating it as our “brand” and trying to keep how our brand is represented as consistent as possible. We also need to ensure that we are giving proper recognition to our team sponsors which is why only certain options are allowed. We usually award the contract once every 3 years and the vendor will have exclusive rights for that time. On our website we will provide an updated Apparel Brochure along with information on how to access the online clothing store for items other than the Team Wear.

Refunds

Prior to evaluations or tryouts, approved refund requests will see a $ 75.00 admin fee.

Once a player has been selected to a team, refunds will only be given with a medical note or proof of moving from the GPMHA boundaries, less $ 100.00 admin fee and $60.00 Hockey AB/Canada Fee. The refund will be based on the BASE registration fee, ice used, and association resources used to date. If GPMHA is not able to operate, due to facility or gov’t restrictions, refunds will be prorated on the BASE registration fee, ice used and association resources used to date.

EVALUATIONS AND TRY OUTS

All players must be registered for Tryouts or Evaluations one full week before the dates of Tryouts or Evaluations

Evaluation and Tryout Process

All players at the U11 level or older must pay a non refundable evaluation fee & indicate whether they want to be evaluated in the
U11 AA, Development ( T1 – T6), the Recreational ( equal teams) or Elite (GPAC/PCFAC) Levels.

We have three goals within our Evaluation system:

to have all players compete at their highest level, to offer more opportunities at the Development level and to have parity within all levels.
There will be separate evaluations for each of the U11 AA, Development, Recreation divisions, and Elite (GPAC/PCFAC)

FROM GPAC/PCFAC TO GPMHA

If a player (local) attends a GPAC/PCFAC Tryout, does not make a GPAC/PCFAC team, they must then pay the GPMHA Evaluation Fee to the
GPMHA office prior to entering into the A Evaluations. Only local players would continue on to Development Evaluations A, B, C.

Development – includes U11 – U18, male and female

Development evaluations begin once GPAC and PCFAC tryouts are completed.

During tryouts/evaluations parents may request a move down from the Technical or Executive Directors as long as it is prior to the Coach Skate.

Once the evaluations/try outs are completed and the player is advised of his/her placement, any request for movement must come in writing tothe Vice President for Executive approval.

GPMHA will not necessarily have all of the T1 – T6 divisions, dependent upon registration and the skill level of those being evaluated.

RECREATION – Inc U5, U7, U9, U11 GP, U13 GP & U15 GP

Recreation evaluations will be held one or two weeks after the Development evaluations.

There will be a further two or three week post evaluation period before the Recreational teams are formally set, to allow for movement to ensure the teams are of equal calibre.

U5 & U7 will be fully half ice. U9 could be a hybrid program.

All players in each division will be evaluated together and tiered according to skill on mixed age teams.

Yes with the proper certification and proper paperwork: team staff application & police information check.

  • Every member of the team staff must have a Staff Application form, Police Information Check, & Respect in Sport Activity Leader.
  • Team staff are head coach, assistant coaches, trainers, managers.
  • All Female teams must have at least one female carded/certified as Coach or Assistant.
  • All head coaches and assistants for players ages 4 – 8, must have the Coach 1 – Intro to Coach Certification
  • All head coaches and assistants for players ages 10 +, must have the Coach 2 certification.
  • All head coaches and assistants for players ages 10 +, must have the Instructional Stream Checking Skills certification.
  • All head coaches and assistants for AA levels U13 – U18 must have the Development 1 certification.
  • All head coaches for AAA must have the High Performance certification.
  • All assistant coaches for AAA must have the Development 1 certification.
  • All teams must have two staff certified in the Canadian Hockey Trainer’s Program.

No one can be on the ice or bench unless they are certified as above and have proper paperwork in.

You must be 13 years old by December 31 of the current year.
For more info go to www.hockeyalberta.ca under Officials You will need to register and pay online. There will be an online portion to complete before you go to the clinic.

Design Works Center, Dave Barr, Bonnett’s Energy Centre, and the Crosslink County Sportsplex are considered home ice.

We request that all facilities and staff be treated with the best of respect.

Fines will be issued for puck marks in any facility anywhere other than on the ice.

24 Hour Respect Rule

All parents, players, relatives and friends must adhere to the 24 Hour Respect Rule by waiting a full 24 hours prior to contacting any Parent Liaison, Coaches, Managers, or Grande Prairie Minor Hockey Representatives regarding any hockey concerns or issues.

Complaints, concerns – Proper Communciation

Please follow the following protocol for questions or complaints. If your concern is not satisfied at the lowest level, then proceed to the next.

Under no circumstances is texting, calling or approaching team staff while a team activity is going on appropriate.

Parent > Parent Liason > Coach or Manager > Commissioner > Vice President > President > Executive as a whole
All concerns or complaints must be submitted in writing and must be signed.

Insurance

  • All players and officials associated with GPMHA are covered by mandatory liability insurance through Hockey Canada.
  • This IS NOT an accident insurance policy. It is recommended each player and official obtain their own insurance.
  • For more information on the insurance go to www.hockeyalberta.ca under the Members tab.

Jerseys

  • Player Name Bars are not allowed on any GPMHA jersey. Players are NEVER to take their jerseys home.
  • Each team must have one or two Jersey Directors, who will volunteer to collect the Jerseys from each child after each game, wash them WEEKLY as per the approved instructions, and ensure that they remain together in the sweater bag in good as condition as possible.
  • All Cs and As must be purchased from ProSport and sewn on by a professional.
  • Jerseys that are not returned or are returned damaged or abused at the end of the season will be billed out.

Recreation Exhibition Games and Tournaments

  • All of our Recreation level teams may be invited to play other teams from the surrounding area for the occasional game or for a tournament.
  • All travel must be approved by the Commissioner for each level. Parents must bear all costs relative to these games.
  • Hockey Alberta sanctions must be obtained for all exhibition or tournament games.

Volunteers

Other than the office staff, GPMHA is a volunteer run association. We need each and every parent to help in ways they are comfortable with.