U18 B, Rep (Caledon Female Hockey Association)

Welcome to the Caledon U18B Team

for the 2025/26 Season!

We are very excited for the 2025/26 season and especially to see how this amazing group of players, coaches and all supporting staff will develop together both on and off the ice.   Our summer has been focused on strength training at our partner Caledon Athletic Academy gym and our season is kicking off with an intense 2-day training camp at Caledon East.  The team is looking forward to competing in the Niagara's Rapid Fall Classic, Etobicoke's Pink the Rink, Mississauga's Winter Classic and Brampton's Easter tournaments.  

Team Vision & Goals

1. (Continue to) Learn The Game
2. Work Hard
3. Have Fun

If those 3 goals are met then the season will be successful no matter what the team’s win/loss record is. Saying that, on-ice results are directly related to these 3 objectives and being successful in them will also lead to success in our team's record.

Learn The Game

At the U18 level, our daughters have been playing hockey for 10+ years and should already have a good understanding of hockey, including skills and technique but also a good foundation in the systems and strategy of the game. Ongoing reinforcement of and introduction of new approaches to bring awareness to some of the more subtle aspects of the game will continue their growth and understanding.

As with many other disciplines, learning hockey is best done visually, either by on ice demonstration or through instructional videos or review of game footage to identify plays that were successful or need to be corrected.  Hockey (more so than many sports due to its speed and large number of on ice variables that need to be processed quickly), is extremely situational.  Meaning that a player must experience various game play situations multiple times, with them making both right and wrong decisions, and seeing the outcome for each. That is the best way for them to absorb what happened during the play to understand and more importantly to be able to identify when that situation is about to happen again so that they can react appropriately. Seeing a scenario that is about to unfold is much easier from the stands than it is at ice level and being able to anticipate and react to what a player actually sees, which is one of the hardest aspects of the game to develop. Many of our practice drills will be designed to mirror real life game scenarios so that through repetition the proper reaction can be instilled so that it is repeated in a real game situation.

A hockey team must have systems and plans that are appropriate for them (based on their skill level, experience, and abilities) which are then adjusted according to the strengths and weaknesses of their opposing team. Most of the team systems and plays should be straightforward with a purpose and an emphasis on the execution of the plays so that they are performed properly and quickly.

Work Hard

Learning to always put in full concentration and effort into hockey isn’t just a benefit to the sport but is a valuable life lesson that will serve the players well in the future. While skills are also needed, effort will get you a long way in life and is essential to achieve your goals. In regard to hockey, 100% effort and a high level of competition on the ice is mandatory and more important than a player’s specific skill set. Physical conditioning will be stressed from the first practice of the season and will be a key aspect of every on-ice session. As tiredness sets in during a game, players start to fade and lose their ability to compete with their opponents. Mental tiredness also sets in and leads to lazy, rushed, or reactionary plays that will disrupt the team’s systems.

A particular focus of the season will be on skating technique with the goal of elevating every player’s ability. Coupled with strong conditioning it can allow a team to simply out skate an opponent and wear them down. When a player develops to the point that they no longer must think about skating and that it becomes natural to them, that is when the understanding and awareness of the game really starts to develop.

Have Fun

To succeed in the above 2 goals, the players must truly enjoy practicing and playing with their teammates. A supportive, inclusive, and respectful team environment will provide a foundation for every player to feel welcome and valued and a contributor to the team’s success.  Looking back at their hockey careers as adults they won’t remember their team’s win/loss record, but they will remember the relationships and experiences that they enjoyed throughout a season.