Lightning Wrap Up- Newsletter

Apr. 18, 2026

Collingwood Girls Hockey Association - Lightning Wrap Up!

Happy Spring Lighting Families,

We’re excited to share our season wrap up, important dates, and upcoming opportunities within the Collingwood Girls Hockey Association. Be sure to review all the details below and mark your calendars!

Key Dates

April 19th- Lightning Award Nominations DUE
April 24th- Tryout Packages for 2026-27 Competitive Teams CLOSE 9am
April 25 to May 24th- Competitive Team Tryouts
April 30th- DEADLINE to submit team photos for banquet
May 9th- COLGHA Lightning Banquet
May 18th- HL Coach Applications OPEN
June 17th- Lightning AGM 7pm, Location TBA
June TBA- 2026-27 Registration Opens (including Summer 3v3 and Goalie Clinics)
SMGHL Championships Update
OWHA Provincial Championship Update

Lightning Award Nominations

Nominations for the COLGHA 2025/2026 Awards are OPEN—an opportunity to recognize the players, coaches, and volunteers who made a lasting impact this year. These awards will be presented at our Celebration of the 2025/2026 Season Banquet.

Submit Your Nomination(s) NOMINATE HERE Deadline is Sunday, April 19 (End of Day)

We encourage all players, parents, and bench staff to take a few minutes to recognize someone who made this season memorable. These are the people who strengthen our community and make COLGHA what it is.

Tryout Registration and 2026-2027 Registration Information

Registration for 2026-2027 Competitive (Rep) Team TRYOUTS, U11 through Senior, is OPEN. Tryout details have been posted to our WEBSITE, please review this important information. For Tryout Schedules, click HERE. You can also view the schedule on our MAIN ORGANIZATION CALENDAR under the Games Centre TAB.

Tryout registration DEADLINE is April 24th at 9am.

U9B Tryouts will commence in September 2026, pending tryout packages purchased and 2026-27 registration numbers.

Senior C Competitive Team registration will open in June.

Competitive (Rep) team tryouts will take place from April 25 through May 24. Please check the website for division-specific schedules, fees, and requirements.

2026-2027 General Season Information can be found on our WEBSITE, please review all updates. Registration for the season will commence in June as per OWHA instructions.

Celebrate your Players at the Banquet

Please submit your Lightning photos to Thomas- collingwoodlightningphotos@gmail.com, no later than April 30th, this will give Thomas one week to edit, adjust and create our AMAZING Lightning Slideshow!

SAVE THE DATE! And break out your Glow in the Dark Swag. We're about to hit the dance floor and celebrate all things Lightning at our Annual Lightning Banquet.

When- Saturday May 9

What Time- 5-10pm

Where- The Great Northern Exhibition

COLGHA Lightning is thrilled to announce the first round of Coaching Staff for the 2026-27 season!

U9B Rob Cranston

U11A Trevor Littlejohns

U13A Kaitlyn MacDonald

U15A Paul Crane

U18A/BB Jesse Guscott

For updated coach announcements, please visit our WEBSITE.

The next round of Competitive B/BB Head Coaches will be announced in the coming weeks following the first block of tryouts for each division.

House League Coach Applications

Applications for House League Coaches will be accepted from May 18 through June 1.

Coaching is a fantastic way to get involved, support player development, and give back to our hockey community. Please visit our WEBSITE for further information.

Lightning Highlights

We’re proud to celebrate the accomplishments of our COLGHA Lightning teams this season!

Congratulations to all Lightning and Simcoe Muskoka Girls Hockey League Teams for their stellar efforts on Championship Day!

COLGHA Lightning Teams placed in the top three for EVERY division U9HL through U18HL in their SMGHL League standings. WOW!

And a final Congratulations to the SMGHL Champs!

U9 Barrie Navy

U11 Cwood Blue

U13 Cwood White

U15 Cwood Blue

U18 Barrie Green

Congratulations to our Lightning Competitive Teams for surviving a long run of OWHA playoffs, playdowns and Provincial Championships. Huge shoutout to our Senior B Team for bringing home a Bronze Medal and the OWHA banner!

Hockey can bring out the best in PEOPLE! These positive moments often go unnoticed. Let’s make a point to NOTICE them!

During Provincials, the Whitby Wolves U18B lost their goalie to injury and had no backup to finish the game. In an incredible show of teamwork and respect, the Collingwood Lightning U18B stepped up—offering goalie Abbi O to play the final minutes so the game could continue. With cheers from both teams, she took the net and helped finish the game—turning a tough moment into something truly special.

A reminder that hockey is more than a game… It's a community.