THE BOLT REPORT- FALL EDITION

THE BOLT REPORT- FALL EDITION

Welcome to the Fall Edition of The Bolt Report! The 2026-27 season is underway, our rinks are buzzing, and our Lightning community is already making an impact both on and off the ice.

From charitable initiatives and community partnerships to tournament success, player development, and the incredible people who help power our program, there is plenty to celebrate. As we mark our 10th season, we are reminded that COLGHA Lightning is about so much more than hockey. It's about opportunity, belonging, friendship, and growing together.

Lightning Fast Updates

• Practice and Game Schedules are set through December
• Community Current- Bauer First Shift in FULL SWING
• The Storm Front- Making a difference in our community
• Powering the Program- Volunteer Appreciation
• Beyond the Storm- Tourneys, Dryland, Mental Prep & Player Development
• Power to Play- Financial assistance information is available
• Our 10th season celebrations continue, lots of SAVE THE DATE events!

Practice Ice & Game Schedules

SMGHL scheduling is nearly complete, and practice ice has been allocated for all teams through to Christmas. Thank you for your patience as we coordinated the many moving parts! Schedules can change, so please keep an eye on team communications and let us know if you notice any errors.

As we enter our 10th season, we’re proud to reflect on a decade of growth and ice advocacy. We now use meaningful ice in all four municipalities, playing games and representing our members across the Georgian Bay region.

Ice is a limited and valuable resource. Please use your allocated ice whenever possible—if we don’t use it, we risk losing it. Thank you for helping us make the most of every opportunity!

Community Current

Every hockey journey starts somewhere, and for many families, Bauer First Shift is where the excitement begins! Bauer First Shift helps introduce new families to hockey in an accessible, welcoming way, opening the door to new friendships, new skills, and a whole lot of smiles.

We are thrilled to welcome our newest players into the hockey community. Thank you to everyone who helped make fitting night possible, and to the 51 new families who are taking that first exciting step with us. Welcome to the game. Welcome to Lightning!

The Storm Front

Being part of COLGHA Lightning means more than wearing a jersey. It means showing up, supporting one another, and using the power of sport to make a difference.

This fall, our Lightning family has been involved in several meaningful community events and charitable initiatives. We are proud of our players and volunteers for demonstrating that teamwork extends far beyond the rink.

Our U13BB team was proud to volunteer at Run for Her, supporting an important cause dedicated to raising awareness and funds to help improve ovarian cancer outcomes. By giving their time to support this initiative, our players demonstrated that being a strong teammate also means being a caring community member. 

Lightning teams and volunteers came together for the 46th Annual Terry Fox Run, honouring Terry Fox, our communities, and everyone whose lives have been touched by cancer. The Collingwood community has now raised more than $400,000 in support of Terry's Marathon of Hope. That incredible milestone reflects the generosity and determination of a community that continues to carry his legacy forward. Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, donated, or cheered others on. 

What an incredible day of hockey, goodwill, and community spirit! Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Toronto Ice Owls Blind Hockey and COLGHA Lightning. It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the game of blind hockey, celebrate the athletes, and raise awareness of the sport and the players who make it so special. Big thanks to Jackie P for bringing it altogether. The final fundraising total was just over $3,300!

Our U15A and U15BB teams hit the ice for a friendly scrimmage in support of the Mobile Soup Kitchen's Hunger-Relief Program. It was a great example of hockey bringing people together for a cause that matters. While the teams competed on the ice, the bigger win was supporting an initiative that helps address food insecurity in our community. Thank you to everyone who helped organize and support the Faceoff Against Hunger. We are proud to see our athletes using their passion for hockey to support others.

Powering the Program

Some of the most important contributions to sport happen quietly behind the scenes. They may not always come with a spotlight, but their impact can be seen every day in the opportunities available to our athletes.

We are proud to recognize Jim Georgas, recipient of CollingwoodToday's Community Builders Award for Sports and Recreation. Jim exemplifies the values celebrated by this award. His contributions have strengthened not only our organization but also the broader sports community, helping create opportunities for athletes and supporting the programs that allow sports to thrive. Jim's work is a wonderful reminder that the impact of one person's dedication can reach far beyond a single team or season.

Congratulations, Jim, on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you for everything you contribute to our sporting community!

Beyond The Storm

Tournament season is underway, and our Lightning teams are already giving us plenty to cheer about!

A huge congratulations to our teams celebrating early tournament success:

• U13A- Silver Medalists at the North Halton Fall Showcase.
• U18BB- Gold Medalists at St. Thomas Big Cat Preseason Showdown & Wickfest.

Across the association, our teams are off to a great start in league play, with plenty of wins and strong performances already on the board. Our HL and Competitive teams are building momentum, learning to compete together, and finding their confidence as the season progresses.

Behind the game-day excitement, players are also putting in the work. Teams are digging into their dryland routines, participating in player development opportunities, and building the habits that support long-term growth.

We know success isn't measured by medals and wins alone. It's also found in improved skills, stronger teamwork, resilience after a tough game, and the commitment to keep showing up and working toward the next goal. To all our Lightning athletes: keep trusting the process, supporting your teammates, and representing our association with pride. 

Have a tournament result or team highlight to share? We love celebrating our Lightning teams. Send your photos and achievements through your team manager so we can feature more of our athletes in future editions.

A BIG LIGHTNING THANK YOU TO JESS HANNAN! Thank you, Jess, for taking the time to photograph and archive our athletes’ special moments throughout the season so far! If you see Jess around the rink, please take a moment to say THANK YOU for sharing her time and talent with us!

Power To Play

We believe every girl deserves the opportunity to play. Families who may need financial assistance are encouraged to explore our Lightning Power to Play Assistance Fund, along with other available community funding resources.

Further Resources and Financial Assistance

Canadian Tire Jumpstart

Kidsport Ontario

Their Opportunity

Town of Collingwood- Affordable Recreation 

Every girl deserves a chance to play. If you need help navigating available resources, please reach out to COLGHA. We want to help families find pathways that keep girls connected to the game.

Save The Date!

The holiday season is almost here, and we're excited to bring some Lightning spirit to our local communities! Mark your calendars and watch for team communications with further details about participation, meeting locations, and apparel.

• Collingwood Santa Claus Parade: Saturday, November 21, 2026
• Wasaga Beach Santa Claus Parade: Saturday, November 28, 2026
• Stayner & Creemore Santa Claus Parade: Saturday, December 5, 2026

We hope to see plenty of Lightning players and families joining in the festivities. Let's share some holiday cheer, represent our association with pride, and celebrate the communities that support our girls throughout the season. More details to come!

It’s Our Birthday!

As we celebrate our 10th season, we are reminded of just how far our Lightning community has come- and how much more we can accomplish together.

From introducing girls to their first hockey experiences to supporting athletes as they develop their skills, pursue competitive opportunities, and build lifelong friendships, our association is about creating opportunities for every player to find her path.

Thank you to our players, families, coaches, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners for being part of this journey. Your commitment, generosity, and passion are what make COLGHA more than a hockey association. 

“Brave Enough to Try. Strong Enough to Grow”.

COLGHA Lightning