SEASON REGISTRATION
- Registration for returning players typically opens in May.
- Registration for new to TBirds players typically opens in June.
- Vancouver Thunderbirds will offer programs in 2025-26 for players born in 2005-2020:
- U7: 2019-2020
- U9: 2017-2018
- U11: 2015-2016
- U13: 2013-2014
- U15: 2011-2012
- U18: 2008-2010
- U21: 2005-2007
- The map below shows the dividing line between the Vancouver Thunderbirds (left side of the blue line) and Vancouver Minor (right side of the blue line).
- As per Hockey Canada rules, players must register and play within the minor hockey association boundary where they reside.
- If you are wanting to join the Vancouver Thunderbirds, and you reside on the left side of the blue line, please see the section below "2025-26 Season Registration for Players New to the Thunderbirds" for the next steps.
After reviewing the information below, should you have any questions, please email our office at registration@vancouvertbirds.ca
New Players to Vancouver Thunderbirds Hockey
If you are interested in registering for the 2025/26 season and want to confirm you live within our boundary and are eligible for one of our programs before completing the New Player Application, please email our office with the following information:
- Name of athlete
- Athlete's birthdate
- Athlete's home address
Once confirmed you are in our boundary you must complete the online New Player WAITLIST Application form - click here.
Within 7 days of completing the application you will receive an email asking for the required paper work that is needed to register with Vancouver Thunderbirds.
New Player Registration is expected to begin in late June following a registration period for returning TBird players. You will receive an email with information to register if it is determined there is available space. Note: A NEW player is anyone who has NOT played with us in the 2024/25 season.
We look forward to welcoming you to the TBirds family!
Registration for RETURNING players(played with TBirds in 2024/25 season) will open on May 15, 2025 at 9:30 am.
Hockey Canada ID number (HCID) is required to register. You can find your player's HCID by logging into your Spordle Account.
Please do not register if you didn't play for TBirds in the 2024/25, contact (registration@vancouvertbirds.ca) for further instructions.
Deadline to register for Rep Tryouts is July 15, 2025.
Returning players will have priority registration until June 1st. After that open spaces will be offered to players on the waitlist and returning players will be only able to join if space remains.
Please note that any registrations completed after June 1st are not considered confirmed (even if payment has been made) until you receive an email.
If you have any questions, please contact registration@vancouvertbirds.ca.
2025-26 Season Fee Information
Below are descriptions for the applicable fees for the 2025-26 season:
- Base Registration Fees (mandatory for all players)
- Rep Tryout Fees (optional fee)
- Rep Program Fee (mandatory fee for Rep players only)
- Team Fees (mandatory for all players)
- Volunteer Fee (mandatory deposit and refunded when hours are completed)
- Discount information for 3 or more children and goalies in U11, U13, U15 and U18
Base Registration Fee
The base registration fee refers to the amount that is charged to all players based on the actual cost involved in providing the program for each division. These fees cover the cost of standardized elements that are provided to every player in that specific division including, but not limited to, ice rental, coach support, referee payments, and standard association costs such as staffing, insurance, and BC Hockey/Hockey Canada player fees. This is the amount that will be seen on the registration form as players are officially registered for the 2025-26 season.
- U7 - $799
- U9 - $1,050
- U11 skaters - $1,100
- U11 goalies - $550
- U13 skaters - $1,150
- U13 goalies - $575
- U15 skaters - $1,175
- U15 goalies - $587.50
- U18 skaters - $1,210
- U18 goalies - $605
- U21 skaters - $600
- U21 goalies - $300
Payment options: During checkout, you will have the opportunity to select to pay the full amount (default selection) OR Pay by Installment.
Rep Tryout fee
- This is an opt-in fee for those players in U11, U13, U15 and U18 who are wanting to try out for the TBirds rep program.
- Registration for rep tryouts for the 2025-26 season must be completed by July 15th at the latest. It can be done at the same time as your season registration or anytime prior to July 15th.
