HOCKEY TRAINERS ONTARIO

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes.  If you are locked out or need assistance with other issues, you can send an email to Contact Us or call the HTO office at (416) 426-7252 or toll free at 1-866-576-9680.  If we are unable to take your call, please leave us a detailed message with your full name, phone number and the reason why you are calling.  

For issues pertaining to the Hockey Canada/Spordle website account and/or registration process, please email [email protected] or visit register.hockey.ca/support or contact your affiliated minor hockey association, governing hockey branch or member partner. 

HTCP Level 1 certification is mandatory for all new team trainers.  The minimum age in which a participant can be certified as a trainer in the HTCP is 16 years of age. Certification is based on 100% completion of the online HTCP.  There is no eqivalency for this course. 
Current Eligibility:  This course is available to participants whose HTCP Level 1 or Level 2 certification expires between April 1 - August 31 of the current calendar year.  For example, if your certification expires August 31, 2024, you are eligible up until October 31, 2024 deadline to register for a Refresher course. Otherwise, if you are now past this deadline or if your certification expired in a prior year, you are NOT eligible and will be unable to register for the Refresher course. Those who qualify have until October 31st (midnight) of the applicable eligibility period to register for the Refresher course. If you are unsure of your certification status and/or expiry date, you can verify your HTCP qualification status in your HCR/Spordle My Account or contact your affiliated hockey Branch or Member Association for further assistance. NOTE: Effective November 1st of each year, the eligibility period changes to April 1 - August 31 of the following calendar year (next applicable expiry period). 


No. You will need to purchase and enroll in a new course. You can review the lessons in a previously taken course however in order to obtain and/or renew your certification status you are required complete a new course and pass a new exam. NOTE: To order a new course, you must first Log in (using the original email provided when you previously enrolled). Once you are signed in select Purchase a New Course and proceed.

When you register for the HTCP Level 1 Refresher course, your HTCP qualification status is verified through the national Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) database to see if there is an existing participant profile and, if so, verifies your HTCP certification status (last recorded expiry date) to verify eligibility.  If you do not qualify or are a new member, you will need to take the full Level 1 course.  If you have any questions about your certification status please check your HCR/Spordle My Account qualifications record or contact your affiliated hockey Branch or Member Association for further assistance. They will be able to check the HCR database to verify the appropriate information.  A list of affiliated Branch/Association contact personnel can be found in the FAQs section.


The Refresher course should be completed by your HTCP expiry date or as your minor hockey association requires.  HOWEVER, the extended period of recertification is not to exceed October 31st (of the applicable year of expiry).   For example, if your certification expires in 2023, you will have to register for the course by October 31, 2023, otherwise, you will only be eligible for the full Level 1 course.  If you are unsure of your status and/or expiry date, you can verify your HTCP qualification in your HCR/Spordle account or contact your affiliated hockey Branch or Association office for further assistance.  

You can select Register for a Course from the HTO/HTCP Welcome Page.  There are 2 OPTIONS:

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Option 1 and 2 HTCP Course Registration and payment is facilitated through the Hockey Canada Spordle website.  Upon completion of this process, you will receive three emails from Hockey Canada; one is a Clinic Information email and the others are a Payment Receipt and Invoice.  You will need to select "Click here to access your content" contained in the Clinic Information email to proceed. This link will direct you to your Spordle/HCR My Account where the course will appear in the dashboard's Event box or Calendar tab - click on Details.   In the pop-up box, select Course Link. This step will redirect you over to the Hockey Trainers Ontario (HTCP) website (htohockey.ca) to complete the final process.

Option 1.  You are a NEW participant/user who has not previously taken the HTCP eLearning course before and you are currently (or plan to be) involved with a minor hockey team, club, league or association that requires you to obtain your HTCP Certification. Upon successful completion of the course and exam, your HTCP qualifications will automatically be uploaded to your HCR/Spordle My Account profile in the Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) and you will be able to generate a Certificate of Completion from the HTO Learning Centre.   NOTE:  As a New participant you will be asked to create an HTO New Registrant Account once you have completed the registration via HCR/Spordle and are redirected back to the htohockey.ca website. 
Option 2.  You are an EXISTING participant/user who has previously taken the HTCP eLearning course and you are currently (or plan to be) involved with a minor hockey team, club, league or association that requires you to obtain your HTCP Certification. Upon successful completion of the course and exam, your HTCP qualifications will automatically be uploaded to your HCR/Spordle My Account profile in the Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) and you will be able to generate a Certificate of Completion from the HTO Learning Centre.  NOTE:  As an existing user you will already have created an HTO account. You can log in directly to your HTO account and select "Purchase a New Course".

