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Hockey Canada has accepted all 11 recommendations from a major review of junior men’s hockey in Ontario, with officials pledging to begin implementing changes as early as this winter. Former NHL player and executive Brendan Shanahan led the review, delivering a report that outlines a sweeping set of reforms aimed at improving athlete development, governance and player support across the province.
Shanahan Leads Comprehensive Ontario Junior Hockey Review
Hockey Canada asked Shanahan to conduct the review in January. Shanahan is a Hockey Hall of Famer who served as president of the Toronto Maple Leafs for 11 years until 2025. His report, released Friday, focuses on helping junior hockey in Ontario better develop and support its athletes. It also addresses the growing impact of NCAA eligibility changes, which have significantly shifted the junior hockey landscape and created more playing opportunities for 19- and 20-year-old players.
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To build his recommendations, Shanahan conducted more than 50 interviews and surveyed 700 people across the province. Ontario’s junior hockey system is notably more complex than those in other provinces. It includes three member associations and multiple Junior A, B and C leagues operating under different structures.
“Throughout this project, it was clear that there are so many dedicated people involved with men’s junior hockey in Ontario who are passionate about ensuring the system is in a position to thrive moving forward,” Shanahan said in a statement. He added that he hopes the 11 recommendations, once implemented, will make men’s junior hockey in Ontario more athlete- and development-focused, while also giving players and families clearer pathways to navigate.
The 11 Recommendations at a Glance
The report calls for Hockey Canada to create a dedicated executive role to oversee men’s junior hockey in Ontario. It also recommends separating the governance and delivery of men’s junior hockey from minor hockey in the province. In addition, the report proposes establishing an Ontario men’s junior hockey advisory committee to review and advise on potential rule, regulation and policy changes.
On player access, the review recommends allowing incoming 16- and 17-year-old players to register with eligible teams across Ontario without geographic restrictions. Furthermore, the report calls for consistent playing rules aligned with the Ontario Hockey League across all men’s junior hockey leagues in the province.
Several recommendations focus on education and player welfare. These include expanding annual mandatory off-ice education and training courses from Hockey Canada, requiring all men’s junior leagues to provide education consultants for players, and developing a standardized billeting policy. The report also recommends improving communication between men’s junior hockey, Ontario University Athletics, accredited schools, and under-18 and under-16 hockey programs. Finally, it calls for creating a player pathway hotline through Hockey Canada to give players and families independent, real-time support and guidance, as well as expanding post-playing career pathway programs.
Governing Bodies Back the Report
Hockey Eastern Ontario, Hockey Northwestern Ontario, the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada have all approved the report. Hockey Canada president and chief executive officer Katherine Henderson confirmed the recommendations will move forward without delay.
“We are just as optimistic as he is for the future of men’s junior hockey in Ontario, and we are eager to implement his recommendations as early as this winter as we continue to strengthen the experience for players and their families,” Henderson said in the statement. Her comments signal a clear commitment from Hockey Canada to act quickly on the Ontario junior hockey review findings rather than treat them as long-term aspirations.
