northwest HOUSE LEAGUE (nwhl)
The NWHL (Northwest House League) offers an alternative to traditional community hockey for players in the U9, U11, and U13 age groups. Co-run by the Northwest Warriors and Bow River Bruins, the program emphasizes balanced teams, consistent scheduling, and a fun, development-focused experience.
key features
- Two ice times per week: typically one game and one practice
- Set schedules (no variable week-to-week times)
- Balanced teams with a mix of skill levels
- No tournaments or exhibition games
- No fundraising or cash calls
- Lower fees than Community Hockey
- 35–40 ice times per player from early October to early March
- All games follow Hockey Calgary rules and the Fair Play Code
Comparing House League (NWHL) vs. Community Hockey (NWW)
| FEATURE | HOUSE LEAGUE | COMMUNITY HOCKEY |
| Schedule | Set weekly practice + game times | Varies week to week |
| Team Formation | Balanced skill-level teams | Skill-tiered based on evaluations |
| Games | Internal games only | Against other Calgary associations |
| Tournaments | Not permitted | May participate |
| Fundraising | Not permitted | May include cash calls/fundraising |
| Fees | Lower | Higher (due to more ice time) |
ice time schedule (tentative)
| AGE GROUP | PRACTICES | GAMES |
| U9 | Friday evenings | Sunday mornings |
| U11 | Wednesday or Thursday evenings | Saturday mornings |
| U13 | Thursday evenings | Saturday afternoons |
- All sessions take place at Crowchild Twin Arena and West Hillhurst Arena
- Ice times are 60 minutes; U13 games are 75 minutes
season timeline
- September: 3 evaluation skates
- October (early): Practices begin
- Mid-October to early March: Regular season
- Late November: Scheduled break
evaluations & team formation
- Players attend three evaluation ice times in September
- House League Coordinators aim to create balanced teams
- Friend requests will be considered but not guaranteed
- Evaluations are not skill-tiering — all teams are balanced by design
goalie information
- U9: Goalie rotation encouraged; equipment provided
- U11 & U13: Two designated goalies per team (where available); players must provide their own goalie equipment
Equipment & Uniforms
- Full equipment required, including mouth guards
- Players must wear their team jersey for practices
- Included in registration: team jersey and socks, team and individual photo memory mate
teams
- Anticipated team numbers:
- 6 U9 teams
- 8 U11 teams
- 6 U13 teams
- Maximum team size: 18 players
- Waitlist will apply once divisions are full
coaching information
- Coaches are selected by House League Coordinators
- To volunteer, complete the House League Coaching Application (see Coach tab on website)
- Register as a coach by selecting “Register Another Participant” during the online player registration and choosing “Coach Registration”