PLAYERS

USA Hockey, our national governing body, is a great resource for information about youth hockey. They have put together a comprehensive guide to get you started. Check out the online version by clicking here.

Hockey age groups are divided by birthday (July 1 - June 30) rather than by grade level. The Thunderbird Youth Hockey Association (TYH) co-ed teams are offered at all levels.  

LTS: Beginning players/skaters. 

Mites are divided up into 2 groups based on age, experience, and ability.

Mite (U6): Players with some hockey/skating experience. 2nd year of hockey, ages 4-6.

Mite (U8): Players with some hockey/skating experience, ages 7-8.

Squirts (10U): are ages 9-10.

Peewees (12U): are ages 11-12.

Bantams (14/15U): are ages 13-14.

The focus and goal of the Learn to Skate (L2S) curriculums are designed to teach beginner hockey players the fundamentals of skating. Age and skill appropriate drills are used to teach the players how to skate and play hockey. It’s important for these players to become comfortable on the ice, learn the basic hockey stance, stride, knee bend, use of edges and how to hold a stick before moving into a learn to play, 6U or 8U full hockey curriculum. 

Learn to Skate will be broke up into 2 sessions this year. With session 1 running November – December and session 2 running January – February. Returning LTS players will automatically be registered for both session 1 and session 2. New learn to skate players will have the option to register for both session 1 and/or session 2. 

At the 8-and-Under level, coaches should focus on teaching age appropriate concepts and skills so that children have an enjoyable hockey experience while also developing as players and young people. Mites will practice 2-3x a week with games and events on the weekends.

• Fun 
• Engagement 
• Active Practices 
• Age-Appropriate Training (includes skills and concepts) - Skating, Stickhandling, Passing, Shooting
• Mites levels will start to have competitive cross ice games and jamborees.

Squirts practice 2-3x a week.

• Fun
• Engagement 
• Active Practices 
• Age-Appropriate Training - Continued individual skill development and introduction to team play and positioning
• Basic Hockey Knowledge - Offsides, icing, penalties and other full ice game concepts and rules
• Full ice games and tournaments will be played on the weekends.

Peewees practice 2-3x a week. Full ice games and tournaments will be played on the weekends.

• Fun and Engagement 
• Active Practices 
• Age-Appropriate Training 
• Skill Development - Continue individual skill development along with introduction and refinement of team skills and player positioning.
• Body Contact/Body Checking - Checking is not allowed at this level but fundamentals of player to player contact are introduced. This includes using your body to protect the puck or impede an opponents progress toward the puck.  

Bantams practice 2-3x a week.

• Fun and Engagement  
• Practice Activity and Structure 
• Age-Appropriate Training 
• Body Contact/Body Checking - Checking is allowed. Building on their introduction to contact learn safe effective methods of checking and receiving checks.
• Skill Development - More advanced skating techniques and edgework. Refinement of different shots and stickhandling movements.
• Team Play - Further refine hockey concepts within overall team play. Powerplay, breakout, forecheck, regroup and other game systems.
• Full ice games and tournaments will be played on the weekends.

TYH has equipment for rent for the season for our young Introductory Program skaters (appx. ages 4-8).  It is not expected that they have their equipment at this age. The club has a wide range of used items to fit different sized kids so that everyone is safe and comfortable out on the ice. If your older child needs equipment be sure to talk to a board member about options for renting, borrowing, or purchasing used equipment, at least to get started. Your child will need their own equipment eventually. The rental program gives you and your child an extended opportunity to try hockey before you buy your own equipment. 

Tips: Little kids can just wear sweats under their hockey shorts and forgo the hockey socks and the need for special undershorts or a garter. A long-sleeved shirt, like an Under Armour shirt, under the chest and elbow pads helps to prevent any rubbing or pinching. And thinner socks let kids' toes move in their skates and means their feet will stay warmer. The more comfortable your child is in his or her equipment, the more they can focus on having fun!