Stanley Stick is a recreational, co-ed house league focused on fun, skill development and a positive hockey experience. Unlike programs that require multiple practices and games throughout the week, SSHA plays one hockey session each weekend. Players of all skill levels and experience are welcome, including children who are new to hockey. We don't keep competitive statistics or standings, and we emphasize respect, teamwork and good sportsmanship.
SSHA is recreational and house league hockey. Players compete in games and are encouraged to develop their skills and play to win, but the league does not keep competitive statistics or standings. Our focus is on skill development, teamwork, fun and good sportsmanship rather than competitive results.
These are the age ranges and birth years for the various divisions within Stanley Stick for the 2026-2027 season:
Age is determined by year of birth only.
Current season fees are listed on the Registration Information page.
SSHA offers financial assistance through our community partners and sponsors. For more details, please see our Financial Assistance page.
Yes. Players who are new to Guelph or have previously played hockey in other Guelph leagues are welcome to join SSHA, provided they are no longer playing in the previous league.
Yes. No previous hockey experience is required to join SSHA. Our Learn to Skate program is designed for young children who may have never skated before or are still learning the basics. For U8 through U18, players should have some skating ability, but previous hockey experience is not required.
No, there are no tryouts to play in Stanley Stick. All players are welcome to register and join Stanley Stick on a first-come, first-served basis.
Children can begin to play in Stanley Stick at 4 years old, the year that they enter junior kindergarten. SSHA's Learn to Skate division is a full hockey gear program, where hockey skills are introduced alongside skating skills.
If your child is eligible to play Learn to Skate and U8 for the single overlap year, most frequently the recommendation is to place your child in U8. Children who are able to stand on their own on skates and push themselves forward will often catch up to the rest of the U8 skill level quickly.
Absolutely. SSHA is a co-ed hockey league and welcomes girls and boys in all divisions. Separate dressing room accommodations are available for girls in U12, U14 and U18.
SSHA plays exclusively on weekends, with each player receiving one scheduled hockey session on the weekends they play. The SSHA season is 20 to 21 sessions per year, plus the Holiday Scramble tournament, spread over about 26 weeks. In total, each youth can expect to receive over 40 hours of ice time throughout the season.
In order to balance ice times made available to us by the City of Guelph, SSHA does not guarantee a specific date/time slot to individual age groups on a consistent week-over-week basis.
The ice times SSHA receives are determined by the City of Guelph ice administration group. We cannot guarantee the schedule until we have an agreement from the city. We typically have a complete schedule in early September and make it available to the SSHA community at that time. Although there can be changes throughout the season, they are rare.
With the exception of our Learn to Skate program, each session is usually 1 hour 50 minutes in length. The first hour is practice, followed by an hour of game time. Learn to Skate ice times are 50 minutes.
SSHA typically uses the ice facilities at West End Community Centre, the Sleeman Centre and the new Guelph South End Community Centre, with occasional ice times at other arenas across Guelph. Ice times are determined by the City of Guelph ice administration group, so locations are subject to change.
In general, SSHA adheres to the official rules of the Canadian Hockey Association, with the following additions:
Body checking
Body checking is prohibited at all levels of SSHA hockey.
Slap shots
A slap shot is defined as a shot taken with the stick initially raised to the height of the knee or higher.
Slap shots are prohibited at all levels of SSHA hockey. When a slap shot is taken, play shall be stopped and a face-off shall be conducted.
If a player of the attacking team takes a slap shot, the face-off shall take place in the neutral zone.
"Clearing" slap shots, intended to move the puck down the ice and not directed at a player, may be permitted at the discretion of the referee.
Three or more penalties in one game
Any player who is assessed his or her third penalty of the game shall be ejected from the game.
The ejected player shall be permitted to play in subsequent games unless prohibited by the application of other penalties such as misconduct, game misconduct, gross misconduct or match penalties.
Directions to each rink SSHA plays at are listed below. Most games are held at the Sleeman Centre and the West End Community Centre.
50 Woolwich St
Guelph, ON N1H 3T9
The Sleeman Centre is located at Woolwich and MacDonnell St in downtown Guelph. The most convenient parking is on the 2nd floor of the West Parkade. However, this is paid parking operated by the City of Guelph. There is free 2-hour parking on the street. Click here for a map.
21 Imperial Road South
Guelph, ON N1K 1X3
There are 2 rinks, WERC 1 and WERC 2. There is parking at the back of the complex. Click here for a map.
Victoria Road Recreation Centre
151 Victoria Rd N
Guelph, ON N1E 5H4
70 Division St.
Guelph, ON N1H 1R3
Goaltending Clinics
From time to time, goaltending clinics are made available to aspiring goalies. Our goaltending instructors provide high-quality instruction to goalies starting at the Novice division. Due to equipment limitations, enrollment is limited to one goalie per team, unless equipment can otherwise be arranged. Those interested in goalie clinics should contact their Head Coach.
Note that there are different time clocks at different rinks, and they have changed over time. SSHA has put together this document for Time Clock Instructions , but you may find other resources more up to date, such as this document from Guelph Ringette .
Full hockey equipment is required for LTS and for all hockey divisions: athletic cup/support, shin pads, socks with support, pants, skates, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, CSA-approved helmet with face shield and BNQ-approved neck guard. A mouth guard is optional but recommended; it must be tethered or custom fitted.
Jerseys and socks are provided by the league. Goalie equipment is also provided for each team by the league.
Skate sizes are not the same as shoe sizes! Skates typically fit one size smaller. For example, if you wear a size 10 shoe, you may wear a size 9 skate.
With the skate laces loose (or removed), put your foot into the skates and push your foot forward until your toes just touch the front of the boot. While standing in the skate with your toes just touching the front, you should be able to insert no more than one index finger between the back of your foot and the back of the boot.
If you can fit two fingers, the skates are too big. If one finger is tight, that is okay as long as the skates feel comfortable when laced up and walking around.
Remember that skates also come in different widths. Measure your child's foot for width or base the choice on previous experience. Proper width is important to avoid blisters in the instep.
With the player standing and wearing skates, hold the stick straight in front of the player with the blade at their toes and the front tip touching the floor. The stick should come no higher than the chin. Any taller and the blade will not rest properly on the ice. A bit shorter is okay.
When your child is going to be goalie next week...
They will be given the equipment to take home and try out. Have your child put on the equipment. This is a great time to adjust the straps to get the best fit. Trust us, it's a lot easier to do it then than two minutes before game time.
Go down to the basement or a carpeted area and practice shooting or throwing pucks or balls at your "goalie." This will help them get comfortable moving around with the equipment.
IMPORTANT: NEVER USE GOALIE EQUIPMENT ON THE STREET AS IT RUINS THE PADS!
Arrive at the rink at least 45 minutes before game time. It may take that long to get dressed.
For those new to putting goalie pads on, check out this video for a walkthrough on fitting the complete pads and this closer look at the leg pads , as they often generate the most questions.
Pads have the logos and the vertical outer roll on the outside, and the knee blocks, which the goaltender lands on in the butterfly, on the inside. This is how you tell the right from the left pad.
The laces to tie the pad to the skate should sit about an inch off the toe. The boot strap that runs underneath the skate should also be loose. Keep in mind that many NHL goalies have eliminated this strap entirely.
These two details are important because they allow the skate to move properly without impacting the rotation of the pad.
All other straps can be left up to the personal preference of the goaltender, so long as they are not so tight that they prevent the pad from rotating when dropping into the butterfly.
If your child is left-handed and needs a right-handed catching glove and stick, let your coach know in advance. There is one of these per division.