Welcome to the Information and Registration for Team BC NAHC – 2025 Player Selection Camp

U18/U15 hockey players of Indigenous ancestry are invited to participate in the Team BC Player Selection Camp to be held March 28-30, 2025 in Burnaby, BC at the Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre.  Players will be evaluated over the three-day camp to determine the top 20 men and top 20 women hockey players to represent BC at the 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships to be hosted in Kamloops, BC over May 5-10, 2025.

Registration Information

Online registration for the camp will be open from January 15 through to closing on 4:00 PM (PST) March 12, 2025. Interested players must pre-register – no walk-ins permitted.

Eligibility

Players must meet the following criteria to be eligible to participate in the Camp: 

  • Men’s and Women’s Divisions: U18 eligible, as of the 2024/25 competitive season (born 2007  to 200​9)
  • U15 players (born 2010-2011) are also age-eligible, but for safety reasons they must be pre-approved by the Team BC coaching staff before they will be allowed to participate in the Selection Camp. If you are an interested U15 player, please proceed with registration and the appropriate staff person will follow-up regarding your registration approval.
  • Resident of British Columbia (out of province players registered at a full-time Hockey Academy in BC may be eligible to try out via the NAHC Academic Residency Form
  • Be of Indigenous ancestry (First Nations, Métis, Inuit).  Acceptable proof of ancestry includes Status Card, Treaty Card, Métis Nation BC Card, Inuit or Inuvialuit identification.  For those without an identification card, a formal Declaration of Ancestry may be completed with supporting documentation.
  • If Status Cards are expired, Team BC athletes will be required to submit a renewal application with ISC (Indigenous Services Canada) or local Band office. You can also ask for a letter from your local government house / Band verifying that you are a registered member.
  • Registered or eligible to be registered with BC Hockey (Players currently not registered with BC Hockey may be registered via this camp for an additional fee of $50).

Frequently Asked Questions

Players must meet the following criteria to be eligible to participate in the Camp: 

  • Men’s: U18 eligible, as of the 2024/25 competitive season (born 2007 to 2009)
  • Women’s: U18 eligible, as of the 2024/25 competitive season (born 2007 to 2009) 
  • U15 men’s and women’s age players (born 2010-2011) are eligible to try out for Team BC, but they must be approved by the Team BC coaching staff before they will be allowed to participate in the Selection Camp. If you are an interested U15 player, please proceed with registration and the appropriate staff person will follow-up regarding your registration approval.
  • Resident of British Columbia (out of province players registered at a full-time Hockey Academy in BC may be eligible to try out for BC via the NAHC Academic Residency Form)
  • Be of Indigenous ancestry (First Nations, Métis, Inuit).  Acceptable proof of ancestry includes Status Card, Treaty Card, Métis Nation BC Card, Inuit or Inuvialuit identification.  Athletes without one of these cards may complete the Declaration of Indigenous ancestry and provide other documentation.

The Team BC Player Selection Camp is being held March 28-30, 2025  at the Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre, located at 7789 18th Street in Burnaby BC . First round of cuts commences on Day 2 of the Camp. Schedule will be circulated upon closing of registration in March.

Athletes are highly encouraged to attend the Player Selection Camp. However, if a participant is unable to attend the camp due to extreme circumstances, and would still like to be considered for Team BC, they may request absentee consideration by taking the following steps:

  1. Register for the Player Selection Camp 
  2. Complete the online 2025 Team BC NAHC – 2025 Player Selection Camp Absentee Form – Absentee Application

Please note, coaching staff are only permitted to consider absentee applications for extreme measures (e.g., conflict with a Provincial Team tournament).

The 2025 Registration Fee is $126 per player, which includes a Team BC Selection Camp Jersey. Deadline for receipt of full payment is Wednesday, March 12 2025. Payment cannot be paid in-person at the day of check-in.

Preferred Method – Payment via credit card when you register online
You are able to pay via Credit Card or Google Pay when you register online, through the TeamSnap system.

Please see alternate payment method instructions below.

Second Option – eTransfer:
PLEASE NOTE: Payment must be made prior to the event.
eTransfer funds to payments@isparc.ca 
Password: 25NAHC
Question: Who is the athlete attending? 
Message:  Please add the athlete’s name.

*If you are unable to add a message to your eTransfer comments, please take a screenshot of the payment confirmation screen on your phone and email it to payments@isparc.ca to say payment was sent. 

Third Option – Cheque: 
Please notify us at teambc@isparc.ca if you need to pay via a Cheque or Money Order. Cheques are to be written out to:  I·SPARC Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Society. In the memo section, please add which sport the payment is for, and the athlete’s name.  Otherwise attach the cheque with a note. 

