Registration - currently OPEN to players in all Hockey Associations.

Our Learn to Skate program (LTS) is for children ages 4-6 yrs.  Registration is on a first come basis and is capped at 60 players. The program is open to those residing within the Trails West area and, if room permits, to those who reside outside the TWHA area.  Please click here for a map outlining the Trails West communities.  For our insurance purposes, all participants must have Alberta Health Care coverage.

Coach Dave has led our Learn to Skate (LTS) program for the last 9 years and emphasizes fun, family, and encouragement to develop skating skills in a hockey environment.  LTS is appropriate for both children who have little to no experience as well as those who are already skating comfortably.

Each child wears full hockey equipment (including  helmet stick) to each ice time and is accompanied on-ice by a parent (or other family member) who must wear a helmet.   

Active involvement from parents (both Moms and Dads) as well as other extended family members is encouraged. . .  it helps reaffirm that hockey is very much a family experience!  Parent need no be experienced skaters and some parents learn alongside their children!  While many of our activities involve both parents and children, some activities are kids only, especially by January once all the kids are skating comfortably.

Registration is currently OPEN to players in all Hockey Associations.

(Only those players within Trails West's boundaries may fully register between June 15 and August 9.)

Equipment

Every player must wear full hockey equipment plus have a hockey stick.

Parents who are on-ice with their player must wear a helmet and skates and preferably have a hockey stick.

At the first LTS ice time, players will receive a LTS jersey and matching hockey socks which are the player's to wear during the program and keep after the program has ended.

Schedule

Program runs from late September/early October to mid-March.

Ice schedule permitting, ice times will be at Flames Community Arenas.

Ice times are typically mid-morning and alternate with one time on one weekend and two times the next.

*New for 2023-2024 Season - LTS will be scheduled every Saturday plus alternating Sundays

First ice time (tentative)

Saturday, September 30,  at 9:00-10:00 AM Flames Community - Gold

Sunday, October 1, at 9:30-10:45 AM Flames Community - Blue

 

If you live outside our boundaries and are interested in our program, you may register selecting the LTS Waitlist option (no fee required). On August 10, when registration opens to those outside of Trails West’s boundaries, room permitting, only this registered waitlist will be used to offer available spots in order of registration on the waitlist.  Emails requesting to be put on a waitlist are not accepted.  Any player who resides outside of Trails West boundaries who fully registers (pays) for LTS prior to August 10 may have their registration cancelled and fees refunded.

Note the Respect in Sport-Parent certification is not required for Learn to Skate registrants.

Waitlist

If you live within Trails West boundaries and there are no spots available for registration, please select the waitlist option during registration to be placed on the waitlist (no fee required yet).

If you live outside TWHA boundaries and it is before August 10, or it is after August 10 and there are no spots available, please select the waitlist option during registration to be placed on the waitlist (no fee required).

Should registration be full before those outside our boundaries have the opportunity to register, priority for additional available spots will be given to those on the waitlist within our boundaries, in order of registration on the waitlist.  However, if the existing program capacity is full after registration opened to those outside of our boundaries, then any future spots available will be offered to those on the waitlist in a first registered on the waitlist basis regardless if the player is inside or outside our boundaries.

If there is space available, the TWHA Administrator will reach out to those on the waitlist as per the above. Payment for the full registration fee will be required at the time a spot is offered.

Verification of Eligibility

We require proof of age for all new players (ie. birth certificate, passport), and proof of residency (ie.utility bill – clearly showing billing and service address or current Income Tax Assessment or Home Insurance Policy). Please scan and email these documents to the TWHA Administrator. Kindly reference Learn to Skate - New Player Registration in the subject line.

Fees: Birth year 2017-2019: $420

In 2021, Trails West received a posthumous donation on behalf of Coach Bill Patton who coached Learn to Skate from 1982-2007.  His kind generosity has allowed us to reduce our regular registration fee for the LTS program by $50 per player.  All LTS jerseys since the 2021-2022 season have a "Coach Bill" patch in recognition of his dedication to our LTS program.

How we contact you

Trails West provides the LTS team their roster and practice schedule via TeamSnap. It is important to know that the required email address under "Participant Information" during registration is the main email address used for all TWHA communication. This email is considered your TeamSnap Roster Email and can be different than your TeamSnap Account Email that you use to login to TeamSnap. Refer to this TeamSnap tipsheet for an explanation.

Prior to the first skate for LTS, you will receive an email from TeamSnap asking to either “Join the Team” or “Congrats! You’ve been added to ---- Team”.  If you are a member of TeamSnap already using the same participant email address as used during registration, you will automatically be added to the team.  If you are not a member of TeamSnap or have used a different email than what we have on record, then you will be asked to set up an account so you can join the team.  Basic player information will be uploaded to the TeamSnap Team Rosters using information from registration form. Every family is encouraged to review and amend this information if necessary on the player profile within TeamSnap.  Should you wish to keep your contact information private from other team members on TeamSnap, you may click on the "Hide all contact information from teammates" during registration or change this feature once you have been added to the team.

Payment

Payment is by credit card only.  Information regarding financial assistance is available on the TWHA website and you can apply directly to the organizations.

Refund policy

Subject to TWHA Board Review. Full refund of Regular Registration Fee less $50, less portion of season missed.  To request a refund, please complete the TWHA Refund Form Learn to Skate and send it to the TWHA Administrator.

Volunteering

Learn to Skate is 100% volunteer driven. The Learn to Skate Coordinator for the 2023-2024 season is Tessa Warthe, She can be reached at learntoskate@trailswesthockey.com.  The LTS coodinator will manage the LTS TeamSnap account and liaise with the Trails West Ice Scheduler. They will coordinate the LTS picture day and other off-ice activities.  These may include a Christmas party, year end trophy windup, and perhaps the occasional playground get-together. 

Parent Testimonials

Coach Dave Makarchuk and his assistants did a fantastic job with the children in the learn to skate program.  He keeps the sessions upbeat and develops a good rapport with all the kids on the ice.  He puts a lot of time into the practice plans to keep things interesting and challenging for the new players and moves them along to unassisted activities on the ice in preparation for moving to the Timbits program. His after practice “inspections” of the kids are legendary and are a highlight of the practice!    - Barclay C.

"My son loved the learn to skate program!  He had a ton of fun and progressed each and every ice time.  The coaches are well prepared, organized and run ice sessions that are fun and engaging for the kids.  Would definitely recommend this program to anyone interested in exposing their children to hockey"     - Tyler S.