Message from the NOHA President | Registration Numbers in the North Show a Positive Trend

My last communication dealt with some of the negative aspects of minor hockey and the poor behaviour that we must continue to address. That work remains a priority. However, it is also important to share the positives within our game, and I am happy to report that there is plenty of good news to share.

We have all seen the comments from time to time; that hockey is "dying" in Northern Ontario. I want to address that narrative directly, and the numbers speak for themselves.

Our preliminary registration numbers for the 2025–2026 season show 14,718 total participants, exceeding both our 2024–2025 totals and our pre-COVID numbers from the 2018–2019 season, when the NOHA registered 14,215 participants.

The road back has been significant. During the 2020–2021 season, COVID-19 reduced our total registration to just 10,607 participants. Since then, we have experienced four straight seasons of growth, recovering over 4,100 participants, a remarkable increase of nearly 39% from that low point. Player registrations have risen from 8,338 during the pandemic to over 11,000 this season, marking our highest player count in at least seven years.

These results speak to the strength of hockey in our communities and the outstanding work being done at the local level. I want to extend my sincere thanks to all of our Member Associations for their continued efforts and support in providing hockey opportunities across Northern Ontario. Your dedication makes this growth possible.

The NOHA is not standing still. We are presently working on additional initiatives designed to grow the game even further in Northern Ontario, and we look forward to sharing those with you as they develop.

Hockey in Northern Ontario is growing, and together, we will continue to build on that momentum.

Thank you.

Steve Lawrence

NOHA President