You must access the External Link to the HTO website through your Spordle member account.  The steps and instructions are contained in the Hockey Canada “Clinic Information” email sent to you after course registration and payment is completed on the Spordle website. 
No.  These are not included in the HTCP course and can be taken through eHockey.  However, there is a Bullying, Harassment and Abuse lesson component that is included in the HTCP which is a condensed version derived from the Respect in Sport (Speak Out) program.  This module discusses specific topics related to the hockey trainer, however, it is not a substitute for the Respect in Sport (Speak Out) program course.  Please contact your affiliated Branch/Division for Respect in Sport and Gender Identity and Expression course information. 
Yes. Level 2 participants that are deemed eligible may participate in the refresher course and upon successful completion receive HTCP Level 1 certification. Same eligibility requirements as Level 1 Refresher applies. Eligibility: This course is currently available to those whose certification expires between April 1st and August 31st of the current year.  It is recommended that you verify your HTCP certification status in your HCR/Spordle account or contact your affiliated hockey Branch or Association.  NOTE: Effective November 1st of each year, the eligibility period changes to April 1 - August 31 of the following year (next applicable expiry period).
If you are a new trainer, HTCP Level 1 certification is mandatory or if your HTCP certification has lapsed you must also recertify. If you are currently HTCP certified and have First Aid certification or recognized medical/para-medical credentials, you may be eligible to upgrade to Level 2.  NOTE:  In all circumstances, Level 2 status is only granted once you have successfully completed the Level 1 program. For more information on HTCP Level 2 certification, please go to Level 2 Trainers        
After 3 login attempts you will automatically be locked out and Forgot Password will not work until the system administrator unlocks your account.  To contact the system administrator select Contact Us to send an email or by phone at 416-426-7252 or 1-866-576-9680.  Once unlocked, a temporary alphanumeric password will be emailed to you separately.  Please follow the instructions contained with the password notification message to proceed.  To reset your password to one of your own choosing, when logged in using the temporary password, click open the drop down beside user email located in top right navigation menu bar and choose > Change Password (minimum of 10 characters required).   If you have changed your email (original account user email is no longer active), please refer to FAQ:  What if my email address has changed - can I log in using my new email?  Tip: If you continue to receive a password error message after resetting, you may need to delete saved Password from your browser.
Select the "Forgot Password" on the login screen. This will generate a temporary password, which will be emailed to you at the email address from your original registration profile. Note: After 3 login attempts you will automatically be locked out and Forgot Password will not work until the system administrator unlocks your account.  To contact the system administrator select Contact Us to send an email or by phone at 416-426-7252 or 1-866-576-9680.  If you have changed your email (original email is no longer active), please refer to FAQ: What if my email address has changed - can I log in using my new email? .  Tip: If you continue to receive a password error message you may need to delete saved Password from your browser.
You will need to log in to your HTO account.  Once you are logged in you will see your account email  in the top right of the navigation menu bar.  Click open the drop down chevron v beside your email and select > Change Password.  Must be a minimum of 10 characters.
No.  For login purposes you must continue to use your original username email address as our system recognizes this as a unique account identifier and it cannot be changed. However, you can change your secondary email forwarding/notification email address by logging in. When you are logged in, open the drop down chevron beside your original email address in the top right-hand navigation menu bar of the screen.  Select Update Profile in the drop-down box.  You’ll see a secondary email field in your profile - you can change it there.  Please note that your username will remain as your original email and you will need to log in with that email.  All other emails will go to your notification email address, for example, if you select “Forgot Password” reset password instructions will be directed to this email, however, you must use your original username in the Forgot Password field.
No. The Learning Centre uses your email address to uniquely identify you. if you want to register for a course, you must register using a different email address. If you do not have one, you can get a free one such as Gmail or HotMail.
If you cannot locate your affiliated minor hockey association or league, select the affiliated hockey Branch or Association, for example the GTHL, OMHA, OWHA, etc.  A list of Branches and Associations can be found in the FAQs.
Upon successful completion of the HTCP Level 1 or Level 1 Refresher eLearning course and exam, you will be able to generate a printable Certificate of Completion from the Learning Centre. Your qualifications will be automatically uploaded to your Hockey Canada Registry (HCR)/Spordle My Account. IMPORTANT NOTE: HCR qualifications pertain to registrants that are affiliated with an Ontario hockey association/league/team sanctioned by Hockey Canada. 
No.  HTCP identification numbers have been discontinued and are no longer issued.  If you are affiliated with a Minor Hockey Association that is recognized by Hockey Canada then record of your certification will automatically be sent over to the Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) and your HTCP qualification recorded to your individual HCR/Spordle accounte profile.   Note:  The number that appears on your HTCP e-Learning Certificate of Completion is not an HTCP or HCR number however this certificate number may be recognized as verification of your certification.  For further information, contact your affiliated governing Branch/Association office.
You can obtain this by accessing your HCR/Spordle account.  Or contact your affiliated Branch/Association office. 

