Dear
Raiders Nation;
I hope
everyone enjoyed a wonderful holiday season with lots of hockey. From all our
staff we would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and healthy and
prosperous 2026.
With the
2025-2026 season entering its home stretch, I’d like to take this opportunity,
as I do each year, to address our current Jr. Raiders families, other
Burlington families and regional families considering trying out for our
2026-2027 Jr Raiders teams.
As I
have said previously, the minor hockey landscape in Burlington is confusing and
competitive, with parents having three options for minor hockey and, including
the girls’ league, a fourth alternative.
Every year, we hear from parents who are trying to sort through the
rumour mill and arena gossip about who is going where, what teams are being
added or not offered. The tryout process
is stressful enough for families without the added pressure of hearing false
information spread to discredit other programs.
We are firm in our commitment to everyone who is currently part of the
Jr. Raiders program and anyone considering joining our minor hockey
organization –
OUR COACHES, STAFF AND ANYONE AFFILIATED WITH THE BURLINGTON
JR. RAIDERS WILL NOT SPEAK NEGATIVELY OF OR SPREAD FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY
OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY.
WE CHALLENGE OUR COLLEAGUES FROM THE OTHER MINOR HOCKEY ORGANIZATIONS TO
UPHOLD THIS SAME STANDARD. WE ASK EVERYONE TO PLACE THE INTEGRITY OF THE
GAME ABOVE ALL ELSE.
The Jr. Raiders are firm in our belief that parents should select their children’s minor hockey program based on the merits of each program and how the season fits into their family schedule – nothing more. If player development is important to you, select the team that offers the best opportunity for your child to grow and improve. If playing just for fun is your child’s motivation, find the team that will provide that environment.
At Raiders Nation we believe our players and parents have access to the best all-around hockey experience in Ontario. I stress the word experience. Raiders Hockey is not about winning. We believe in creating an environment in which your child can train and develop their hockey skills while making lasting friendships and building their confidence. We are proud of our programming. Our focus is development with our full-time hockey instructor staff that includes former NHL and Olympic players, Calder Cup and Memorial Cup champions available to oversee your child’s progress through the season. ALL home games and practices for every team are played at our facility that offers 2 Full Ice NHL sized rinks (please enjoy our brand new lighting systems installed over the holidays in both rinks for a better in-game experience ), Limitless Training Systems (Full gym strength and development facility owned and operated by Paul Ferri a former NHL strength and conditioning coach and current strength and conditioning coach for the OHL The Niagara Ice Dogs), a full service and licensed restaurant with party rooms to enjoy team parties, birthday parties and corporate functions, 2 real ice shooting pads to improve your child’s shot and stickhandling, a NEW smoothie and Protein Shake bar and a NEW outdoor turf field that can be utilized by Raiders Nation to further their off-ice development.
Raiders/BLOMHA Agreement
As in previous years, there are always rumours about next season that start at this time of the year. One of the rumours this year is that BLOMHA will be operating A and AA teams next season. This is unequivocally not true. When the Jr Raiders entered Hockey Canada (Alliance), there was an agreement signed August 29, 2018 by Dave Conacher (Jr. Raiders), Rick Dawson (BLOMHA) and Dan Gibbons, President of Alliance Hockey. In this agreement it was agreed that Jr. Raiders would not operate a House League and I quote from the agreement – “BLOMHA are not permitted to host any rep hockey above Minor Development”. This binding agreement should put to bed any misunderstandings anyone in Burlington will have regarding who will be offering A and AA hockey next season. The Eagles and Jr. Raiders will operate AA and A teams while BLOMHA will not.
Thank you to our Jr. Raiders families for your ongoing support and I look forward to seeing you all around OUR RINK. I also wish you must success for the rest of this season. Please stay tuned for our tryout schedule.
Sincerely,
Dave Conacher