First Shift

For the 2025-26 Season…

The Port Colborne Wave is hosting NHL/NHLPA First Shift!

First Shift is designed to ensure a positive experience for new-to-hockey families by making hockey affordable, manageable (time commitment), safe and fun!

The program is open to participants 6 to 10 years old who have never previously enrolled in minor hockey within Canada or the NHL/NHLPA First Shift Program.

For $299, participants receive:

Head-to-Toe Bauer Equipment, including Skates
Expert equipment fitting at our Welcome Event
6 On-Ice Sessions that are always on the same day of the week, same time and same arena
Hockey Canada on-ice curriculum
Focus on Fun!

Participant Equipment Package

Each participant will be expertly fit with head-to-toe Bauer equipment at the Welcome Event. Equipment includes:

Skates
Stick
Gloves
Helmet including face mask
Shoulder & elbow pads
Pants & shin guards
Neck guard
Jock/Jill under protective shorts
Bag
Socks & Jersey

Important Note: Equipment is YOURS TO KEEP! Yes, participants keep the equipment.

Schedule and Dates:

Welcome Event - Tuesday November 25th, 2025

Location - Vale Health & Wellness Centre

Time - 6:00pm

The Bauer Fitting Team will be on-site to do a Welcome Presentation and an Equipment Fit Demonstration. Participants will then be fitted with Head-to-Toe Bauer equipment that they can keep.

On-Ice Sessions - Sunday December 7th to Sunday January 18th

The On-Ice schedule is tentative and will be confirmed in August. Once started, all sessions will run at the same time and same arena for each week.

Sunday December 7th
Sunday December 14th
Sunday December 21st
Sunday January 4th
Sunday January 11th
Sunday January 18th

All dates at 9:30am at Thomas A. Lannan Sports Complex

On-Ice Programming:

The On-Ice Programming will follow the Hockey Canada Curriculum for U7. Our Programming will be similar to the highly successful U7 Program delivered by PCGHA.

Transition Program:

Upon completion of the 6 On-Ice Sessions, we will look to have participants join a team in the appropriate age group (subject to availability). We will also offer a Transition Program for participants choosing to continue. The Transition Program will continue the Hockey Canada Curriculum from the initial 6 sessions while maintaining the First Shift principles of being affordable, manageable, safe and fun! Registration costs for either option are To Be Determined. There is no obligation to continue after the initial 6 On-Ice Sessions