Fall Back into our November Newsletter!

Greetings Lightning Families!

We hope you are starting to settle into a routine and getting to know your teammates and Lightning families for the season. Thank you to all coaches, volunteers, managers and den moms, seasoned and new! We assure you these are not jobs for the faint of heart BUT they are very rewarding and vital to the operating success of your team. We encourage everyone to get involved, there is a lot of planning behind the scenes and it really does help to learn what goes into a full season, providing opportunities that benefit all girls. 

To date, we have cleared nearly 140 VOLUNTEERS!! Thank you to all Volunteers for complying with the OHF/OWHA volunteer task list. AMAZING, and incredible it takes this many people to help run our organization. 

News at a Glance:

• Ice Time

• The Rule of Two

• Lightning Attire

• COLGHA Raffle

• Cwood Santa Claus Parade

• Skill Development Program

• Financial Assistance

• MURFA

• DS Tryout Registration

Ice Time

Game schedules are up to date and 2026 additional practice ice will be posted shortly. Thank you for your patience. If you find conflicts or have questions regarding ice time, please reach out but understand that mistakes do happen and that we have used our ice allotment to the best of our ability. Changes may occur so please keep yourself up to date!

The Rule of Two 

The ‘Rule of Two’ requires two trained and screened adults to be present in the dressing room or immediately outside the dressing room in order to monitor the environment and ensure it is free of any discrimination, harassment, bullying, or other forms of maltreatment. If you are unsure whether your team allows parents/guardians (generally only U9 and younger), into the changeroom to assist players, please speak to your team coach/manager for the rules of the team. And be sure to pass the guidelines onto grandparents/guardians. 

Lightning Attire

COLGHA encourages all players and team staff to agree to a Lightning uniform when arriving at the rink, warming up within the rink, representing our club at a tournament or within the community. There's no better feeling than showing up to a game or event as one unified team. Uniforms contribute to team spirit, motivation, solidarity and confidence. Your team uniform is what gives you your superpower feeling!

Socks and swag are available for purchase through the UNIFORM FACTORY. Please note that all U9HL players must purchase their game socks this year. If you have not purchased U9 socks, then the sock package will be added to your player registration account.
 

Lightning Raffle is Underway

Our amazing club raffle is back and better than ever! Team managers should have connected with families to provide raffle tickets. Each player in the association is responsible for selling one book of tickets for the annual Association Fundraiser. Each book of 10 is valued at $200 ($20/ticket). At the time of registration, players U7 through U18 committed to a $200 deposit for a book of 10 tickets. Families will recoup these funds through the sale of the book of tickets and subsequently, keep those funds, up to the cost of one book of tickets ($200). The association-wide fundraiser:

• helps COLGHA maintain a low registration fee
• provides opportunities for skill development programs
• funds the purchase of association-wide equipment (pucks, jerseys, goalie equipment)
• helps the association provide player assistance to families in need
• reimburses coaches and volunteers for their certifications
• provides individual player and team photos
• allows our teams to celebrate the season at a year-end banquet and awards night

Collingwood Santa Claus Parade

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 15th, beginning at 5pm, and plan to join the fun!  

The theme this year is “O’Canada, O’Christmas Tree, O’the good ol’hockey game”.

The parade will form on Ste Marie Street (between Huron and Ontario Streets) but remember that you will have to park or drop-off elsewhere and walk to this meeting location. Please join us on Ste Marie anytime after 4pm and try to arrive no later than 4:50pm as we start moving shortly after that! We’ll have a white pick up truck and flat-bed trailer. Hopefully our jerseys will make it easy for you to spot!! 

All hockey players and guardians are welcome! Please wear your Collingwood Lightning Jerseys (parents if you don’t have Lightning swag- please wear Canadian or Christmas themed duds) and dress WARM.

If you have a stuffed animal that represents a Canadian animal- bring it along to help with our theme! They’ll be placed under the tree, in the net, or hand-held if it’s too sentimental. You are all welcome to bring anything else you can think of - fun hats, lights for you or your hockey stick, just have fun with it! 

