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Insurance

Hockey Canada knows that we have a responsibility to ensure that adequate financial resources are in place to compensate those that are injured while playing hockey. One of the benefits of being a member of Hockey Canada is knowing that you have an exceptional insurance program that has been built with the needs of its members in mind. It involves good financial management, so that funds are in place to meet claims obligations when they fall due. It also includes establishing control mechanisms so that only genuine claims are reimbursed.

With the assistance of the Hockey Canada Insurance Committee, Hockey Canada has engaged what it feels is an effective insurance carrier who knows the needs of our organization for policy coverage in the areas of commercial general liability, sexual misconduct liability, directors and officers liability, and accidental death and dismemberment coverage. A great amount of research and dialogue ensures that we are delivering effective coverage at a fair premium for our members.

The medical/dental coverage offered is a self-administered secondary insurance program that is managed by Hockey Canada. This coverage assists members who may not have private secondary coverage for services such as dental and physiotherapy to the limits set within the policy. The policy also assists members who have exhausted their limits within their private coverage to our policy limits.

Even with all of the coverage we have outlined above Hockey Canada is able to maintain a low premium. The premium is based upon the total membership of players in Hockey Canada, and by the continual focus on safety by its branches, minor hockey associations and membership. All the members of Hockey Canada have the ability to assist in keeping our exposure to a minimum by practicing risk, conduct and safety management on an ongoing basis. We need to continue to work together to stress strong skill development, effective rules and enforcement, and respect in the game. By growing our efforts in these areas we will continue to keep our game safe, recruit and retain players, parents and volunteers and deliver the strong insurance program we currently deliver.

Risk management and insurance fee rates are applicable for Minor and Female players, Level 1-3 Referees, coaches, managers and trainers/safety people. There is an additional charge for Major Medical/Dental Insurance coverage for Junior, Major Junior, Senior, and Adult Recreation players, as well as Level 4-6 Referees. These fees vary across the country depending on claims experience and individual Branches may charge a Branch Administration Fee. Volunteers and staff insurance fees are incorporated in the fees paid by players, coaches, managers, and trainers/safety people.

  • Hockey Canada/Branch sanctioned events (league games, tournaments, practices, dry land training) when playing member teams only
  • Transportation directly to and from the arena or venue.
  • Accommodations while billeted or at a hotel during a Hockey Canada/Branch sanctioned hockey activity.

SECURE a branch specific Hockey Canada Injury Report Form from your team, MHA or the Hockey Alberta website.

Hockey Canada Injury Report Form >

COMPLETE the form in its entirety. Have your team official complete the team section and your Physician/Dentist complete the back of the form.

EMAIL the fully completed form to [email protected] within 90 days of the date of accident. You have 52 weeks from the date of injury to submit any receipts/invoices.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • Only Injury Report Forms received in the Hockey Alberta office within 90 days of the accident will be accepted.
  • Forms must be completed in their entirety or they will be returned.
  • Only original receipts/invoices are acceptable. (If originals have been forwarded to a primary insurer, copies are acceptable). DO NOT FAX IN CLAIMS
  • Hockey Canada is strictly a supplemental insurer. If you have access to any other insurance, you must pursue it through them first. Hockey Canada shall cover those costs not covered by your primary insurance to their policy limits.
  • Depending on the nature of the incident, Hockey Canada may choose to manage claims as they see fit.
  • When an injury occurs at a Hockey Canada/Branch sanctioned event, a team official should complete all pertinent information on the branch specific Hockey Canada Injury Report form. The Injury Report form should then be given to the parent and/or player for a signature, completion of the Health Insurance Information section, and obtaining the Physician Statement.
  • For all teams travelling to the USA for sanctioned tournaments/games:  All players MUST have some form of primary insurance to be eligible for Hockey Canada’s supplemental insurance
  • To all teams acquiring players from the USA: all USA players MUST have primary insurance coverage to be eligible for Hockey Canada’s supplemental insurance.

Submit the Injury Report Form to the branch office within 90 days of the injury.

If making a claim, receipts/invoices must be submitted to the Hockey Alberta Office, citing the injury date, within 52 weeks from the date of injury.

All Injury Reports Forms and accompanying paperwork is processed through the Hockey Alberta Office before it is sent to Hockey Canada’s Head Office for final processing. All reimbursement cheques are issued from Hockey Canada’s head office in Ottawa.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON COVERAGE, POLICY LIMITS AND ADDITIONAL FEATURES OF THE INSURANCE PROGRAM, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR BRANCH OFFICE.

For detailed instructions on how to submit a request for a Certificate of Insurance, please refer to the BFL Canada User Guide. Complete the Certificate of Insurance Request form in full using the online platform.

