Washington County Youth Hockey Association

Welcome to the Washington County Youth Hockey Association (WCYHA)! We are a private non-profit hockey association. Through a dedicated staff of certified coaches we strive to teach youth sportsmanship, ice skating, teamwork, build self-esteem, and develop discipline. WCYHA fields teams through high school aged youth, and supports and maintains the Kettle Moraine Ice Center owned by the WCYHA. We operate completely with volunteers dedicated to putting on a first class program for the youth of our community.

WCYHA board meetings held the third Monday of each month at the Kettle Moraine Ice Center, located at 2330 S. Main Street, West Bend, WI

For more information please contact our association: 

Mike Quigly, Garnet Ward, Horst Wagner, John Gehl and Connie Hall formed this association in 1975. The first practice was held on Big Cedar Lake near Garnet Ward’s home. It was then moved to a neighborhood rink on Little Cedar Lake. From there the rink moved to a pond at Silverbrook and Hickory. As the association grew, the need for a more permanent site became necessary. The association contacted Gary Anderson of the West Bend Recreation Department, and the rink was set up on one of the ball diamonds at Regner Park. In 1977, due to flooding issues, the Park Commission agreed to a new location behind the warming house at Regner Park. In 1992 the “Ice ‘92” fund raising campaign finally helped us to realize our goal of an indoor ice facility, The Kettle Moraine Ice Center.

Located in West Bend Wisconsin, The Kettle Moraine Ice Center is owned and operated by the Washington County Youth Hockey Association. Dedicated Volunteers are a necessary component to the success of the KMIC. The KMIC operates 10 months out of the year and users include: Washington County Youth Hockey, Washington County Adult Hockey League, WIAA Ice Bears, Kettle Moraine Figure Skating Club, Wisconsin AAA and The West Bend Bombers.

The Facility has recently gone through a $1 million building expasion project.  The expansion areas have more than doubled the non-ice areas. These areas include: 5 new locker rooms, Skate rental room, Hockey Haven pro shop, fitness center, TNT Functional Fitness room, new upper and lower lobby and large multi purpose/banquet room.

Craig Petersen became the General Manager of the Kettle Moraine Ice Center in October of 2004.

Since 1995, Craig has become familiar with a number of ice arenas, including regular employment at three facilities in South Eastern Wisconsin. He received his Certified Ice Technician designation, Certified Rink Administrator designation and Certified Ice Rink Manager designation through STAR (Serving The American Rinks).  He is an active member of STAR, sitting on the Editorial Board for "RINK" magazine and in 2012 was recognized as the STAR Ambassador at the North American Rink Conference and Expo in Detroit, MI. Craig has been on the Board of Directors for the Wiscosin Ice Arena Management Association from 2005 to 2013, serving as the Associations' President in 2012.

Craig was on the Celebrate Familes Committee from 2008 to 2013 and was Co-Chair of the annual family resource event in 2011 and 2012.  He also has been involved with the West Bend Noon Rotary since 2010 and sits on the Membership Committee, the Rotary International Committee and is an INTERACT Advisor for West Bend East and West students.  Craig continually trys to develop youth in the community by volunteering as a floor hockey instructor at the YMCA and various elementary schools in the area.  He also worked at, and volunteers at the West Bend Boys and Girls Club.

Craig grew up in Delafield, WI and played youth hockey for the Waukesha County Youth Hockey Association and remembers playing against Washington County on outdoor ice before the KMIC was completed. He went to college and played hockey for the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater where he graduated with a degree in Electronic Media and Graphic Design.  After working as a graphic designer for ABC Television in Madison for two years (WKOW 27), he decided to pursue his passion . . . working with youth and running an ice center.

Craig played for the West Bend Bombers in 2007 and retired at the end of the season (his jersey hangs at the West Bend Buffalo Wild Wings).  He still runs all the game night promotions and events, so if you have a group that would like to come to a game, contact Craig.

Craig enjoys gettting out into the community as a representative of the WCYHA and the KMIC and loves showing off the building.  If you have a youth group that would like a tour of the building, please don't hesitat to contact him.

cpetersen@wcyha.org   262-335-0876