Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association (SMHA) is sharing important format updates and schedule details for the upcoming 2026 U9 Pre-Skates runningSeptember 7 through September 17 at Rod Hamm Arena, Merlis Belsher Place, and Jemini Arenas.

Participating Zones

• Participating Zones: Aces, Bobcats, Comets, Flyers, Redwings, and Renegades.

• Please Note: The Wild Zone will operate an independent pre-skate structure for its registered U9 members, so U9 players in the Wild Zone do not register through this SMHA block program.

Hockey Canada U9 Player Pathway & Cost

In accordance with Hockey Canada guidelines, every registered U9 player receives a mandatory Preparation Phase of four skill sessions prior to formal zone evaluations. The goal is to give young players a chance to get back on the ice, dust off their skates, and build confidence before tryouts begin.

These four sessions are fully included with your seasonal registration at no extra cost. While there is no fee, families must register through TeamLinkt to select their preferred schedule block.

How the U9 Pre-Skate Format Works This Year

Building off the success of our U9 PD Skates introduced last year, SMHA has updated the pre-skate structure ahead of formal zone evaluations to provide improved schedule predictability and added flexibility for families:

• Mirroring the U9 PD Skate Model: Each 45-minute on-ice session will feature SMHA-designed developmental drill plans/small area games led by 3 paid head instructors to guarantee a consistent coach-to-player ratio across all groups.

• Fixed 4-Session Schedule Blocks: Instead of irregular session times, each participant belongs to 1 of 16 set groups. Every group receives 4 dedicated skates (1 weeknight, 1 Saturday, 1 Sunday, and 1 second weeknight).

• Pick Your Schedule & Skate With Friends: Registration is managed directly through TeamLinkt. Families can view the full schedule during signup and select the exact group block that best fits their family's schedule.

  • Friend Requesting: If your player wants to skate with a friend or carpool partner, simply coordinate with their family prior to signing up and register for the same Group Number. SMHA will not take requests or handle any group assignments. 

Title Sponsor Feature: Al Anderson's Source for Sports Day

We are proud to partner with the Official Title Sponsor of our SMHA U9 League, Al Anderson's Source for Sports!

To help kick off the season, Al Anderson's will be set up on-site at Merlis Belsher Place all day during Saturday sessions on September 12th. Be sure to stop by their table at the rink to check out their setup.

How to Register

Registration opens Monday, August 24, 2026 on a first-come, first-served basis across the 16 groups.

• 📲 Primary Registration Link: 2026-2027 SMHA U9 Pre-Skates Registration