Once the request has been submitted through the online platform, it will be reviewed by Hockey Alberta and submitted to BFL for processing. Once BFL has issued the Certificate of Insurance, it will first be sent to Hockey Alberta, and then forwarded on to the requesting member.

Hockey Canada’s broker, BFL Canada has made the following recommendations for how all Certificates of Insurance should be logged into the BFL Canada platform:

For events after March 1.If you already have a Certificate of Insurance valid until March 1 and the third party has requested a new one for events after March 1.
As usual, make sure to enter the correct information on the request:

Notes on "How to" on the platform

Under organization: Third party requesting a proof of insurance. It should not be the team itself, nor one of its volunteers. You can always use "To whom it may concern" if the third party is not clearly identified.

Under dates of event: Please make sure you identify the correct dates of the event.

Please allow up to 10 business days for processing.

If you have any questions, please contact Stacey Pattison, or the Hockey Alberta office 403-342-6777.

BFL CANADA CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE REQUEST >

Hockey Canada launched the Pathway to Hockey Coverage Form for Minor Hockey Associations that are looking to run their own ‘’introduction or try hockey’’ initiatives in the 2023-24 season.

What are Pathway to Hockey programs?

Pathway to Hockey programs (commonly known as try hockey programs) are designed to provide fun, safe and affordable introduction to hockey opportunities to all Canadians. These are programs that are run and managed by Local Hockey Associations – with the objective of growing their membership. Pathway to hockey programs can be a simple ball hockey initiative or a 12-week program that teaches skating or the fundamentals of the game. Key objectives for this initiative are as follows:

  • Provide an opportunity for Local Hockey Associations to expand their introductory programming offerings, leading to increased accessibility, diversity and inclusiveness
  • Ensure that all participants and programs are insured and managed in accordance with our shared values and standards
  • Remove a component of the cost barrier (insurance) for program participants
  • Track participants and their hockey journey, leading to greater understanding of retention and sustainability
  • Collect best practices and innovative ideas, including identification of opportunities to share with others and/or scale in other areas

What is the Pathway to Hockey Coverage Form designed for?

The Pathway to Hockey Coverage Form is designed for Local Hockey Associations that wish to run programming which includes children that are not currently registered with a Local Hockey Association and may not have the equipment, experience, financial means or desire to join a rostered team. Hockey Canada has worked with its insurers to adjust or remove restrictions (i.e. length of event, age of participants, etc.) so that a wider variety of programming can be included within its coverage.

What types of programs that are covered by the Pathway to Hockey Coverage Form?

Off-Ice Activities

  • Off-Ice training: Activities that are held in a gymnasium or outdoors and include activities such as ‘’dryland training’’, stick handling, positioning and more (no equipment required)
  • Floorball: training and games following the rules of Floorball (no equipment required)
  • Ball / Street hockey: training or games involving sticks and balls (helmets with cages are required)

On-Ice activities

  • Learn to skate: Sessions in which participants learn the fundamentals of skating (helmets with cages, gloves and skates required)
  • Learn to play / Try Hockey: Sessions in which the participants learn the fundamentals of hockey including skills, drills, small areas games, informal scrimmaging (full equipment required)
  • Skills sessions: Sessions that are focus on individual skills and individual tactics (full equipment required)
  • Hockey Canada programming: Information on programs may be found on wwwhockeycanada.ca (full equipment required)
    • Dreams Come True
    • Esso Fun Days
    • World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend
    • Global Girls’ Game

What insurance coverage is provided to APPROVED programs?

  • Commercial General Liability insurance, which is a personal injury/property damage policy is in place for the registered participants.
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance, covers death and very serious permanent injures incurred by the registered participants.
  • Directors and Officers Liability insurance is in place to cover the directors and officers of the associations and Members overseeing the events.

How does your Association apply for Pathway to Hockey Coverage?

APPLY FOR PATHWAY TO HOCKEY COVERAGE >

When will you be notified if your event is APPROVED for the Pathway to Hockey Coverage?

  • Your Provincial Member will provide their decision within 15 days of your application being submitted
  • Once approved, you will also receive an HCR registration link – this registration link may be used to register your participants and will help us:
    • Insure participants adequately
    • Collect valuable information on growth programs
    • Track participants in HCR
    • Provide you with a list of all participants

Which criteria does your Association need respect in order to obtain approval and coverage?

  • Your Association’s Board must approve your application in order to receive Pathway to Hockey Coverage
  • All participants must wear the appropriate equipment in order to be covered. Requirements are listed in the application form
  • Activities may NOT be organized games with officials
  • Local Hockey Associations must ensure that their On-Ice leads possess Coach Level I, Respect in Sport Leader Activity (or Speak Out) certification and have undergone a criminal record and vulnerable persons check, and any other requirements established by your Provincial Member
  • To be covered, your Provincial Member must approve your application. You will be notified by Hockey Canada of their response
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact [email protected]