Money help

Who helps pay for minor hockey in Manitoba.

Every grant, fund and tax credit we could confirm, with the amount in the provider's own words, who qualifies in plain words, the deadline, and the day we checked. Amounts change every year, so always open the source before you count on it.

What will the season cost?

Coming up

Deadlines in the next six weeks

Checked Oct 10, 2026. Rolling programs such as KidSport (the 15th of every month) are listed below rather than here.

Cooper Nemeth Memorial Player Financial Assistance FundFri Nov 13, 2026 · Not stated. Covers league and tournament fees, ice fees, travel and team-related costs.Dianne Woods Memorial Player Financial Assistance FundFri Nov 13, 2026 · Not stated. Covers expenses similar to the Cooper Nemeth fund.

The programs, one by one

“Low Income Cut-Off” (LICO) is the Statistics Canada income line most of these programs use. Each provider publishes its own table by family size; the links go straight to them.

Grant

KidSport Manitoba

KidSport Manitoba (Sport Manitoba)

How much: Up to $300 per child per calendar year
Who qualifies: Families whose household income is at or below the Statistics Canada Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for their family size. KidSport publishes the income table on its page.
The program must be run by a club in good standing with a Provincial Sport Organization. Hockey through a Hockey Manitoba association qualifies.
Registration fees for the current or upcoming season only.
Does not cover: Equipment, uniforms, travel, tournaments, provincial or high-performance teams, camps, private lessons, and programs that have already ended.
Hockey Winnipeg's own list adds that in Winnipeg, house league (Timbits, A1, A2, A3) is not funded.
Deadline: The 15th of each month (or the last working day before the 15th) at 4:30 PM
How to apply: Register your child first and tell the program you plan to apply, then apply online (fastest) or on paper. Incomplete applications roll to the next month once, then are declined.

Sources disagree. KidSport Manitoba's own page says up to $300 per child per year. Hockey Winnipeg's Financial Assistance page says up to $500. An older 2024 KidSport form also said $500. Treat $300 as the current figure and confirm with KidSport before counting on more. Hockey Winnipeg, Financial Assistance

Questions: 204-925-5911 or kidsportmb@sportmanitoba.ca (from the KidSport Manitoba page).

KidSport Manitoba, Provincial Fund Checked Oct 10, 2026

Grant

Jumpstart Individual Child Grant

Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities

How much: Up to $300 per child per year, subject to the local chapter and local demand
Who qualifies: Children aged 4 to 18.
Families who meet the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO). Proof is a current Canada Child Benefit statement.
Sustained programs that involve sport or physical activity.
Deadline: No fixed deadline published; apply before the season starts. Some communities no longer offer individual grants, so check that yours does.
How to apply: Apply online on the Jumpstart site. Families above the income line with an extenuating circumstance can explain it on the form with supporting documents.

Jumpstart's phone line: 1-844-937-7529.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart, Individual Child Grants and FAQ Checked Oct 10, 2026

Fund · Closed for 2026-27

Hockey Canada Foundation Assist Fund

Hockey Canada Foundation

How much: Up to $500 toward registration fees (Hockey Winnipeg's description)
Who qualifies: Financial need based on the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), as described by Hockey Winnipeg.
Deadline: Closed for 2026-27. The fund's $1.3 million for this season was given out first come, first served, and the portal says it is not accepting new applications this year.
How to apply: The portal will reopen for the 2027-28 season (no date given). You can leave an email address on the Assist Fund page to be told when it opens.

Apply the day the portal opens next summer; this year's money was gone before the season started.

Hockey Canada Foundation Assist Fund, Apply Checked Oct 10, 2026

Grant

Grindstone Award Foundation

How much: Registration grant up to $500, plus an equipment grant for one of 25 full equipment sets donated by the NHLPA Goals and Dreams Fund
Who qualifies: Female players whose family meets the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO).
Deadline: Sat Jul 31, 2027
How to apply: Apply on the Grindstone site before July 31 for the following season.

Grindstone Award Foundation, Apply (as listed by Hockey Winnipeg) Checked Oct 10, 2026

Fund

Cooper Nemeth Memorial Player Financial Assistance Fund

Hockey Winnipeg

How much: Not stated. Covers league and tournament fees, ice fees, travel and team-related costs.
Who qualifies: Hockey Winnipeg members at the AA level only.
Deadline: Fri Nov 13, 2026
How to apply: Online application only, from the Hockey Winnipeg Financial Assistance page. Mailed or emailed applications are not accepted.

Hockey Winnipeg, Financial Assistance Checked Oct 10, 2026

Fund

Dianne Woods Memorial Player Financial Assistance Fund

Hockey Winnipeg

How much: Not stated. Covers expenses similar to the Cooper Nemeth fund.
Who qualifies: Hockey Winnipeg players under 17.
Deadline: Fri Nov 13, 2026
How to apply: Online application only, from the Hockey Winnipeg Financial Assistance page. Mailed or emailed applications are not accepted.

Hockey Winnipeg, Financial Assistance Checked Oct 10, 2026

Grant

Black Girl Hockey Club Scholarship

Black Girl Hockey Club

How much: $500 to $5,000
Who qualifies: Black women and girls aged 9 to 18 (as described by Hockey Winnipeg).
Deadline: Varies; check the Black Girl Hockey Club site
How to apply: Hockey Winnipeg lists this scholarship, but the link on its page points to the Grindstone site. Search for the Black Girl Hockey Club scholarship page directly and confirm the current window there.

PuckReady has not yet confirmed this scholarship with the foundation itself; treat the amount as reported by Hockey Winnipeg.

Hockey Winnipeg, Financial Assistance Checked Oct 10, 2026

Tax credit

Manitoba Fitness Tax Credit

Government of Manitoba (claimed on your tax return)

How much: Up to $500 of fees per child, which lowers your Manitoba tax by about $54 ($1,000 and about $108 for a child with a disability, when at least $100 was spent)
Who qualifies: Registration or membership fees for an eligible program of physical activity. Hockey counts.
Manitoba's page describes children under 16 and young adults 16 to 24; tax-software guides describe children under 18. Check the current rules when you file.
Either the child or a parent can claim it, and spouses can split it, but each child's amount can be claimed only once.
Deadline: Claim it on your income-tax return for the year you paid the fees (keep the receipts)
How to apply: Enter the fees on the Manitoba part of your tax return (Form MB428). It is a non-refundable credit, so it reduces tax owing rather than paying cash.

The dollar value uses Manitoba's lowest tax rate of 10.8% (TaxTips.ca). The province's page is not year-specific; confirm the 2026 amount on the 2026 forms when they are released.

Manitoba Finance, Personal Tax Credits Checked Oct 10, 2026

Three things that lower the bill without a grant

Register with your nearest association

Hockey Manitoba requires it anyway, and house league is the least expensive sanctioned option. The cost estimator shows the range by level.

Open the estimator

Try before you buy gear

NHL/NHLPA First Shift includes equipment for a first season. Learn-to-skate programs need skates and a helmet only.

First Shift and learn to skate

Ask your association about its own fund

Many associations keep a quiet assistance fund or an equipment swap. Hockey Winnipeg's financial assistance page is the Winnipeg list.

Hockey Winnipeg's list

PuckReady is not a financial adviser and does not take part in any application. Amounts, income lines and deadlines are copied from the providers’ pages on the dates shown; confirm with the provider before you apply. Found a change? Tell us.