- Tryouts for U11 will occur after the Labour Day weekend.
- Tryouts for U13, U15, U18 will commence on Saturday, August 23.
- Please note these dates as players MUST attend all sessions. Failure to attend a rep tryout session because of holiday travel will not be considered acceptable.
- The tryout fee will be $225 and is non-refundable after July 15. If the request is made prior to July 15, there is an admin charge of $25 to process the cancellation request.
Considerations for players trying out for the BC Hockey Zone Program / Junior teams
For those who are trying out for a zone or junior team, we recognize that the timelines of these often coincide with our TBirds tryouts. In order to keep TBirds rep program as an option for next season in the event that you choose to return or you are not successful this season in making the other team, please ensure you complete the following steps:
- Contact us no later than July 15 so we can track your potential involvement with tryouts and the Thunderbird program this season. You will register the player for Rep Tryout and pay the fee.
- Keep us updated should you accept a position with another program so you can be removed from the list at any time.
- If you have not secured a spot on another team by August 23, we will need to coordinate having the player attend a minimum of one tryout session with TBirds in order to maintain eligibility.
- If you are offered a spot with a Zone/Junior team, you will be refunded the Rep Tryout fee less a $50 admin fee.
Rep Program Fees - U11, U13, U15 and U18 Divisions
The Rep Program Fee includes the costs for additional ice, non parent contracted coaches, additional skills sessions, tournaments, apparel, and dryland arranged by the Association.
There may be additional team fees outside of the rep program fee that will be collected by the rep team manager/treasurer.
The Rep Program Fee will be paid directly to the Association in two instalments after rep teams are finalized (October 15 and November 15).
Any funds remaining at the end of the season will be returned to the parents.
Each team will have a unique fee as TBirds adhere to a "pay what it costs you to play" which means each team will only pay for the elements they are being provided, and not sharing costs across a division.
The rep program fees are expected to range anywhere from $1,500-$3,500 depending on the team.
Team Fees
For all levels from U7 through to U18, parents will be asked to provide a team fee based on the team budget developed by the manager/treasurer.
A parent meeting must be held at the beginning of each season for the manager/treasurer to present the proposed budget and seek parent input and approval.
Typical elements that are included in team fees include, but are not limited to:
- Tournament expenses*
- Coach/Player gifts
- Team Building Activities
- Apparel item(s) and game socks*
- Referee payments for exhibition games*
- Additional skill instructor for team practices*
- Thunderball donation
* Exception for rep teams as some/all of this is already captured in Rep Program Fee
Volunteer Fee
Parent volunteers are essential to the ability of the TBirds to operate. In order to ensure that everyone is a part of the success of our programs, we ask every family to engage in assisting both at the team level and the association level. More information on the Volunteer Fee Program can be found here.
Each player registration will include a volunteer fee of $150 (max $300 per family) which is 100% refundable upon completion of a minimum of 4 team volunteer hours within each player's team and a minimum of 3 Association hours for roles posted on the Volunteer Portal by the Association.
Discounts
The following discounts will remain in place for the upcoming season:
- Families with 3 or more children registered with the Vancouver Thunderbird Minor Hockey Association will receive a 50% reduction of the base fee for the 3rd, 4th, 5th child and so on. (The lowest registration fee for the 3rd player and so one will be the fees reduced).
- Goalie Registration Fee: Full-time goalies in U11 to U18 - 50% of the base skater registration fee.
Season Registration
The amount of the refund is determined based on the date the request for a refund is received as follows:
| Request Received By | Refund Amount |
| August 15 | Fee less $50 |
| September 30 | 75% of Fee |
| October 31 | 50% of Fee |
| November 30 | 25% of Fee |
User Pay Programs - Vancouver Hockey School
HP programs
No refunds are provided for any program once a program has started.
