The Ontario Hockey Federation has announced a series of updates to its Player Movement Regulations to enhance participant experience and accessibility, effective for the 2025–2026 hockey season. These changes aim to update current policies and create a structure that better serves players and families across the province.
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Beginning in the 2025–2026 season, OHF Minor Hockey Players in the U10 age group and above will have the opportunity to participate with the Association of their choice.
Why do these changes matter to West Lorne? These changes are an exciting time. We will continue to strengthen our teams, build diversity within our association, and enhance the overall experience for everyone involved. As an Association, our focus continues to be creating the best experience for all our players and families.
Are you ready to be part of something truly special?
West Lorne Minor Hockey dates back to the days of West Elgin Hockey and has a prominent almost 80 year history in West Lorne. West Lorne Minor Hockey is a family of Comets - that stays with you for life - and here is why you should become a Comet:
Competitive Teams
Our competitive teams have been successful at attending the prestigious Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) Red Hats Championships. We offer additional hours of ice for additional practices for our competitive teams. Our representative (competitive) teams play in Shamrock Hockey League, and despite our rural centre’s location, we are producing high quality players that can compete with centres from large urban centres.
Qualified Coaches
Our dedicated and certified coaches are committed to helping players improve their skills while fostering a love for the game. They focus on teaching essential hockey techniques such as breakouts, skating skills, puck control, and positional play. Through structured drills and personalized instruction, our coaches ensure that each player develops the fundamental abilities needed to excel on the ice.
Player Development is a Priority
We offer additional skills clinics for our players to attend. The skill clinics are run by skilled coaches, coaches that have played high level hockey and understand the importance of regular training. We focus on skating skill development, shooting skills, and game situational play. These skills development sessions are in addition to your regular team practices.
Goalie Skills
West Lorne Minor Hockey offers specialized goalie clinics designed to enhance fundamental skills, improve reflexes, and boost confidence in the net. Led by experienced goalie coaches, these clinics provide tailored training to help young goaltenders reach their full potential.
Girls-only Development
West Lorne Minor Hockey proudly offers girls-only hockey development programs, providing a supportive and empowering environment for female players to grow their skills and confidence on the ice. These programs foster teamwork, leadership, and a sense of community while encouraging more girls to engage in the sport and develop their passion for hockey.
Team Spirit & Comets Community
Hockey is more than just a sport – it's a family. West Lorne Minor Hockey creates an inclusive and supportive environment where players build friendships that last a lifetime. We work together on community events like local parades, giving back to the community through toy drives, teddy bear drives, volunteering through our Comets Care initiative. We attend OHL games as teams, participating in pre-game skates and dressing room tours. We get involved and create a family. These additional team spirit and community events build off-ice relationships and life skills for our Comets as they grow.
Intro to Hockey
For first year players, we offer Intro to Hockey which a learn to skate and learn to play hockey program. This program is a soft landing for new hockey families, that focuses on the player’s gaining confidence and skills in learning to play house.
Comets House Hockey
We understand that some kids “just want to play hockey” and are not concerned with travel, league standings, or competitive play. Our Comets House Hockey program provides an excellent opportunity for players looking for a fun and structured hockey experience without the demands of competitive travel hockey. House league hockey allows players to develop their skills at their own pace, build strong friendships, and enjoy the game in a supportive environment. It’s the perfect choice for those who want to stay active, improve their game, and foster a lifelong love for hockey.
Affordable & Accessible
We strive to make hockey accessible to all families through reasonable registration fees and available financial assistance programs. We offer full subsidy for families. Our first year U5/U7 players are eligible for GoodayLetsPlay which is a non-profit organization that funds all or a portion of your first year of registration fees to the family. Our players are provided a jersey and a pair of socks, so there are no hidden costs to purchasing team uniforms. Our focus is to keep costs as low as possible.
Our Facility and Community Connections
Our teams play home games at the Bo Horvat Community Centre, which is named after Bo Horvat, current Assistant Captain of the New York Islanders. Bo himself, was a Comet. He started his hockey in the exact same barn our players play in. Our teams over the years have travelled to games to cheer Bo on in his NHL career.
Our arena currently has a warm room equipped with tables and seating. Our ice-side viewing stands are accessible, with ramps to seating. Our facility is a family friendly facility.
In 2023, our arena was the recipient of the prestigious West Lorne Kraft Hockeyville nation-wide title, which fueled our renovation fund. Work is planned to begin in summer 2025 to replace all the board and glass and provide us with a brand new facility inside. Additional construction will include new dressing rooms, larger warm room and an updated facility overall.
Player Development into Careers
We also employ many of our older hockey players in roles such as officials, timekeepers, on-ice volunteers, and more. We see the value in building capacity in our youth and providing them with opportunities to remain involved in hockey as a volunteer role or as employment.
We look forward to welcoming all players and families as Comets in West Lorne Minor Hockey!
For more information on the OHF Player Movement Regulations:
OHF Frequently Asked Questions