Updated Jul 25

2024-2025 Program is FULL.  Please register on our waitlist if interested. 

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 an interactive 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 and skates.   

Active involvement from parents as well as other extended family members is encouraged. It helps reaffirm that hockey is very much a family experience!  Parents need not 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 will open June 15 to players in Trails West Hockey Association.  Registration will open July 15 to players in all hockey Associations.

 

Fees: $420

 

Ages: 4-6 (Birth Years 2018-2020)

 

Schedule: Program runs from October to March at Flame Community Arenas.  Ice times are typically mid-morning and alternate with one ice time on one weekend and two times the next.  At the first 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.

First ice times (tentative) - October 5/6, 2024

 

Volunteering

Learn to Skate is 100% volunteer driven. The Learn to Skate Coordinator for the 2024-2025 season is Heather Griffiths who can be reached at learntoskate@trailswesthockey.com.  The LTS coordinator 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. 

 

Waitlist

If you live outside our boundaries and are interested in our program, you may register selecting the LTS Waitlist option (no fee required). On July 15, 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.  Any player who resides outside of Trails West boundaries who fully registers (pays) for LTS prior to July 15 may have their registration cancelled and fees refunded.

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.

 

Refund policy

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.

 

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.