ES Lions - Spring 2026

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ES Lions is launching a brand-new team for 2016 athletes, and we couldn’t be more excited.
This is an incredible opportunity to join at the ground floor, building a great team culture and identity from day one. Players who come in now will have the chance to grow together over many years, develop strong friendships, and be part of a long-term journey shaped by great coaching, character development, and the ES Lions way.

If you’re looking for a positive environment and a place where your player can develop both on and off the ice, this new 2016 team is a perfect opportunity.

Last year, we operated a combined 2014/2015 team. As we move into this upcoming Spring season, we are excited to split this group into two dedicated teams, one for 2014s and one for 2015s, both competing at the Silver level.

These teams are designed for players who are currently playing at a AA, Tier 1, or strong Tier 2 level, with a solid skating foundation and the ability to play a fast, competitive brand of hockey. 

Our goal is to create an environment where athletes can push themselves, develop their skills, and compete with and against high-level peers.

If your player is ready for a focused, high-energy spring season, these teams will be a great fit.

Last year, our 2013 group took the Spring season off, but we are excited to relaunch the program for 2025. This year’s team will compete at a AAA/AA level, entering the Gold division or operating as a strong Silver team, depending on tournament opportunities and competitive fit.

Because the 2013 Spring season is full-contact, a significant focus will be on preparing players to play physical hockey safely, confidently, and effectively. Our ES Lions staff will emphasize proper checking technique, puck protection, positional play, and the physical and mental readiness needed to compete at a high level.

This team is designed for athletes currently playing at a AAA, AA, or strong Tier 1 level, who are ready for a challenging, development-driven environment.

Our 2012 age group continues to be one of the fastest-growing and most exciting parts of the ES Lions program. This Spring, we are assembling three competitive teams to meet the rising interest and talent within this birth year:

• Team 1: AAA/AA level
• Team 2: AA / strong Tier 1 level
• Team 3 (potential): A competitive group made up of Tier 1/2 and strong Tier 3 players
   

Our goal is to create the right environment for every athlete to be challenged, supported, and pushed to the next stage of their hockey journey.

The 2012 year is a critical development window, physically, mentally, and emotionally. 

Because of this, our Spring program will place a heavy emphasis on:

• Skill advancement and building confidence with the puck.
• Strong habits that translate to higher levels of play.
• Mental resilience, learning to handle adversity, pressure, and expectations.
• Off-ice growth, including leadership, character, and understanding how to navigate the rapid changes that come with this stage of development.
   

Our ES Lions staff is committed to helping every athlete in this group take meaningful steps forward, both on and off the ice, while building a team culture rooted in effort, accountability, and enjoyment of the game.

Our 2011 age group remains the largest and most in-demand division within the ES Lions program. With exceptional interest again this year, we are on pace to field four competitive teams this Spring:

• Teams 1 & 2: AAA/AA level
• Teams 3 & 4: AA / Tier 1–2 level 

This depth allows us to create well-balanced teams, competitive environments, and meaningful development opportunities for every athlete in the age group. What sets the 2011 program apart is not only the on-ice talent, but the stage these players are entering in their personal and athletic development. This is a pivotal season where players begin taking bigger steps toward maturity... physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Because of this, we are placing a high emphasis on leadership development and life skills that extend far beyond the rink.

This year’s 2011 Spring program will focus on:

• Developing leaders both on and off the ice.
• Building strong habits that support long-term goals.
• Navigating cultural pressures that can distract or derail young athletes.
• Creating healthy safeguards around sleep, technology usage, nutrition, social influences, and daily rhythms.
• Reinforcing purpose, mindset, and character, helping players understand who they want to become as athletes and as people.
• And of course... keeping the game fun, competitive, and full of energy.

Our goal is to build confident, grounded athletes who love the game, grow as teammates, and develop the resilience needed to thrive at higher levels of hockey and in life.

We are excited to see fresh growth and momentum in our 2010 age group as we expand to two Spring teams for the upcoming season. This year, we will be forming:

• Team 1 - AAA/AA level team
• Team 2 - AA/Tier 1–2 level team
   

Our goal is to provide a competitive, development-rich environment that prepares athletes for the important steps ahead in their hockey journey. At this stage of their careers, players are refining the details of their game while also learning how to become steady, positive influences within a team culture. Because of this, our Spring program will focus on:

• Strengthening healthy habits, on the ice, in the gym, and in daily life.
• Fine-tuning and tweaking key skills to help players stand out at higher levels.
• Building a strong “team-first” mindset, equipping athletes to be positive contributors in any environment.

Our ES Lions staff is committed to helping 2010 athletes elevate their game, build character, and enter their next season with confidence, clarity, and momentum.

Our 2008/2009 age group holds a special place in the story of the ES Lions program. For many of these players, this has been home since the very beginning. We’ve watched them grow from young athletes into leaders, walking with them through countless practices, tournaments, challenges, and celebrations. They have been the heart and soul of this program, setting the culture, raising the standard, and shaping what ES Lions has become.

This group brought home some of the first hardware in our organization’s history, helping lay the foundation for everything that followed.

Today, many of these athletes have stepped into coaching and leadership roles, investing back into the younger age groups and modelling what it means to lead with character, humility, and hard work. This upcoming Spring season represents an important chapter:

• For some, it will be the final season of their youth hockey journey, suiting up with our program for the final time.
• For others, it will be the transition chapter before making the jump into junior hockey or pursuing other post-minor hockey opportunities.
• For the rest, it will be jumping into their last year of minor hockey, trying to reach the highest level possible to play at.

Given the unique stage these players are at, our 2008/2009 Spring program is designed to adapt to the group’s schedule, needs, and goals. We work closely with players and families to create a meaningful, competitive, and enjoyable experience that fits this important season of life.

Our focus is on:

• Maintaining high-level development while understanding the player's schedule, as many attend different camps throughout the Spring.
• Preparing players for post-minor hockey pathways, including junior opportunities.
• Building life and leadership skills that will serve them well beyond the rink.
• Enjoying the game together, embracing the relationships and moments that make hockey special.

For the first time ever, ES Lions is launching female Spring hockey teams at both the U13 and U15 levels, and we couldn’t be more excited to open this new chapter.

This is a significant step forward for our program as we expand opportunities for female athletes to train, compete, and grow within the ES Lions environment. It reflects the rising demand for a development-focused, values-driven hockey experience designed specifically for girls.

The introduction of Female U13 and U15 Spring teams will allow us to support athletes through key stages of their hockey journey, when confidence, skill development, identity formation, and team culture are especially impactful. These teams will emphasize:

• High-tempo skill development tailored to female athletes
• Competitive gameplay that prepares players for AA, AAA, and association-level opportunities
• Leadership development and character formation are core to everything we do
• Holistic growth, mind, body, and spirit, helping athletes navigate the unique challenges of adolescence
• A positive and empowering team culture, where girls feel supported, encouraged, and connected
   

This launch marks an exciting expansion of the ES Lions pathway, giving female athletes a place to belong, compete, and thrive.

We are thrilled to welcome our first-ever Female U13 and U15 Spring teams, and to help shape the next generation of confident, capable, and influential young women both on and off the ice.