top hockey GTHL teams

top hockey GTHL teams

In early 2024, TOP Hockey made history by becoming the first independent minor hockey club to be granted a tournament-only membership in the GTHL and Hockey Canada. This highlights a broader shift in minor hockey that encourages families, players, and coaches to pick the program that best aligns with their philosophy and core values, while still allowing kids to play other sports, ski, and be more efficient with their time during hockey season.

One of the biggest differentiators with TOP Hockey teams is our unique tournament-based schedule through the GTHL. Instead of the constant changes and unnecessary travel that come with a traditional league schedule, our model provides a predictable set schedule with three practices per week and tournaments on designated weekends throughout the season. Teams also compete in exhibition games scheduled against local opponents throughout the season, resulting in teams playing between 25-40 games per season, increasing within this range as the teams get older.

For the 2025-2026 season, TOP Hockey will offer one team per age group from U8 to U15, competing at the Select, ‘A’, or ‘AA’ levels.

Program Details

Program Features

  • 3 Weekly Practices
  • 5-8 Tournaments / Festivals
  • 25-40 Total Games Per Season
  • End-of-Season Tournament
  • Expanded Pathway for U15+

Hockey Development

  • Professional Non-Parent Coaches
  • 2-3 Player Feedback Meetings
  • Bi-Weekly Powerskating Sessions
  • Weekly Goalie Development Program
  • Club-Wide Development Curriculum

Schedule Highlights

  • Local Rinks (UCC, RINX, Forest Hill)
  • Set Schedule, No Rotating Games
  • Dedicated Tournament Weekends
  • Ski-Friendly Winter Schedule
  • Program Blackouts During Holidays

2025-2026 teams & tryouts

Team Level Head Coach Tryout #1 Tryout #2 Register For Tryouts
U8 (2018) Select Amber Stevenson May 10, 5:00pm @ UCC May 11, 9:30am @ UCC CLICK HERE
U9 (2017) Select Naomi Kobo May 10, 6:00pm @ UCC May 15, 6:00pm @ RINX 2 CLICK HERE
U10 (2016) 'A' TBC May 3, 5:30pm @ St. Mikes May 4, 4:00pm @ St. Mikes CLICK HERE
U11 (2015) 'A' Bennett Drake May 3, 6:30pm @ St. Mikes May 4, 5:00pm @ St. Mikes CLICK HERE
U12 (2014) 'A' TBC May 3, 7:30pm @ St. Mikes May 9, 6:00pm @ UCC CLICK HERE
U13 (2013) 'A' Julian Ristic May 3, 8:30pm @ St. Mikes May 9, 7:00pm @ UCC CLICK HERE
U14 (2012) 'A' Max Lewis May 7, 6:00pm @ St. Mikes May 9, 8:00pm @ UCC CLICK HERE
U15 (2011) 'AA' Ian Mackenzie April 28, 6:00pm @ UCC May 2, 7:00pm @ St. Mikes CLICK HERE

GTHL Tryout Process

  • All players must register for tryouts through the GTHL portal. Players who have not registered are unable to participate. Once you register online you will receive an email confirmation, which will serve as proof of registration. You will need to show this email to TOP Hockey staff before going on the ice for tryouts.

  • All tryouts are 1 hour in length, and there is a $20.00 per player fee to participate (cash only).

  • For more information on the tryout process and eligibility, please click here to see the GTHL’s website.

GTHL TEAMS FAQ

  • Our tournament-based schedule allows us to provide TOP Hockey families with a full overview of the whole season, including all practices and games, with very minimal changes and no rotating games. Depending on the age, teams play between 5-8 tournaments per season plus additional exhibition games, resulting in 25-40 total games.

  • Through our membership with the GTHL, OHF, and Hockey Canada, TOP Hockey teams play in GTHL-sanctioned tournaments and festivals, as well as exhibition games against local GTHL Teams. Teams play between 25-40 games, depending on the age group.

  • Each TOP Hockey team will be entered into tournaments at the level that best suits the skill level of the team. Generally speaking, TOP Hockey teams reach the ‘A’ or ‘AA’ level by U12/U13, though we never promise a certain level of play as that depends on the ability of the team.

    We have the ability move teams up skill levels mid-season to provide the best competition.

  • At the U8 and U9 levels, teams are picked through “Player Assessments”, which take into account a player’s skill level in tryouts, multi-sport participation, and the overall philosophy of the family. Between U8 to U11 we generally don’t make skill-based cuts year-to-year as we believe that kids need sufficient time to develop.

    For U10+, teams are picked exclusively through tryouts each Spring. All players, returning and new, must be selected for the team each season to ensure the competitiveness of the team grows each year.

  • For our Development Teams (U8 and U9), all players receive equal playing time.

    For our Academy Teams (U10-U14), players receive equitable playing time based on effort, attitude, and attendance. Playing time during the last 5-minutes of each game is at the discretion of the coach.

    For our Prep Teams (U15-U18), playing ice is at the complete discretion of the coach and is determined by effort, attitude and execution.

  • TOP Hockey teams from U8 to U14 are ski-friendly and do not have practices from Friday 5pm to Sunday 4pm on weekends in January and February. Tournaments may be scheduled on weekends throughout the winter.

    TOP Hockey teams from U15 to U18 are not ski-friendly and there will be practices and games on weekends in the winter.

For more information on the latest GTHL, OHF, and Hockey Canada updates, please click below:

RELEVANT INFORMATION