Please wear comfy shoes ‘cause the 'prime' float seats are for U7’s and U9’s, so anyone else will most likely be walking!

Parade rules for walkers: 

• Please hand the candy directly to onlookers 
• Please try and wear some type of illumination 
• Please move to the sidewalks (if possible) when the float turns to ensure everyone keeps their distance and stays safe.

We'll all stick together while the parade circles back onto Ste Marie Street where parents and caregivers can collect your players. 

Please, please text Ellie (705) 888-8544 if you can come walk or ride with us and help supervise the kiddos! Many are at tournaments, so if you’re home; please come out and show your Lightning pride!

Rise & Skate, TGIF and Goalie Skills Reminder

It’s no secret midweek ice is a challenge to acquire, but we are committed to player development. As a reminder, COLGHA, Liz Manley Elite Hockey and GB Goaltending are offering optional skill development to ALL players/goalies U9 through U18. There’s nothing better than a clean sheet of ice for a sunrise skate OR a power skate to kick off the weekend! Player ice times are posted to your Team Calendar/Team App. Goalie Clinics are located on our website calendar. 

**U7 Program runs consistently twice a week with a focus on player development**

Town of Collingwood Affordable Recreation Fee Subsidy Program

The affordable recreation program is directed at individuals and households who face financial barriers participating in sport and recreation programming by providing fee assistance to Collingwood residents.

Eligible households can access financial credit which may be directed at subsidizing programs delivered by the Parks, Recreation & Culture Department including swim or public skate passes, swimming lessons, and Museum day-camps as well as community recreation or minor sports delivered in Collingwood recreation facilities. Check it out HERE.

COLGHA Financial Assistance Program

Did you know that COLGHA Lightning ALSO has a Financial Assistance Program? It is our sincere desire to support girls wishing to play hockey with the financial support they require to access our programming. Please contact collingwoodgirlshockey@outlook.com.

If you are a business or individual that feels strongly about girls and women in sport and would like to donate to our Financial Assistance Program, please reach out.

Expression of Interest: Land Acquisition for Community Spaces

Do you own land that would be suitable for a Multi-Use Recreation Facility and/or Arts Centre?

The Town of Collingwood is exploring opportunities to enrich our community through the development of an Arts and Cultural Centre and a Multi-Use Recreational Facility. They are seeking your assistance to identify potential sites for these projects! These future-focused spaces will celebrate creativity, promote active lifestyles, and provide inclusive, year-round programming for residents of all ages. 

For more information please visit the TOC WEBSITE. 

U11, U13 and U15 Development Stream (DS)

COLGHA Lightning is excited to participate in the Development Stream (DS) pilot program. The DS Program is a tryout-based program available only to registered House League players. It allows players to access extra ice time, participate in additional games, and attend tournaments with a dedicated team (in addition to their House League team).

The deadline to REGISTER for TRYOUTS is NOON on Sunday November 16th. Please make sure you have read and understand the program, player/family commitment and additional fees that will apply if your player is successful.

For more information please visit our WEBSITE. 

Lightning Website and Social Media

Please follow our Facebook and Instagram  feeds for the latest photos and news. If you have news to share then please update us! You can either send your photos and caption to us at collingwoodgirlshockey@outlook.com or post it on Facebook, it will be approved and copied to Instagram. Don’t forget to check out our WEBSITE for schedules and Lightning updates. 

As always, thank you for choosing Collingwood Lightning to pursue your athletic and hockey endeavors. Thank you for trusting us to provide the best possible programming and experience for your athlete. Each and every one of us has an obligation to contribute to someone else's hockey experience, not just our own. Please be kind to one another, know that mistakes do happen, emotions can run high and that everyone deserves compassion and respect. 

Have a great November!

Season 9 Motto! “Teach girls to be BRAVE not perfect”.

Cheers, COLGHA