User Pay Programs - Vancouver Thunderbirds
Thunderbird Goalie School, Below U11 and In-Season Camps/Clinics
Refunds for any camps/clinics will be provided as follows:
| Request received by: | Refund Amount (fee $50 or less) |
Refund Amount (fee $51-150) |
Refund Amount (fee over $150) |
| 15 or more days | $10 | $15 | $25 |
| 2 - 14 days | 50% | 50% | 50% |
| within 48 hours | no refund | no refund | no refund |
Summer Camps
If the association cancels a camp, you will receive a 100% refund on your registration.
If you cancel more than 4 weeks prior to the start of camp, a full refund less a $25 processing fee will be provided.
If you cancel between 15 days to 4 weeks prior to the start of the camp, a 50% refund will be provided.
If you cancel between 8-14 days prior to the start of the camp, a 25% refund will be provided.
If you cancel 7 days or less days prior to the start of the camp, no refund will be provided.
Spring Clinic Refund Policy
If you cancel any time up to 15 days prior to the start date of the clinic, a full refund less a $25 processing fee will be refunded.
Cancellations made from 14 days prior to the start of the camp, a 50% refund will be provided OR if the camp is full and a player on the waitlist takes the open spot then a full refund less a $25 processing fee will be refunded.
No refunds will be provided once the program has begun.
As an Association, TBirds believes that every child should have the right to play.
We encourage families that need financial assistance to review our Thunderbird Bursary program as well as reach out to the organizations noted below.
Thunderbird Bursary Program
Our Thunderbird Bursary provides financial assistance to Thunderbirds families and assists in keeping players on the ice. Bursary recipients are supported with up to 80% of base registration fees.
KidSport Vancouver manages applications on behalf of TBirds. We encourage anyone that needs financial support to submit an application. All the information on how to apply can be found here.
The KidSport application is the first step for anyone seeking financial assistance.
- If you receive confirmation that you qualify for KidSport, TBirds will receive notification from KidSport and the 80% discount on the base registration fee will be applied automatically. If you have already paid more than 20% of base registration fees, arrangements for a refund will be made.
- If you receive notice from KidSport that you do not qualify, they will provide us with your name and we will follow up directly with KidSport to confirm if you fit within our higher income threshold. KidSport guidelines do not always fit a Vancouver westside cost of living and we have accommodations within the Bursary to manage most of these situations.
- If KidSport confirms that you fit within the TBirds Bursary thresholds, the 80% discount on the base registration fee will be applied.
- If KidSport confirms that you do NOT fit within the TBirds Bursary thresholds, the Executive Director will contact you to discuss if there is an exceptional circumstance that could be considered by the Board.
The identity of anyone receiving financial assistance within TBirds will remain confidential and only those that must know this information to apply the Bursary will be involved. Our Board does not receive a list of recipients, even in discussions of exceptional circumstances, and any information you submit to KidSport will remain with them only. We value your privacy in these matters.
Financial Assistance Programs
Canadian Tire Jump Start - for more information click here
Athletics 4 Kids - for more information click here
Hockey Canada Foundation Assist Fund - for more information click here
Grindstone Award Foundation - for more information click here
Skill Development clinic options are provided throughout the Fall and Winter.
Available offerings are communicated directly to the appropriate age divisions.
Fall 2025 offerings will communicated in September 2025.
Programs
What days/times of the week will my child have ice sessions?
We won't have our finalized ice allocations from the City of Vancouver until the summer. We are planning to post the schedule for each division in mid to late August however these will be subject to change until the start of the season.
Typically when are my ice times?
- U7-U9: Ice sessions can start as early as 7:15 am on weekends and 4 pm on weekdays.
- U11: Team practices can start as early as 6:00 am on weekdays and 7:00 am on weekends. After school sessions can start as early as 4:00 pm.
- U13: Team practices can start as early as 6:00 am on weekdays, 7:00 am on weekends. After school sessions can start as early as 4 pm.
- U15: Team practices can start as late as 8:30 pm.
- U18: Team practices can start as late as 9:45 pm.