The Winter Push- Newsletter

The Winter Push!

“The Winter Push” in hockey terms, refers to the intense effort it takes to survive your players hockey schedule, navigate extreme winter conditions, fulfill your work and family obligations AND have dinner on the table at the end of the day!

As we enter the last couple months of the 2025-26 hockey season, we acknowledge the length and commitment of a full hockey season. It is understandable that folks are tired and a little burnt out. We hear you and we appreciate your commitment and support of the Lightning hockey program, your children and our coaching/staff volunteers.

News at a Glance

• Ice Time
• Hockey Day in Cwood
• Cwood Thundersnow Classic
• PA Day Skate
• Thank an Official
• Good Job Lightning Parents
• Volunteers are Awesome
• Player Pep Talk
• Lightning Highlights
• Save the Date
• Share your news

Ice Time

As we start to incur more weather cancellations and playoff/playdown bookings, the schedule WILL change. Please keep yourself up to date, by checking your Ramp Team App and/or checking the master schedule on our WEBSITE. If you see any errors or duplicate ice, please reach out ASAP! We appreciate the help. 

Hockey Day in Collingwood

Another successful Hockey Day in Collingwood!! Congrats to everyone who planned, participated and powered through the day.

Over 60 middle school girls took to the ice, such a MASSIVE increase from past years. So proud of our Lightning players that gave it their all. 

Big shout out to our community high schools; OLB and CCI for two stellar varsity games. AND thank you for hosting our Lightning Littles during the intermission. 

Collingwood Thundersnow Classic

What a weekend!! 46 teams. Over 800 players. 230 bench staff. Over 25 officials. 28 timekeepers. 50 volunteers. Thank you to everyone for making this tournament such a success. Huge thanks to our tournament leads; Devon and Paul, as well as “Paul’s Pack” of amazing Convenors, IT specialist Joe and the entire tournament committee for a year's worth of planning. Lots of Lightning LOVE for our tournament sponsors.

Congratulations to all Lightning athletes and staff on superb sportswomen-ship and incredible effort all weekend. For the full update, please visit our WEBSITE. 

Stay tuned for 2026-27 as COLGHA Lightning gets set to offer a Competitive Tournament in September 2026 AND a House League Tournament in January 2027!!

COLGHA Lightning Sponsors FREE PA Day Public Skate

COLGHA Lightning wishes to invite the public to a FREE PA Day FUN Public Skate, Friday January 30th, 1-2pm, Wasaga Stars Arena. If there are Lightning players and families that wish to attend, we would love it if you wore your Lightning Swag to represent! Helmets are strongly recommended for all participants. No training, sticks and/or pucks allowed. 

Thank an Official

We are extremely grateful to have access to 28 officials working with our organization. We must remember that the median age of our officials is over the age of 50, that means if we do not encourage, and retain younger referees we will not have the ability for growth and games in our region. 

If you have a player or know someone that would be interested in becoming a referee, please have them reach out to our Lightning Ref in Chief, gknights17@gmail.com

Good Job Lightning Parents

As parents ourselves, we feel your pain. Running from your jobs and daily responsibilities to the rink for a game or practice in order to give your athlete a positive experience. Dealing with the emotions of your player when the experience is not always positive. 

Kids play the game because they love it and because it is fun. The personal and social development that comes from being part of a team is one of the most enriching experiences offered by the game. We must uphold the values of fun, fair play, respect, integrity and teamwork with a balanced perspective of expectations and check our definition of success. “Winning isn’t everything, growing is”. Give your player the tools to manage or change their experience, help them speak up when they feel strongly about something. You’re all doing a great job!

Volunteers Are Awesome

A hockey parent may be a coach, evaluator, director or a referee. Not all of our volunteers are parents. We have MANY volunteers who do not have children on our teams. But all volunteers give their time to our organization because they believe in our programs, they have a desire to share the game of hockey and they care deeply about the success and opportunities of your children.

Coaches and volunteers are essential to hockey at every level. A caring, enthusiastic, well-trained volunteer can be a positive influence on players, parents and fellow staff. Please remember that many of our volunteers are developing their own training tools and will from time to time struggle with a situation, whether a player or parent. Open and thoughtful communication is the key to maintaining good relationships and allows for everyone involved to grow from conflict. And remember, “a life of frustration is inevitable for any coach whose main enjoyment is winning”. We are incredibly grateful to all of our Lightning volunteers and encourage them to reach out for support and assistance.

Player Pep Talk

As a player, you will stay onside - on and off the ice - by honoring your team commitments. Attend practice and be on time. Support teammates in all situations. Be a positive leader and role model, and do not retaliate for incidents on or off the ice. Report issues of mistreatment or bullying to a responsible person.

We recognize that we have the most amazing Lightning players, and each one plays an important role on the team. Most importantly, we ask players to continue to commit to your teammates' experience, and in return your own. Only you have the ability to contribute in a positive manner and become the leader you are meant to become. If you feel there should be more to your hockey experience, Speak Up! Your coach wants to hear from you. Keep up the great work Lightning!

Lightning Highlights

The U11 DS team hit the ice in Orangeville this weekend at the 46th Sweetheart Tournament and absolutely delivered! The girls battled every game with speed, determination, and skill —going undefeated all weekend and bringing home their first GOLD. Congratulations!

U11 HL players came together for a fun-filled morning exhibition game at Eddie Bush!  The girls played on mixed teams, reconnecting with old teammates and meeting new ones. Lots of smiles, great teamwork, and awesome hockey all around! 

A huge THANK YOU to Coach Rob for going above and beyond to organize this event, and to all the amazing volunteers who helped make it such an exceptionally fun morning for the girls. What a great use of icetime for these girls!

Save the Date!

Jan 30th- COLGHA Lightning Free Public Skate at Wasaga Stars Arena, 1-2pm. Wear your Lightning Swag!

Feb 3rd- Team Photos, Details TBA

Feb 6th- Photo Retake Day 

Feb 15th- Coach Applications Open

March 7th- Hockey For Hope.This is our annual fundraiser in honour of My Friend’s House. My Friend’s House is a non-profit agency offering support for abused women and children living in the Georgian Triangle. Whether your team is booked for a home game or you play out of town that day, plan to stop in and support this important initiative. If you wish to help out please email Lindsay Gosnell, l_gosnell@hotmail.com

March 28/29th- SMGHL Championships, U9/11 Wasaga, U13/15/18 Barrie. We are looking for volunteers, willing to learn and support Championship Day! This is a super fun day that celebrates all HL players in a meaningful year end competition. Please email Rob to help, colgha.ll@gmail.com

April 10-12th- OWHA Competitive Provincial Championships

May 9th Tentative- Lightning Banquet Celebration. We are looking for a BANQUET LEAD! This is a VERY rewarding position, (and will give you all the feels) planning a night to celebrate our Lightning players and volunteers. Please email Ivy to help, collingwoodgirlshockey@outlook.com

Lightning Website and Social Media

Please follow our Facebook and Instagram feeds for the latest photos and news. If you have news to share then please update us! You can either send your photos and caption to us at collingwoodgirlshockey@outlook.com or post it on Facebook, it will be approved and copied to Instagram. Don’t forget to check out our WEBSITE for schedules and Lightning updates. 

We’ve got this Lightning! Let’s finish the season with greatness and continue to appreciate our ability to play and participate in the greatest game on earth.

Season 9 Motto! “Teach girls to be BRAVE not perfect”.

Cheers, COLGHA