The season typically starts at the beginning of September and ends mid-March.

Fernie Minor Hockey and Elk Valley Minor Hockey work cooperatively at U13 and older to ensure that all players across our jurisdictions have the opportunity to play at the most appropriate level for their skill set and to offer the best range of options for all players.  Our goal each season is to combine together to form a "Rep" EV Raiders U15 Tier4 team (includes body checking), and a U15 recreational team - both functioning as a joint cooperation between our associations, meaning that practices and games will rotate between Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford.

**Any player wanting to try out for higher levels of U15 rep hockey must attend the EK Tier 1 AA tryouts in August and the Cranbrook Bucks Tier 2/3 tryouts in September (registration deadline May 31 via Cranbrook Minor Hockey for Bucks and June/July via ekzonelead@gmail.com for EK Avalanche)

 Early registration for U15 is essential as an estimate will be made at the end of June as to whether there will be sufficient numbers to form both teams and whether or not tryouts will be necessary to select the Tier4 team.  Later registrations will not be considered in this decision process. Every effort will be made to accommodate all players. The final make up of our local team(s) will be determined in September once the outcome of regional and Cranbrook tryouts is known. It is possible that a combined U15/U18 Rec team may be created in order to accommodate the most players.

Two 60 min ice times per week. Days and times will be decided prior to the beginning of each season when number of kids and number of teams are determined. Practices will alternate between Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford.

League play will involve travel throughout the East and West Kootenays and as far away as Whitefish, MT and Spokane, WA.

Away tournaments will be decided by coaches/managers and information forwarded to the parents as available. The cost for tournaments varies and is separate/additional from the initial registration fees.

Fernie Minor Hockey and Elk Valley Minor Hockey are volunteer-run organizations. Fernie may host a home tournament for the U15 division. Parents are expected to volunteer for fundraising, concession, raffle table, 50/50 and score keeping.

If you are interested in volunteering as a team coach, manager or safety person, please fill out a volunteer application by July 15  https://www.fernieminorhockey.net/volunteer-application/

Coaches and managers will use TeamSnap to communicate to parents and players. Downloading this free app is recommended.