Northumberland Minor Hockey Association strongly encourages all current volunteers and anyone considering taking on a role as an on-ice helper or bench staff for the 2026/2027 season, to begin the process of obtaining their Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) as soon as possible.
Every season, we have seen processing times vary, with turnarounds lasting from 2 weeks to 2 months, in some jurisdictions. Early application is critical to ensure your eligibility to participate, prior to team activities commencing and roster finalization.
For applying for your VSC, please consider the following:
Confirm Your Police Service - You must apply through the police service that has jurisdiction over your home address. Please verify which service you are required to use before submitting your application.
Apply for Your Vulnerable Sector Check - Submit your VSC application directly to your local police service. The Hockey Canada letter to accompany your application is available here: 
ohf-letter-requesting-vsc.
Submit to the Ontario Hockey Federation - Once you have received your completed VSC, you must upload and submit it through the Ontario Hockey Federation Risk Management portal. For full details and submission instructions, please visit: https://ohf.on.ca/risk-management/vulnerable-sector-checks-vsc/
We appreciate you as volunteers on the bench and your dedication to minor hockey in our community. Being proactive by completing this task, will ensure a safe and timely start to the season for all participants.