Tryouts
Frequently Asked Questions

All Markham Islanders players registered in the 2022-23 season U13 to U18 wishing to tryout for any OMHA team at any level whether it be BB, MD, AE, A, AA or AAA require permission to skate, All Markham Islanders players registered in the 2022-23 season U10 to U11 require a release to tryout for any OMHA team at any level whether it be BB,MD.AE, A, AA or AAA

As a Markham resident, if you play house league (house league includes select MD and AE), you are very lucky and have the option of trying out for either the Markham Islanders/Majors or the Markham Waxers organization.

What is the difference between the GTHL and the OMHA?

The Markham Islanders/Majors play in the GTHL (the world's largest minor hockey association) and the Markham Waxers play in the OMHA. Both offer A, AA and AAA programs from Minor Atom to Midget.

Where do the GTHL and OMHA play?

The GTHL plays all of it's games locally in the Toronto area while the OMHA travel throughout Southern Ontario. Once you play one year in the GTHL you can choose to tryout for any of the 25-30 teams in the league the following year at the same level. If you play for the Waxers, you will only be able to play for the Waxers until Minor Bantam.

My son/daughter was born in 2009 or 2010. Do I need a permission to skate?

No. New rules instituted by the Ontario Hockey Federation clearly state that players in Markham, born in 2009 or 2010, can tryout for either organization with no permission to skate regardless of where they played last year. Simply attend the tryouts.

I want my son/daughter to play in the GTHL, can I tryout for a team other than the Islanders?

No. If you wish to play in the GTHL, you must first attend tryouts for the Islanders. If, after the fourth day, you are not offered a spot, you will be provided with a release that allows you to tryout for other GTHL teams. However, you will also need a release from the Waxers.

How do the tryouts work?

The OHF has ruled that tryouts in the GTHL and OMHA must occur at the same time (see website for dates and times). But four days after the first day of tryouts at AAA, AA and A, players must be offered a spot or given a release. If you are offered a spot, you cannot decline it and play for another OMHA or GTHL team.