Info & Register

Register to enter KIHL JUNIOR Season 3.

Registrations close at midnight on Friday 14th November 2025.

Season 3 is a reset season

*  No Protected Players - everyone becomes a free agent

*  Draft Order to be determined via lottery.

CRITERIA FOR ENTRY AND KIHL FRAMEWORK:
To be eligible to play in KIHL Junior season 3 commencing on the 14th March 2026 and ending on the 26th July 2026 you must be born in the years 2008 - 2013.

Note if you are born in 2008 you are also eligible to register to play juniors and seniors.  YES you can double play and YES you will be eligible for selection in senior and junior representative teams if you are drafted!  Representative KIHL Junior players will be given preferential entry over other junior players to the KIHL Senior draft.  Minor League (13U) players get preferential entry into KIHL Junior.  Any 13year olds unsuccessful in making the Junior "league list" are eligible to be considered for invitational entry into the Minor League.  Minor League will play 5 rounds in 2026, over the same regular season weekends as KIHL Junior, with Minor finals on the 04-05th July in Hamilton over senior finals weekend.  

KIHL Junior is a draft league which will be open to between 8 and 10 teams across 2 divisions.
The process is as follows: 

1/ First register your interest to be part of the league by the 14th November 2025.
2/ The registrations will be reviewed by KIHL who will compile a "league list" comprising 80 to 100 of the top players.
3/ Players will be notified via email if they have successfully made the "league list" on Sunday 16th November 2025.  Unsuccessful candidates will go on a waitlist should any players decline their position.

4/  Players that have been successful in making the "league list" MUST make payment by 30th November 2025 of either the non-refundable deposit or the full early bird entry, to secure their place on the league list and be eligible to be drafted.  Any non-payments by due dates will result in the position on the league list being offered to another player on the waitlist.

5/ The KIHL group will handover player information and profiles to the Franchise GM's who will begin their own vetting process with a view to choosing their teams. Each Franchise GM takes it in turn to choose a player from the "league list". This process will be live streamed on the 13th December 2025.

6/ A letter will be sent out to all players announcing the teams.  And team selections and lists will also be notified via the KIHL Facebook page.

Although the initial draft picks will likely see many of the older players making it into Juniors, with senior players most likely to end up in div1 and younger players in div2, there is no restriction.  Further coaches and franchise GM's have the ability to move players within their div1 and div2 franchise teams throughout pool play.  Players can also be moved from Minors to Juniors should it be required to make minimum number thresholds.

By registering, you are registering your interest to play in the league, this does not guarantee you will be selected for KIHL Junior. Approximately 80 to 100 players plus goalies are selected from registrations.

A maximum of 8 players plus goalie will be drafted for division 1 teams and a maximum of 12 players plus goalie in division 2. It will be run on the same franchise system as KIHL Senior.

Pool play on the dates shown below involves all teams within a division playing each other at least once over a weekend. Minimum 3-4 games per weekend. If KIHL management decide on 5 franchises (10 teams) then it is important to realize that only the top 4 franchise (8 teams) teams will make it through to finals weekend.

All junior games will be run on the same stop clock system as KIHL Senior, if any of the games end in a draw at the end of regular time, then the game continues 3 on 3 for 5 minutes, golden goal, and if no winner is found at the end of overtime, the game will end in a penalty shootout. 1 hour is allocated for each game.

For more on KIHL see here KIHL Home .

GAME DATES: 
Round 1 - 14/15 March 2026 - Hamilton
Round 2 - 11/12 April 2026 - Levin
Round 3 - 23/24 May 2026 - Hamilton
Round 4 - 20/21 June 2026 - New Plymouth
Round 5 - FINALS - 25/26 July - Hamilton

In season 3 we are offering between 16-22 games of hockey over 5 weekends.

COST:

Any player who pays the complete registration cost by the 30/11/25 will only pay the early bird registration fee of $400 (inc. GST).

Non Early Bird Pricing will be subject to the full fee of $450 inc. GST (a $225 non-refundable deposit is due by 30/11/25 to be eligible to be drafted, and $225 due before 20/02/26 to be eligible to play). 

PLAYING KIT:

$75 for a Franchise Jersey incl GST

$75 for KIHL Pants incl GST (optional)

Jerseys.  

1/ If you are playing seniors and/or you are a protected player or playing in the same franchise you can wear your seniors Jersey

2/ If you have your jersey from a prior season and you know you are playing in the same franchise you can wear your jersey from a prior season whether it's a div1 or div2 jersey.  Subject to there being no team number clashes.  

3/ If you want you can order a Jersey without a name (just with your number) to be able to sell it second hand via the closed franchise Facebook pages.

Order Forms and payment/order deadlines will be emailed out to players following draft night.

KIHL Pants

These are new for 2026 and are OPTIONAL.  Should you choose not to order KIHL Pants, plain BLACK pants are required to be worn.