Yes.  Once you have registered for your course, you may log in and out as many times as you wish from any computer.  Your progress is monitored and saved.  Go to "Log in" at the top right hand side of the Home page menu. Sign in using the email you provided when you registered and password. Select the applicable course to continue or review previously completed lesson modules. If you are accessing the program from another device, log in using the email address that you provided during the registration process.  

No. When you log out, your progress is recorded so that when you log in again, you can pick up where you left off by selecting the Resume lesson option. 

Typically it takes approximately 3-1/2 hours for the Level 1 refresher and 4-1/2 hours for the full Level 1, excluding any quizzes and/or re-studying that you may choose to do.  You do not have to complete the entire course in one session, it can be completed at your own pace. You can exit the course at any time and resume your lesson where you left off or review any previously completed lessons. 

Yes. You will be able to select "Download Course Manual" from the My Courses window upon completion of the registration and course selection process.  The course manual contains the same lesson content and consists of the complete HTCP Level 1 Participant's Manual in use for the current season and is available as a PDF file. There will also be an option to download various resource materials during the online lessons. 
Both the Level 1 and Level 1 Refresher examination consists of 35 true or false questions that pertain to the HTCP Level 1 content in use for the current season. For participants taking the Level 1 Refresher course, it is recommended that you download and review the HTCP Level 1 Participant's Manual (Course Materials) as some questions relate to topics not included in the Level 1 Refresher modules. There is a 30 minute time limit to complete the exam. A 75% passing mark is required for certification. IMPORTANT NOTE: Once you begin the exam, all 35 questions must be answered otherwise it will be considered incomplete/failed.  If this happens, contact the system administrator select Help > Contact Us to send an email or by phone at 416-426-7252 or 1-866-576-9680.

These are the governing bodies of amateur hockey in Ontario.  Each Branch/Association is responsible for the approval of all affiliated minor hockey team officials registering under their jurisdiction and in accordance with Hockey Canada.  They consist of:
> Alliance Hockey (AH)
> Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL)
> Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA)
> Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA)
> Ontario Women's Hockey Association (OWHA) > Female Hockey
> Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO)
> Hockey Northwestern Ontario (HNO)
> Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) > Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey
> Ontario Hockey League (OHL) > Major Junior A
> Ontario Sledge Hockey Association (OSHA) > Sledge 


IMPORTANT NOTE:  All "Ontario" minor hockey associations, leagues and teams sanctioned by Hockey Canada are affiliated with the above.  


If you have any questions regarding your HTCP certification or would like to speak to a Branch or Member representative regarding regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to the HTCP and/or the role of the hockey trainer within their jurisdiction,  please contact:

ALLIANCE - Zach Mark
519-273-7209 ext. 4
[email protected]

GTHL - Brian Kyla-Lassila
416-636-6845 ext. 236
[email protected]

NOHA - Jacob Brown
705-474-8851 ext. 103
[email protected]

OMHA - Mark Krawczyk
905-780-2169
[email protected]

OWHA - Pat Nicholls
905-282-9980
[email protected]