Welcome to the 2025/2026 Season!, News, U12 AA, Rep AA (Aurora Minor Hockey)

• Off-ice training partnership with Gary Roberts Performance: U12 AA will be offering training during the offseason with the Team at Gary Roberts Performance. Gary Roberts Performance is the gold standard in elite athlete training, and we are very excited to be able to bring this opportunity to our players. This will include off-season and in-season workouts, focusing on general and sport-specific training, recovery, and nutrition etc. This training will include team sessions, as well as workouts/recovery/nutrition guidelines that can be practiced from home.

• On-Ice Skating Development: U12 AA is in the process of striking a partnership with one of the top Skating Development teams in the region. Team training will be focused on improving each athlete's skating abilities for direct translation to the game of Hockey. This program will take place primarily in-season.

• Dedicated Video Sessions: U12 AA will be incorporating dedicated player and team video sessions into our preparation during the 2025-2026 season. These sessions will cover positioning, special teams (power play/penalty kill), and team tactics.

·        Practice: On average we practice anywhere from 2-4 hours per week. This includes dedicated goalie coaching on-ice at team practice. All practices will run out of local Aurora rinks such as Aurora Community Centre, Stronach ARC, Aurora Family Leisure Complex, St. Andrews College La Brier Family Arena.

·        Tournaments: Families can expect at least 4 tournaments throughout the season, each with a guarantee of 4 game minimums. These tournaments will run throughout the GTA and Ontario, and potentially the U.S.

·        Cost: Our goal is to run our program for an all-in family cost of $2,500-$3,000. We have achieved this goal in years past due to generous sponsorship from the community.

For more information about the Aurora Tigers U12 AA development plan, please reach out to me directly at [email protected] or 416-884-6350

This year's Tryout Schedule is as follows:

Saturday April 26^th: 2:45-4:15pm @ Aurora CC (2- McAlpine Lincoln)

Tuesday April 29^th: 6:15pm-7:45pm @ Aurora CC (2- McAlpine Lincoln)

Thursday May 1^st: 6:45pm-8:15pm @ Aurora CC (2- McAlpine Lincoln)

Tryout Expectations

The following is a list of what I am looking for during the tryouts: 

·        Skating: Backward, Forwards, Speed, Agility
·        Puck handling: Passing, Shooting, Handling the puck at top speed and in tight areas
·        Coachability, Attitude, Battling, Team Play, Hockey Sense 

I expect competition to be fierce to earn a position on our team and expect every player to bring forth their best effort and attitude beginning with the first tryout.

Tryout Process  

1. Make sure to sign up for your Tryout Passport. The link can be found here: https://page.spordle.com/aurora/participant/1efff94a-ac58-6de0-9229-02630278221b

2. On the day of each tryout, AMHA representatives will be present to help with the tryout registration process. Registration will take place at the ACC prior to the tryout. Every player must have already registered for a Tryout Passport prior to the first tryout.

3. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before the tryout begins and have your child ready to go on the ice on time. THE HEAD COACH WILL ADDRESS ALL PLAYERS 10 MIN PRIOR TO ICE TIME. When you arrive at the ACC, please go to the AMHA table to sign-in and receive your child’s tryout jersey. THIS JERSEY MUST BE RETURNED AT THE END OF EACH TRYOUT.

4. Full protective gear is mandatory, including neck and mouth guards – players not abiding will not be able to participate in tryouts.

5. There will be a team of independent evaluators who will be assisting me with assessing the players. The AMHA will also assign independent evaluators.  During and after the tryout, please do not approach the evaluators, as they have a job to do. 

6. Communication of my decisions after each tryout will occur via the website and not in-person at the arena. Your child’s passport submission ID number is your code that identifies you on the website (Look at U12 AA for the team and then to the Tryout Player List page).

·       After the 1st tryout, results will be posted no later than 9:00 pm the same day.
·       After the 2nd tryout, results will be posted no later than 10:00 pm of the same day.
·       After the 3rd tryout, results will be posted no later than 10:00 pm the same day. 

Results will not be posted during school/work hours.

For the players that make the team we have an apparel fitting scheduled for May 6th at 6:00pm at Lion's Share Hockey, 16610 Bayview Avenue, Unit 8, Newmarket

Team Expectations

·        The estimated financial commitment for each family will be approximately $2,500 to $3,000.

·        We will be looking for sponsors and fundraising to help reduce the cost per family.

·        There will also be a time commitment required of each family. We will be on the ice 3 to 4 times per week with practices and games and are typically on the ice both Saturday and Sunday. It is expected that players will attend all practices and games.

·        We will be attending 3-4 tournaments within the GTA and throughout Ontario/U.S. You can expect one “away” overnight tournament.

·        Our season extends all the way to the middle of April 2026. Please make your vacation plans accordingly.

I will be looking for parent positions including, but not limited to Assistant Coaches, Team Trainers (2-3), Assistant Manager, Sponsorship Coordinator, Social Committee (multiple) etc. Please do not volunteer before tryouts, as these roles will be selected after the team is established.

If you have a question, please email me at [email protected].

All decisions about player positions are at the discretion of the coach and will most likely change during the season based on the needs of the team.

I look forward to a great season!

Aaron Martin, Head Coach U12 AA Aurora Tigers

[email protected]