Oakville Oilers Hockey Club
Hockey Development Done Differently
OAKVILLE OILERS TRYOUTS 2026/2027 HOCKEY SEASON
Tryouts for the Oakville Oilers U9-U15 rep teams for the 2026/2027 hockey season will take place between Tuesday, March 31 to Thursday, April 9.
Tryouts will be held at Canlan Oakville
u9 (2019-2018)
Tuesday, March 31, 530-630 pm
Wednesday, April 1, 530-630 pm
Saturday, April 4, 945-1045 am
u11 (2017-2016)
Tuesday, March 31, 630-730 pm
Wednesday, April 1, 630-730 pm
Saturday, April 4, 1045-1145 am
u13 (2015-2014)
Thursday, April 2, 730-830 pm
Wednesday, April 8, 530-630 pm
Thursday, April 9, 630-730 pm
u15 (2013-2012)
Thursday, April 2, 830-930 pm
Wednesday, April 8, 630-730 pm
Thursday, April 9, 730-830 pm
Cost: 100 + hst for all 3 tryouts
The Oakville Oilers play in the Ontario Rep Hockey League (ORHL). With a strong focus on player development, the team practices over 80 times per season, participates in approximately 20 dryland training sessions and plays 40+ full ice games in ORHL league games and tournaments. Oilers teams play at the AA level.
After much consultation, the ORHL has decided to introduce body contact at the u9 level and body checking at the u11, u13 and u15 levels for the 2026/2027 season. The decision was made to allow players to get comfortable with body contact earlier in their minor hockey career, as well as to help players improve their awareness, decision making skills and team play ability.
The Oilers organization is family oriented with teams that exhibit strong cohesiveness and team play.
With our emphasis on skill development, all of our practices are led by professional skills coaches Trent Sheldon and Ryan Penny.
The Oilers program also features a one of a kind goaltender development program where Oilers goaltenders receive two semi-private training sessions each week with our Head Goaltending Instructor Adrian Volpe.
The Oilers focus on long-term development has also yielded short-term success as 5 of our players have advanced to the AAA level in the past year and all of our teams currently lead the standings in the ORHL.
The program is demanding in nature and is only suitable for serious hockey players. If you’re looking to fast track your development and make gains on other players who are ahead of you on the development curve this is the program for you.
If you’re looking for a recreational program with minimal commitment this program would not be a good fit for you.
Tryout Registration:
u9 – https://tms.ezfacility.com/OnlineRegistrations/Register.aspx?CompanyID=3127&GroupID=4007156
u11 – https://tms.ezfacility.com/OnlineRegistrations/Register.aspx?CompanyID=3127&GroupID=4007182
u13 – https://tms.ezfacility.com/OnlineRegistrations/Register.aspx?CompanyID=3127&GroupID=4007185
u15 – https://tms.ezfacility.com/OnlineRegistrations/Register.aspx?CompanyID=3127&GroupID=4007192
Hockey Development Done Differently
The Oakville Oilers don’t just play in a different league (ORHL). We have an entirely different development model that enables us to prioritize individual player development while also enjoying team success.
Many rep hockey players want to advance in the rep system (B>A, A>AA,AA>AAA) but are unable to do so because they lack the skill required to move up a level. These players are usually deficient in skating, puck handling and shooting skills and do not possess the hockey sense necessary to make good decisions on the ice with and without the puck.
The Oakville Oilers were created to address this development gap and provide parents and players with an alternative development model to the traditional rep system.
During its four years of existence, the Oakville Oilers organization has become synonymous for high end player development in a family atmosphere.
How are we different?
Quantity of training: The Oilers recognize that in order for players to improve drastically they need to train – a lot. Two training sessions per week simply doesn’t cut it if you’re looking to substantially improve your technical skill set and hockey sense and become a much better hockey player.
Oakville Oilers teams train on average 4 times per week with a significant focus on technical skill development – skating, stick handling, passing and shooting skills.
Quality of training: Being on the ice a lot means nothing if the quality of the coaching at each training session is poor. For this reason, the Oilers have at least one skill development coach on the ice, and often two, for every practice.
How often have you seen ice time wasted at a minor hockey practice because the coach lacked the knowledge or desire to plan and deliver a high quality practice? We make sure this never happens by using highly skilled and experienced skill development coaches Trent Sheldon and Ryan Penny to lead all of our practices.
The Oilers also make use of guest coaches such as Tim Turk to enhance our players individual skill level and tactical understanding.
Off-ice Training: The Oakville Oilers believe that in order to become a great hockey player, you must first become a great athlete. Off-ice training is an important part of our development model with a specific focus on improving agility, balance, coordination, flexibility/mobility, strength, speed, power and endurance within each of our players.
Video: The Oilers devote significant resources to the use of video with our players. We believe that hockey sense can be taught and that through the use of video players can learn to recognize patterns and make quicker and more accurate decisions by watching video of themselves during competition as well as NHL players.
Goalie Development: It’s no secret that goaltender development is lacking in Canada. Quite simply, developing quality goaltenders hasn’t been a priority to Hockey Canada organizations for far too long.
The Oakville Oilers take the development of our goaltenders very seriously. Ron Mays, the President of the Oakville Oilers, spent close to a decade coaching goaltenders in the Ontario Hockey League and has personally trained many goalies who have gone on to play in the OHL, NCAA, NHL, and to represent Canada internationally, including Spencer Martin of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Adrian Volpe, Goaltending Coach and Goalie Scout with the OHL’s Erie Otters, and a longtime student of Ron Mays himself, is the head of goalie development for the Oilers.
What do the Oilers goalies receive?
Each of our goalies receive two semi private training sessions with Adrian Volpe each week of the season at no extra cost. This amounts to approximately 60 training sessions sessions which are included in your registration fee. No other organization comes close to matching this.
Each session is customized to each goaltender’s needs and are conducted outside of team practice so that the sole focus of each 1 hour session is our goalies. No more begging for money in the team budget or blaming the goalies for a loss after neglecting their development at practice.
This one of a kind goalie development program is unmatched by any other organization in Ontario.
Family friendly schedule:
Teams in the ORHL do not play games on weeknights. All games occur on weekends. There are no 45-60 minute drives each way on a Tuesday night during the winter to play a game.
Instead, our weeknights are used for training with two practices occurring on weeknights and two on the weekends. Our weekly schedule is consistent throughout the season allowing players to participate in other sports and activities and have a family life.
For example, our u11 Blue Oakville Oilers practice every Tuesday and Wednesday evening, but never practice or play on Monday or Thursday evenings.
This format enables multi sport athletes to play hockey with the Oilers while also participating in other sports during the winter. We have numerous swimmers, soccer, lacrosse and baseball players who play with the Oilers while also training and competing in these other sports due to the flexibility our development model provides.
For families who have multiple children participating in sport, this makes family life much easier since the weeknight schedule is consistent and predictable throughout the season.
Email: oakvilleoilers@gmail.com to book your player assessment
