A family from the Beaverdam area is upset a seven-year-old can't play hockey with his friends in a nearby arena because of long-standing zone borders set down by Hockey New Brunswick.

Alexandra Cox lives between Fredericton Junction and Fredericton.

When she tried to register her seven-year-old son Graeme to play hockey at the Tri-County complex in Fredericton Junction this year, she was told he wasn't allowed.

"They wouldn't give us a jersey," said Cox.

"He was upset and he cried because he saw his friends walking out with jerseys and we weren't allowed to have a jersey.

Alexandra Cox is upset her son has to play hockey in Fredericton instead of in Fredericton Junction with his school friends. (CBC) "I"ve had to explain to him that now he that he won't be allowed to play hockey with his friends."

Hockey New Brunswick sets down zones for the different hockey associations throughout the province which dictates where players are to play.

Jonathan Brown, the general manager of the Fredericton Youth Hockey Association, says the system may not always seem fair as school and hockey zones don't always lineup.

But he said the lines have to be drawn somewhere.

"We have a map indicating to our membership those areas, those outlying areas and where the borders extend to and from. We put the onus on the membership or on someone looking to register to see if they are within those areas," Brown said.

Hockey New Brunswick says many associations do accept non-resident players if there are positions open after the main registration takes place.