The Northern Ontario Hockey Association is pleased to invite your Association to our Semi-Annual Meeting, which will be held in North Bay from January 30 to February 2, 2026.
This is the first semi-annual meeting hosted by the NOHA and will be discussion and solution-focused, providing an opportunity for Associations to be actively involved in shaping the NOHA strategic focus moving forward.
ATTENDANCEEach Association is invited to send up to 4 representatives from your Board of Directors or other delegates you deem appropriate for this important gathering.
ACCOMMODATIONS/MEALSThe NOHA will cover accommodations for up to 4 attendees per Association, based on double occupancy, for the nights of January 30 and February 1. Additional accommodation arrangements outside of these dates would be at the Association's expense.
Meals on February 1 (breakfast/lunch/dinner/nutrition breaks) will be covered for all attendees.
TRAVELTravel costs will be the responsibility of each Association. However, depending on budget availability, the NOHA may be able to provide support for travel expenses.
MEETING FOCUSWhile the full agenda is still being developed, the meeting will focus on key priorities including:
Recruitment and retention of participants
Non-traditional programming opportunities
League structure considerations
Player movement
Coach and officiating development
SPEAKERS AND PRESENTATIONSThe meeting will feature speakers and presentations from representatives of the Ontario Hockey Federation and its Members, the NOHA, and Hockey Canada. Additional speakers will be confirmed at a later date.
NEXT STEPSWe ask that you begin considering which representatives from your organization will attend this important meeting. A formal registration process will be sent to all Associations by the end of November.
We look forward to productive discussions and collaboration as we continue to grow and strengthen hockey across Northern Ontario.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.
The Northern Ontario Hockey Association Introduces Multi-Faceted Program to Address Inappropriate Adult Behaviour and Protect the Spirit of the Game
North Bay, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) today announced the launch of Game-Time Unity, a comprehensive initiative designed to create a safe, positive hockey environment where Players, Referees, Coaches, and families can learn, grow, and have fun. The program addresses the growing concern of inappropriate adult behaviour at Minor Hockey events, which has contributed to the loss of Officials, volunteers, and community support across the region.
"Poor adult behaviour is hurting the spirit of hockey," said Jason Marchand, NOHA Executive Director. "We are losing Officials, struggling to recruit Coaches and Volunteers, and seeing diminished community support for travelling teams. Game-Time Unity represents our commitment to protecting Players, Referees, and Team Officials from any inappropriate behaviour while building a culture where everyone can focus on development and enjoyment of the game."
Pilot Program Launch and Expansion Timeline
Game-Time Unity will launch this season with three pilot Associations: Temiskaming Shores Minor Hockey Association, Timmins Minor Hockey Association, and Espanola Minor Hockey Association. These pioneering Associations will implement all four program components and provide valuable feedback to refine the initiative.
The NOHA aims to expand the pilot to an additional 20-25 Minor Hockey Associations by January, with full implementation across all NOHA Associations planned for the start of the 2026-2027 season.
"We're taking a thoughtful, measured approach to ensure Game-Time Unity is effective and sustainable," said Marchand. "Our pilot Associations are leading the way, and their experiences will help us bring this program successfully to every community in Northern Ontario."
Key Components of Game-Time Unity
The initiative introduces four major components working together to ensure accountability and transparency:
1. Sign-Before-Skate Code of Conduct -- Parents and Guardians must sign a comprehensive Code of Conduct before their child's first game. The policy covers behaviour at arenas, hotels, and during travel, and includes a clear Severity Matrix outlining transparent consequences for violations ranging from verbal warnings to permanent bans from Hockey Canada-sanctioned activities.
2. "Sin Bin" Behaviour Dashboard -- Visual boards will be installed at rinks across the NOHA territory to track incident trends, celebrate progress, and display "days since last incident." The dashboards create visibility and accountability while encouraging Associations to compete for the lowest number of incidents throughout the season.
3. 60-Second Online Incident Reporting Form -- Anyone—Parents, Families, Team Staff, Officials, or Players—can quickly and confidentially report inappropriate behaviour through a simple online form accessible via QR code at all rinks. This removes confrontation from the reporting process and speeds resolution.
4. Multi-Channel Communication Plan --- The NOHA will maintain consistent communication throughout the season with weekly email updates, monthly social media roundups, and regular check-ins with Team Staff and Referees to ensure everyone remains aligned on standards and expectations.
"We understand that it will take practice for parents and adults to adjust to these new standards," said Steve Lawrence, NOHA President. “That’s why we’ve committed to clear communication throughout the season and a fair, transparent process for addressing violations. We’re building this together.”
Vision for the Future
Game-Time Unity envisions a positive rink environment where:
Referees are energized by officiating the game
Coaches and Players can focus on growth and development
Communities and local businesses are excited to host out-of-town teams
Young athletes can make mistakes and learn in a supportive atmosphere
The initiative was developed over several months by an NOHA task force including Executive Leadership, Board Members, Association Presidents, and Program Coordinators representing communities across Northern Ontario.
Pilot Association Leadership
The three pilot Associations are represented on the Game-Time Unity task force by Anna Eckensviller, 2nd Vice President from Temiskaming Shores; Jason Brazeau and Steven Vachon, both from Timmins; and Kim Armstrong, President from Espanola.
Call to Action
All Parents and Guardians in Pilot Associations are required to sign the Code of Conduct before their child's first game. The incident reporting form is accessible 24/7 via QR codes posted at participating rinks or online at https://www.noha-hockey.ca/gametimeunity.
Associations interested in joining the January expansion are encouraged to contact the NOHA to learn more about program implementation and support resources.
"Sportsmanship begins in the stands," added Marchand. "We're asking every adult involved in Minor Hockey to play their part in creating the positive environment our young athletes deserve."
For more information about Game-Time Unity, including the full Code of Conduct and Severity Matrix, visit https://www.noha-hockey.ca/gametimeunity or contact the NOHA office.
Timmins Sessions Added!
The NOHA is excited to announce for the third consecutive year, we will be hosting Christmas Skills Camps throughout Northern Ontario during the 2025 Holiday Season.
There will be four levels offered in each area: U7/U9, U11/U13, U15/U18, and Goalies only. All skill levels are welcome!
Each session will be categorized by age, excluding the Goaltending sessions that are open for all ages. (Goaltenders should select the registration appropriate for their birth year, please specify your position as goaltender through the survey linked with registration.)
Sessions will be capped at the number of participants outlined below.
Registrations are not restricted to members of the below cities listed; anyone in the vicinity is welcome to attend upon registration.
U7/U9 – 36 Participants
U11/U13 – 36 Participants
U15/U18 – 36 Participants
Goaltenders – 20 Participants
Please click on your area Camp link for specific time and date information.
Please note – the registration fee throughout the NOHA is $110.00 plus HST. This fee includes 4 hours of ice time per player over the course of four days. NOHA practice Sweater, and an NOHA branded water bottle.
Each Camp will be planned through using Hockey Canada skill development material and will be facilitated by selected Coaches in each area.
FOR CAMP SCHEDULES, PLEASE CLICK YOUR DESIRED CAMP LOCATION BELOW!
Please contact NOHA Director of Hockey Operations, Jacob Brown jbrown@noha-hockey.ca should you have any questions.
