When are U9 players evaluated and teams formed?

Hockey Canada's U9 pathway sets these rules for player evaluation and selection:

• None in the off-season (March through August).
• None before the first week of school, or during the first week if school starts the week after Labour Day.
• Where school starts before Labour Day, there must be four skates or practices starting the week after Labour Day before evaluation begins.
• At least four practices or skill sessions must be offered before formal evaluation starts.
• At least three formal evaluation sessions. The recommended mix is one skills session, one small-area games session and one half-ice game.
• A period of development time must follow selection, before the regular season.

Players are grouped with like-ability players for maximum growth, and players should not be cut.