The Ottawa Senators Summer 4-on-4 League is back, showcasing fun and free-flowing hockey, without stoppages, face-offs, or coaches. The goal of the league is to encourage creativity and give each player time to develop new skills, in an atmosphere that prioritizes fun.
SINCE COVID – 2020-2025 STRUCTURE: Weekly, each team would play in a ONE HOUR ICE-BLOCK against the SAME opponent. 2 x 22.5mins games, played back-to-back. This structure was used during and since COVID, to reduce the number of participants in the building at any given time.
(PRE-COVID) REINSTATED – 2026 STRUCTURE: Weekly, each team plays ONE HOUR TOTAL against TWO DIFFERENT opponents. 2 x 22.5mins games, NOT necessarily played back-to-back. This structure was used when the league was first introduced and up until COVID. We will be using this format for our upcoming season!
Divisions (Coming Soon)
League Features
League Dates
The league runs from the beginning of July until the end of August.
Full-Ice with a buzzer every 1:30 to signal line changes. The U7 division will be played 3-on-3 using half-ice format to maximize puck touches and in-tight development.
League Scheduling
Participants play 22 scrimmages (11 game days), each 24 minutes in length. Schedules are published directly to mobile devices through TeamSnap. Set gamedays for MOST 4-on-4 and 3-on-3 divisions (1x per week).
Game Format
All 4-on-4 games are full-ice, while 3-on-3 games are half-ice. A buzzer every 1:30 to signal a line change. Music is played throughout all games.
Uniforms & Prizing
All players receive a Ottawa Senators Youth Leagues team jersey. CWENCH Hydration "Player of the Game" awards presented following each game.
League Rules
ZERO coaching to maximize player creativity. A maximum of two (2) parents are allowed on the bench to help with game flow for divisions under U11. Body checking is NOT permitted at any level. The use of body checking by any player may result in immediate removal from the league, with no refund.
Calling All Goalies
Goalies for the Summer 4-on-4 League will receive 100% of their team’s playing time plus priority access to spare for other teams within their division and age group.
NEW THIS SEASON: Goalies who play 100% of their team’s games will receive a $50 Sensplex credit, and goalies who play in 9 or 10 games will receive $25. In addition, goalies will also receive two friend requests upon registration.
Can’t commit to the full season but still interested in making some saves during the summer? Register for the Spare Goalie option! With just a $99 deposit, you will join the Spare Goalie list for your age group for the summer. If you don’t play in 3 game days (approx. 3 hours), you get half or your full deposit back as credit!
Friend Requests
To ensure balanced teams, please be advised that only ONE (1) friend request will be accepted per participant. Requests may be completed during your registration. Any participants who request more than one friend, only the first name will be guaranteed, provided it is reciprocated. This policy will help the 4-on-4 league strive for fair and well-balanced teams, while allowing participants to meet new teammates! Please note that circular friend requests will not be honoured.
A one-to-one friend request is valid when Player A requests to play with Player B and Player B requests to play with Player A. A circular request (that will not be honoured) is when Player A requests to play with Player B, Player B requests to play with Player C, and Player C requests to play with Player A. All three of the requests in the circular example will be automatically voided.
League Coordinators will use information provided during registration to create teams as equal in skill level as possible at the start of the season. Teams will be evaluated by our staff throughout the course of the league. League Coordinators reserve the right to move any player to a different team in an attempt to rebalance the division. Balancing moves are at the sole discretion of the League Coordinators. These balancing moves will be made in such a way that valid friend requests are continuously honored throughout the season.
The purpose of Youth Leagues is to create a fun environment where our players can play amongst friends and meet new ones! We also believe that Youth Leagues are the perfect way for players to express their creativity and try new things while also keeping in touch with the game to prepare for the upcoming season. In keeping with this mentality, we have a ZERO tolerance policy to on-ice/off-ice violence, aggression, offensive and discriminatory language and any form of abuse in general. This goes for players AND parents. Any such act that is deemed to be a violation of our League policy will be reviewed and met with the appropriate punishment (game ejection, game/multiple game suspension, league ban).
This 4-on-4 program is sanctioned under Hockey Canada through HEO (Hockey Eastern Ontario). All participants who played in a registered minor hockey association during the 2025/26 season are fully covered under this sanctioning. Any participant who did not play in a registered minor hockey association is required to purchase the HEO Sanctioning fee at the time of registration.
Girls who are currently registered players within the OWHA are already insured by Hockey Canada and therefore are not required to pay the additional HEO sanctioning fee. Only in the case where the participant has not been registered with either of the OWHA or the HEO would you be required to pay the fee.
Planning for all Sensplex programs, camps and leagues is based on current enrollment numbers well in advance of the start date. As a result, no refunds or cancellations are permitted except for medical reasons. If a player is unable to attend their camp, program or league (and notice is given prior to the start date) due to medical reasons, he/she will receive a credit for their full amount paid less a $35 administrative fee, which may be used for any camp, program or league taking place within the next one (1) full calendar year. A doctor’s note is required to substantiate this type of cancellation, and this note must be provided within 1 week of notification.
Contact
Ottawa Senators Youth Leagues
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