With so many young hockey players in the Kindersley region, it was decided that beginning this year novice will have half-ice play similar to the same way that initiation hockey is done. Novice players ages range from 7 and 8 year old kids which are 2011 and 2012 born children. The rules on half-ice play are a little bit different then full-ice play. Primarily, it is a 5-on-5 format with each team required to have 2 goaltenders.It may be cut down to 4-on-4 if each or one team does not have 10 skaters. Shift lengths are two minutes with a buzzer sounding to indicate a players change. There are two 24 minute halves with one half of the ice being called the game zone and the other half called the skill zone. After the buzzer sounds after 2 minutes, the players from the skill zone enter the game zone and vice versa. There will be a face off after every shift change and beginning of each period. 

There are only a few changes of possession as continuous play happens unless there is an injury . First, when the goalie freezes the puck. When this happens, the official blows the whistle and the attacking team backs off and the defending team gets possession. Also, when a puck is shot out of play the offending teams backs off and the official gives the non-offending team the puck and play rolls on. After each goal the puck is given to the defending team and the attacking team backs off and play continues. 

Minor penalties are noted with the official briefly raising their arm to indicate a penalty will be assessed. If the offending team controls the puck after the infraction, the official blows the whistle and calls for a change of possession; the non-offending team is given room to play the puck (three-meter cushion).  The offending player will sit out the next shift, but the team will play even strength.

Kindersley Minor Sports is following what most of the province is doing for novice and initiation skaters. Full-ice games may begin after January 1 with the same rules as half-ice, or it can revert back to the way it is played in older age groups as well.