Hockey Programs
Washington County Youth Hockey Association offers hockey programs from ages 3-14. The hockey season generally runs September through April. Please see below for more information on the various programs offered.
If you have any questions as you read through this information, please feel free to reach out via our contact form.
Try Hockey for Free
Try Hockey For Free provides children the opportunity to experience playing hockey for the first time with certified USA Hockey coaches and caring volunteers on the ice.
Beginner Hockey
Intro to Hockey
This program requires no previous skating or hockey skills, and is open to all Washington County residents ages 3-10 years. All gear is included, and drop in is available. The practice is broken into skill groups, and skaters will start in a group that is learning to stand on skates and recover from a fall independently. From there they will progress to groups that are learning to skate, hold a hockey stick, and control a puck. Kids can start this program at any point within the session, and drop-ins are welcome.
WCYHA Intro to Hockey
Intro to Hockey Coordinator
Youth Hockey
Once a family and a skater have decided that they want to commit to playing hockey for a full season, then they are ready to join the association, and become part of their age appropriate program. WCYHA has been very progressive in offering developmental programs which are tailor made to specific age groups.
These programs can be divided into two categories:
Instructional - Focus on shrinking the game to match the size of the player, developing skills, and having fun. Players can join at any point in the season, and there is minimal to no travel. All programs for skaters ages 8 and under fall into the instructional category.
Travel/Competitive - All programs for skaters ages 9 to 14 fall into the travel team category. Travel team skaters must reside within our district (which is Washington County), participate in try outs for team placement, will have games almost every weekend from November through mid March, and will have the opportunity to earn a state championship for their level.
The programs offered at WCYHA are:
- Mighty Mites (4U): 3 & 4 year olds
- Mini Mites (6U): 5 & 6 year olds
- Mites (8U): 7 & 8 year olds, (Girls Program Offered)
- Squirts (10U): 9 & 10 year olds, (Girls Program Offered)
- Peewees (12U): 11 & 12 year olds, (Girls Program Offered)
- Bantams (14U): 13 & 14 year olds, (Girls Program Offered)
Instructional Hockey
Emily Bayer
Mighty Mite Lead
Mighty Mites (4u)
The Mighty Mites program is specially designed for 3 and 4 year olds to get comfortable on the ice, in the gear, and skating around. The program will be run in one or two groups depending on numbers, and will look more like an organized recess than a traditional hockey practice. All drills will be disguised by fun games, and the rink doors will not be closed. The kids will be allowed to get on and off the ice during the practice in case of bathroom breaks.
Practices will occur once a month for 45 minutes, and a jersey order for reversible jerseys will be organized after the first month. Kids can join this program at any point throughout the season.
Contact Coach Emily with questions.
Mini Mites (6u)
The Mini Mites program is for 5 and 6 year olds and focuses on starting to get them used to doing hockey drills, working in like skill groups, and playing some cross ice hockey games. There is a large emphasis on developing skating skills.
The program will be run in multiple skill groups and will start to look like a traditional hockey practice. The rink doors will be closed during the practices which will take place twice a week for 45 minutes. Near the end of the season the kids will be split into teams, and we will host a fun jamboree as an end of the season celebration.
Skaters can join this program at any point throughout the season until it reaches max capacity.
Contact Coach Scott with questions.
Scott Holtz
Mini Mite Lead
Ted Thompson
Mite Lead
Mites (8u)
The Mite program focuses on learning hockey skills, working with teammates, and bringing it all together in cross-ice or half-ice games. This is the first level where an all girls team is offered.
Skaters at the Mite level will also play games against teams from other local associations and will get their first chance to try the goalie position.
The Mite program runs multiple skill groups and will look like a traditional hockey practice with fun games mixed in.
Practices will take place twice per week for 60 minutes and the rink doors will be closed during the practices.
Skaters will be placed on an in house team with mixed skill levels to start the season.
In house games will take place during practices.
Skaters will also be placed on a travel team with the same skill level (red, white, blue).
Travel teams will play local associations and attend a jamboree/tournament or two depending on skill level.
WCYHA hosts a Mite jamboree as an end of the season celebration and invites teams from around the state.
Skaters can join this program at any point throughout the season until it reaches max capacity.
Contact Coach Ted with questions.
Travel Hockey
If you have questions about any of these levels please contact Reed Cartwright, WCYHA Director of Hockey
Reed Cartwright
Director of Hockey
Squirts (10u)
Squirts is the transition from little kid hockey to big kid hockey and it's an incredibly fun and exciting level.
At this level, they graduate from the instructional portion of youth hockey and move into the competitive travel portion.
This is the first level of full-ice hockey and enforcement of USA Hockey rules (faceoffs, offsides, icing, tripping, etc.). Skaters are placed on teams based on their performance at a preseason tryout. Teams at this level and above have the opportunity to play for a state tournament title.
Squirt teams will practice twice per week. One session each week will be for all Squirt teams as a skills session and the other will be a team specific practice. Games will generally be most weekends from October through early-March. Squirt level teams will likely play in 2 or more away tournaments and will host a home tournament.
Peewees (12u)
The Peewee level is similar to Squirt, but games and practices are longer, the game gets faster, and the talent generally improves. Peewee level players tend to be pretty comfortable with the basics of hockey and its rules. Coaches generally start teaching the nuances of positioning and creating plays.
Peewee teams will practice twice per week. One session each week will be for all Peewee teams as a skills session and the other will be a team specific practice. Games will generally be most weekends from October through early-March. Peewee level teams will likely play in 2 or more away tournaments and will host a home tournament.
Bantams (14u)
The final level of youth hockey is Bantams. At this level the game starts to look even more like high school hockey. Body checking is now allowed, offsides is changed to delayed offsides, and the players are generally bigger and faster. There is even more focus on hockey systems and team play.
Bantam teams will practice twice per week. One session each week will be for all Bantam teams as a skills session and the other will be a team specific practice. Games will generally be most weekends from October through early-March. Bantam level teams will likely play in 2 or more away tournaments and will host a home tournament.