Lightning Player Development Program, 2026-27

Lightning Player Development Program, 2026-27

We’re excited to introduce our 2026-27 Lightning Player Development Program—a year-long investment in helping our players grow, develop and build confidence on the ice.

This season, COLGHA Lightning is continuing to invest directly into player development, creating additional opportunities for players across our association to access specialized instruction and development experiences beyond their regular team practices.

What's Included?

• Bolt Breakfast Club - morning skills sessions with experienced instructors
• Dedicated Goalie Development - specialized clinics and support for our goaltenders
• U7 & First Shift Development - building strong fundamentals from the beginning
• Shooting & Off-Ice Development - opportunities for older House League players
• Winter Fundamentals - skill-building opportunities for new players during the season
• Team Development Support - additional development opportunities for teams (U15/18 Comp)
• Coach Development - resources to help our coaches continue to grow

Some opportunities will be offered through individual registration, while others will be delivered through teams or specific programs. This allows us to provide meaningful development opportunities to players at different ages, levels and stages of development throughout the season.

Registration will occur on a timeline. All blocks will be open at the same time. To give as many players as possible an opportunity to participate, registration will initially be limited to one BLOCK per player. If space remains after the initial registration period, additional spaces may be opened.

Our Goal: Our goal isn't to create a one-size-fits-all program. It's to create more opportunities for more Lightning players to learn, improve and enjoy the game.

Every player develops differently. Every player deserves the opportunity to develop.

Please note that development opportunities are intentionally varied throughout the season based on age, level, program needs, ice time and instructor availability. Not every player will participate in every component of the program, but our goal is to provide meaningful development opportunities across the association.

Registration Information

The Bolt Breakfast Club and The Hockey Mill opportunities will be offered through individual registration rather than requiring entire teams to participate.

Because spaces are limited, we ask families to:

• Register only if your player can reasonably commit to the full session block or group.
• Consider your schedule carefully before registering.
• Prioritize attendance once registered.
• Notify the association as soon as possible if your player cannot attend, so the spot may be offered to another player.

Our goal is to give as many Lightning players as possible an opportunity to participate. Depending on demand, registration may be limited or prioritized to ensure opportunities are shared across our membership.

Bolt Breakfast Club, 4-Lesson Morning Skills Blocks

The Bolt Breakfast Club provides additional skill development through 4-lesson registration blocks with experienced instructors.

Who: U9HL, U11HL, U13HL, U15HL, U18HL & U9B, U11B, U11A, U13BB, U13A
Maximum: 24 players per BLOCK
Time: 7:00 AM
Location: Central Arena, or Eddie Bush **refer to chart**

Players register for one complete four-lesson block, not individual dates. Each block is specific to an age division and/or specific groups.

All blocks will be open at the same time. To give as many players as possible an opportunity to participate, registration will initially be limited to one BLOCK per player. If space remains after the initial registration period, additional spaces may be opened.

**Registration is for the complete four-session block.** Please ensure your player can attend all four sessions before registering. These sessions are intentionally structured as a block so instructors can build on skills from one session to the next.

The Hockey Mill- Shooting & Gym Development

Who: U15 & U18 House League.
Maximum: 24 players per group
Time: 8-9 PM
Location: The Hockey Mill

Each session includes:

• 30 minutes of shooting instruction
• 30 minutes of gym/athletic development with certified female coaches
• Professional instruction from The Hockey Mill

Players will register for one three-session group. Groups meet every other week over six weeks.

To give as many U15/U18 HL players as possible an opportunity to participate, registration will initially be limited to one group per player. If space remains after the initial registration period, additional spaces may be opened. 

**Registration is for all three sessions in the selected group.**

Please register only if your player can reasonably commit to attending all three sessions. Consistent attendance allows players to benefit from the progression of the program and ensures that every available spot is being used.

What to bring:
Clean indoor running shoes • Hockey gloves • Stick • Water bottle • Gym attire

A Little More Development. A Lot More Opportunity.

COLGHA Lightning has made a significant investment in player development this season, and we're excited to provide our players with opportunities to learn from experienced instructors, try new skills and build confidence.

We're asking our families to help us make sure these opportunities are shared, well-used and accessible to as many Lightning players as possible.

**REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26th at 8AM** (but first coffee...)