Player Movement
Open Borders
Are they really open and what does this mean for St. Albert Minor Hockey players?
Unfortunately, there is a lot of information regarding 'open borders' circulated in the extended hockey community and on different forms of media. Much of this stems from a communication Hockey Alberta released in December outlining proposed changes.
To help you better understand how the changes announced by Hockey Alberta will impact you, we have the following to share.
Member Communication: March 19, 2025
St. Albert Minor Hockey Association
Community Hockey Players
St. Albert Minor Hockey has developed the following process and policy to provide clarity and transparency to families evaluating their hockey options. Should you require any additional information please contact us at registrar@samha.ca.
Moving Out
Players interested in transferring to another program may do so through the Player Movement process. To begin, contact registrar@samha.ca for details.
Moving In
We will continue to prioritize and accept registrations from players within the pre-existing residency boundary between May 1st and July 8th.
Registrations from outside our residency boundary will not be accepted until the resident registration window expires on July 8 and will only be accepted if there is availability.
Some exceptions apply within the U11 Female hockey program. To learn more please contact registrar@samha.ca.
New to Hockey Players
If your player is new to hockey, they are eligible to register with any Minor Hockey Association within Alberta. Priority registration is given to players who reside within the existing St. Albert Minor Hockey boundary.
Non-Sanctioned Participation- Community
If your player participated in a non-sanctioned hockey league in the 2024-2025 season, their Hockey Canada file remains with the sanctioned association to which they were last registered.
If a player leaves the association and later wishes to return to St. Albert Minor Hockey (St. Albert Raiders), they must submit an application to the St. Albert Minor Hockey Association Executive Committee before being reinstated for the remainder of their minor hockey eligibility.
Players who opt to leave for non-sanctioned programs for a second time will not be eligible for future registration with St. Albert Minor Hockey Association. This policy is effective February 28, 2025. Please refer to policies 3.10, 3.20, and 3.30 for more details.
This decision was made to ensure fairness to all participants who remain committed to sanctioned hockey and to uphold the integrity of our development pathway.
We encourage families to carefully consider their options before making a decision, as this policy will be strictly enforced starting with the 2025-2026 season. If you have any questions, please contact us.