Hockey Canada wants all hockey associations on the same page when it comes to its initiation program for players aged five and six.

The initiation program always recommended cross-ice or half-ice games but it has varied from community to community.

Beginning next season a new Hockey Canada policy mandates that initiation-aged players receive programming on cross-ice or half-ice surfaces.

Hockey Canada says players receive five times more passes and take six times more shots on the smaller ice.

A side benefit is it also allows communities to maximize their ice time by safely putting more teams and games on the ice at one time.

To ensure all members understand the new mandate, Hockey Alberta will be undertaking a communication plan that includes meetings with minor hockey association executives May 6 and 7 during the spring conference session in Okotoks.