Welcome to the Eastern Shore Mariners 2026–27 season!

ACTION REQUIRED for all NEW and second-year families: The Shift Forward for Parents is launching this season.

WHAT IS THE SHIFT FORWARD?

The Shift Forward is Hockey Canada’s new education program, replacing the former Respect in Sport program.

Developed with extensive input from the hockey community, the program is designed to be engaging, modern, and specific to your role as a hockey parent or guardian.

The goal is simple: to help everyone involved in the game — including players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and families — contribute to a safe, positive, respectful, and welcoming hockey environment both on and off the ice.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

Only one parent or guardian per family is required to complete the course if you have:

• A new-to-hockey player who is a first-year registrant; or

• A player who was new to hockey during the 2025–26 season and is now a second-year registrant.

The deadline to complete the course is Tuesday, December 1.

WHY IT MATTERS

As a parent or guardian, you play an important role in your child’s hockey experience.

The Shift Forward covers what to expect as a hockey family and how parents and guardians can help create a positive experience for every child. Players have their best seasons when the adults around the rink are working together to create a supportive, respectful environment.

You can access The Shift Forward for Parents here:

https://page.spordle.com/hns/clinics/1f17b941-da78-6c7e-bc53-02fa6b8d4193

Information and links for The Shift Forward for Parents and The Shift Forward for Volunteers & Bench Staff can also be found through Hockey Nova Scotia.

If you have any questions regarding course requirements or completion, please reach out to the Eastern Shore Minor Hockey Association Executive.

Welcome to the season. We’re glad to have you as part of the Mariners hockey community!

Eastern Shore Minor Hockey Association Executive

FAQ: The Shift Forward – Parent Course

Q: If I previously completed a Respect in Sport course — Activity Leader and/or Parent — for another sport, will that be accepted by Hockey Canada and its Members?

A: Previous training, including Respect in Sport courses, will continue to be accepted by Hockey Canada and its Members through the conclusion of the 2027–28 hockey season.

Beginning with the 2028–29 hockey season, The Shift Forward will be required for participation.

Q: How much does the program cost for parents/guardians?

A: The parent/guardian program costs $12.00.

Q: What happens if I have multiple roles within hockey — for example, coach and parent/guardian, or official and rostered staff? Will I need to take the course multiple times?

A: Because the curriculum includes education tailored to different roles within hockey, participants may need to complete portions of The Shift Forward that are specific to each role they hold.

For example, if someone is both a coach and an official, they would complete the coach-specific content as well as any official-specific material that was not already covered.

This provides participants with role-relevant education while minimizing repeated content.

Q: If a parent has multiple children, will completion of The Shift Forward – Parent apply to all of them?

A: By registering under their child’s name, the parent/guardian and other profiles associated with their account will inherit the qualification.

Parents and guardians should ensure that all children or participants under their legal care are properly linked to their Hockey Canada Registry My Account.

Q: If a player has multiple parents or guardians, can all parents/guardians complete The Shift Forward?

A: Yes. Associations may encourage all parents and guardians to complete the program.

However, Hockey Canada’s tracking system currently allows only one parent or guardian’s completion to be attached to a child’s Hockey Canada Registry account, so there is no defined mechanism for an association to track completion by multiple parents or guardians for the same player.