Attention Hockey Winnipeg, Hockey Manitoba, Manitoba High School Athletic Association As partners in the development of youth hockey across Manitoba, we share a collective responsibility to create equitable playing opportunities, while ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all players. In recent years, safety and fairness concerns have increased within the WHSHL due to limitations in our ability to call up players when teams fall below 15 skaters. These challenges impact not only team competitiveness but, more importantly, player well-being. Note: Teams cannot request players that exceed their registered roster (ex. If a team has 14 skaters on their roster, they cannot call up to get to 15). The WHSHL Executive is requesting a collective agreement that allows our schools the opportunity to fairly use affiliate players from Hockey Winnipeg and Hockey Manitoba teams. The following proposed agreement is: • WHSHL schools are allowed to affiliate players up to 10 games a season from AA or A1 body contact leagues. Affiliated players must be registered to our MHSAA and Hockey Manitoba roster within the roster deadline requirements. A WHSHL team must inform coach in the respective team to seek permission to use the player. • An affiliated player cannot be requested to be called up if their current team is in playoffs • Like our Junior Hockey agreements, once a WHSHL players team is eliminated for the season, they can be called up indefinitely by a respective team. We all aim to enhance the hockey experience to provide equitable and safe groups for players in our province regardless of which league they play in. We look forward to work together for creating a positive, inclusive and competitive balanced approach within our organizations. Regards, Tyler Metcalfe and Kevin Landreville, WHSHL Executive Members The agreement will follow common Hockey Manitoba practices such as: • Allow for up to 5 affiliation players (including goalie(s). These 5 affiliated players would be in addition to the maximum 20 player roster. The affiliated players must be students currently enrolled in the respective school. The affiliated players would sign Hockey Manitoba Affiliated Player Document by November 1st. Note: Your registered roster in addition to your affiliated players list cannot exceed 2 Grade 9’s. • An affiliated player can only be called up when the roster is below 15 skaters. Note: A team cannot AP players over their registered roster (ex. If they have 14 skaters registered for team, they cannot ask to AP a 15th skater). If a team has 1 Goalie or less, they can Affiliate from schools AP list. Note: AP Goalie cannot play unless Registered Goalie is injured or is losing by 5 or more goals. • WHSHL and Hockey Manitoba coaches shall obtain prior approval from the affiliated players team coach before using the player for any sanctioned game. This must be done prior to each game in which an affiliated player is used (no block agreements are permitted). Note: Affiliated players cannot be used for practice and cannot be requested if the players team is in playoffs. • When affiliate players are used, such players shall be designated on the Official Game report using the symbol “AP” with the number of games used to date (ex. 1 of 10). Affiliated Players PLAY A MAXIMUM OF TEN (10) GAMES during the regular season and playoffs. However, if his registered team completes its regular season and playoffs before his affiliated team or teams, he may thereafter affiliate an unlimited number of times. • The WHSHL executive will have a monitoring system in place to track and verify schools are adhering to the maximum number of games. Additionally, the WHSHL executive will provide team contacts to Hockey Winnipeg and Hockey Manitoba. • WHSHL Junior Hockey agreement remains unchanged: Junior Team contacts the coach and player to request ‘call-up’. When affiliate players are used, such players shall be designated on the Official Game report using the symbol “AP”. Affiliated Players PLAY A MAXIMUM OF TEN (10) GAMES during the regular season and playoffs. However, if his registered team completes its regular season and playoffs before his affiliated team or teams, he may thereafter affiliate an unlimited number of times. I have read the following WHSHL, MHSAA, Hockey Manitoba and Hockey Winnipeg Player Affiliation Agreement, and agree to support and fulfill the requirements. The agreement will be in place for the 2025-2026 season and reviewed for further considerations in spring of 2026.