Requests for refund must be received in writing to teambc@isparc.ca.

If an athlete withdraws for any reason from their participation to attend the 2025 Player Selection Camp on or before Wednesday, March 12, 2025, a full refund of $126.00 will be issued. Withdrawals after March 12th and before March 30th will be subject to a $10.00 administration and processing fee. Withdrawals March 28th or later will not be eligible for refund. Refunds will be processed after the Player Selection Camp.

Generally, check-in and on-ice sessions begin early to late Friday morning. First round of cuts are made as early as Saturday with final team selections made Sunday morning. Team BC’s first team practices are completed by the closure of the camp early afternoon on Sunday. The Camp schedule will be posted as soon as possible after the registration closes on March 12th, 2025 – please note any posted schedule may be subject to adjustment.

Yes. Provinces/Territories enter teams comprised of the top U15/U18 aged players – one men’s team and one women’s team per province/territory. All athletes are competing for the 20 women’s and 20 men’s positions.

*While this is a program primarily for U18 aged hockey players (born 2007 – 2009), U15 age players are eligible to compete in the NAHC. As a competitive selection camp, U18 and U15 players will be competing amongst one another for a position on the team. For safety reasons, U15 aged players (born 2010 – 2011) may register for the selection camp but must be pre-approved by the coaching staff before they can participate in the camp. The coaching staff will consider the player’s size and competitive experience in rendering a decision. U15 registrants will be notified via email as soon as possible regarding approval.

MEN’S: At a provincial team level of minor hockey for U15/U18, body checking is allowed to the extent permitted by Hockey Canada Playing Rules.

WOMEN’S: As per Hockey Canada Playing Rules there is no body checking in the women’s game, but there is body contact. For additional information on definitions of body contact vs. body checking, please visit http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/Hockey-Programs/Coaching/Checking.

The Team BC Fee is to be determined (TBD), however, we do know it will be in the range of $500 – $750 CDN. Every player registering for the Selection Camp is required to acknowledge that there will be a Team BC fee and verify that should they be selected to Team BC, they will be prepared to submit their payment upon conclusion of the camp (I.e. by (5PM PST), Sunday, March 30 2025).

For information on what is included in this fee – please refer to the next question, “What does the Team Fee cover?”.

The Team BC fee includes 2025 NAHC tournament registration fee, Team BC apparel, travel to Kamloops, accommodations in Kamloops, ground transportation to/from competition venue, three meals/day while in Kamloops.

(i.e. what additional monies may be required if I/my child made Team BC?)  

Travel arrangements will be provided by March 2025. Any ‘checked baggage fee’ that may be required by the airline is the responsibility of the player. Meals needed enroute during the flight travel to/from Kamloops (travel days) are the responsibility of the athlete (e.g. purchasing a meal/snacks for the plane ride).  It is recommended that players also bring daily snack money to supplement the meal plan and for any ‘spending money’ they may wish to have. 

Once Team BC is selected, the commitments consist of an initial practice on Sunday, March 30, immediately after the selection camp in Burnaby. Additional practices will take place during May 2-4 in Kamloops, prior to the start of NAHC on May 5.

Participants can complete the NAHC’s “Declaration of Ancestry” Form. This form is provided for individuals who want to try out for National Aboriginal Hockey Championships and who do not possess a Status/Treaty Card or Métis Card. Please note that in addition to completing the form, you must provide supporting documentation. Examples of supporting documentation include the following (not an exhaustive list):

  • A copy of parent’s status card or Métis card accompanied by the athlete’s long form birth certificate (that names the parent on it),
  • A letter from Indigenous Services Canada (formerly Indigenous & Northern, Affairs) verifying their registration as Status Indian,
  • A letter from child’s Band verifying Band membership/ancestry.

Make sure you are signed up for our newsletter (CLICK HERE), as well as following our social media.

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/isparcteambc/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TeamBCNAIG/

X- https://twitter.com/ISPARCBC

When you register, be sure to use the primary email address you prefer for us to contact with additional program specific information.

I·SPARC does not currently have funds for travel subsidies or individual athlete grants. Costs associated with the Team BC program are kept as minimal as possible with the support of the Province of BC (e.g., the Team BC fee is inclusive of flight, accommodations, 2 meals/day, uniform, tournament fee). If you like more information on potential grants or fundraising options, please visit https://isparc.ca/grants-recognition/other-grant-opportunities/ and http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/sports/sport-funding.

Creating a safe and supportive environment for all participants (e.g., physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, culturally) is a priority for I∙SPARC. If you have a SafeSport concern or complaint, please send an email to safesport@isparc.ca

 

Registration will remain open until 4:00 PM (PST) on March 12, 2025. All questions should be directed to teambc@isparc.ca