Lightning UPDATE

Mar. 18, 2024

Greetings Lightning Families!

Hard to believe we are heading into the final push of the season! For some of our U18 players this means they are getting closer to completing their minor hockey careers, for others it means they are focused on Provincials, SMGHL Championships and Spring Tryouts. For our youngest it simply means soccer, rugby, swimming and the great outdoors is calling! Whatever path your player is on, enjoy the process and celebrate their experiences, as they say “time flies''.

COLGHA is very busy behind the scenes planning for the end of the season and looking towards next season. Stay up to date on ALL LIGHTNING news by visiting our social media sites, website and checking your emails!

Coach applications are now being accepted for the 2024/25 Lightning season.

Please be aware of the following key dates:

Competitive/Rep Applications:

March 8: application submission deadline
March 9 to 30: in-person interviews
April 15: coaching positions will be announced

House/Local League Applications:

June 15: application submission deadline
June 16 to 30: in-person interviews
July 1: coaching positions will be announced

For further information and to apply for a coach position, please visit our WEBSITE.

Lightning Banquet

A volunteer call has gone out to all Lightning managers, we now have a representative from every team to help plan our Banquet. As you know, we really throw a PARTY! Please reach out to your manager ASAP if you’d like to help your team rep.

Our Lightning Banquet is set for Saturday May 11th, (5-11pm TBC), at the Great Northern Exhibition. Mark Your Calendar! All Lightning divisions are invited!

The Living Wish Foundation Tournament

The Living Wish Foundation is a local not-for-profit organization that provides "wishes" for people who are near the end of life. Living Wish staff organize wishes big and small, to provide a special time for the client and their families. Each wish can cost up to $1500.

The Cal Patterson Memorial Hockey Tournament is the Living Wish Foundation's biggest fundraiser of the year. It is a women's tournament that runs on April 26th & 27th. It is a fun and busy event run by volunteers. This year we are hoping to recruit some Lightning girls to help out with the tournament. We would like to have Lightning players help as "runners" to support teams as they get ready for their games and to help run our "Kids Zone", an activity centre for the kids of moms who are playing in the tournament.

In addition to giving back to the community, Lightning girls who volunteer will see firsthand that hockey is something that can be fun and competitive at all ages, even after graduating from the Lightning. If your daughter is interested in helping out with this fun event, please email mlewin29@gmail.com.

We hope to recruit 20-30 girls so that we can make shifts 2-4 hours long.

U7 Final Jamboree

Congratulations to our U7 Little Lightning on their amazing showing at the U7 End of Season Jamboree this past Saturday. Special thanks to Midland for hosting and to our U7 Lightning Families for attending. These Lightning Littles have come a long way and we look forward to their growth next season!

SMGHL Championships

Congratulations to our Lightning Local League teams on their regular season standings.

U9 Lightning Silver, Blue and White are 1-2-3 at the top of an 11 team division!!

U11 Blue squeaked into 3rd place, while U11 White finished off strong in 6th place.

U13 Blue took the top spot, while U13 White came in hot in 3rd place.

U15 White finished strong in 3rd, with U15 Blue in 6th, both with new Gal-Tenders!!

U18 HL sits in 4th place of a 9 team division.

The future of Lightning Hockey is certainly bright and we are making it very hard for the other SMGHL centres to compete with us! Good luck to all Lightning HL Teams attending the Simcoe Muskoka GHL Championships March 23/24 in Midland and Barrie! We will post all the weekend achievements on our social media sites.

OWHL Southern League

Congratulations to our Lightning competitive teams in their regular season standings.

U11B had a great season with a 4th place regular season finish, and tourney Championships. A building team with brand new goalies!

U13B placed second in the OWHL Southern standings with numerous tourney championships to brag about this season.

U15B took the top spot with a record of 20-1-1 and multiple tourney Championships this season.

U18B also took the top spot with a record of 15-1-6 and fell just shy of a three way tie to move onto the OWHL second round of playoffs.

Best of the Best OWHL Championships

Congratulations to our U15B Lightning Team as they clinched the top spot becoming the OWHL Southern Champions and remain in the fight for OWHL League Championships. They are currently in their second round of League playoffs against Bancroft and Leaside. Go Lightning!!

Provincial Championships

Congratulations and Good Luck to our three Lightning Teams that will attend OWHA Provincials Championships April 11-14th in the GTA. Good Luck U15B, U18B and Senior C as they compete against the best teams in Ontario!

Spring Tryouts and Preskates

PreSkates for U11 through U18 are now booked and can be found on our WEBSITE.

Tryout dates and times U11 through U18 can also be found on our website CALENDAR. Further details, information and tryout registration packages will be released the week of March 25th. Stay tuned!

Summer 3v3

Once again COLGHA will be offering an optional, fun, 3v3 skate for Lightning players U9 through Senior. Program dates are Wednesday July 3 to August 28th. Central Park Arena.

5pm U9/U11

6pm U13/15

7pm U18/Senior

Registration will open late May and will be based on first come first serve. Details TBA.

Goalie Clinics

Lightning Goalie Clinics will take place through August for returning and new Lightning Gal-Tenders of all ages! Monday August 12th and 19th, 5-7pm and Monday August 26th 4-7pm, Central Park Arena. Further details and age divisions TBA. Mark your calendar!

2024/25 Hockey Registration

Registration for the 2024/25 hockey season will open late May. Further information and registration details will be available shortly.

It’s hard to believe our Lightning organization will begin its 8th season. We’ve come a long way from 30 girls and two teams. Now boasting over 300 girls, 16 teams and a large Fundamentals Program, our centre is on the map and folks have taken notice!!

A sincere thank you to our Lightning Volunteers, Community Partners and Sponsors, Lightning Families, Players and Executive for their time, commitment and support of women and girls in sport. It takes an entire community and it’s no small feat keeping 300 girls and their families motivated and moving in the same direction for an entire season. You all have so much to be proud of. Thank you for choosing the Lightning organization!!

Good Luck to all Lightning Players and Staff as they finish off the 2023/24 Hockey Season! Cheers!