PLAYER INFORMATION

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.

As the child moves though the different levels, they may practice 2 to 3 hours per week and have 1 to 3 games on the weekends. People associated with youth hockey have found that the time involved whether it is in the car traveling, or the time spent in the sport itself encourages families to spend quality time together. Friendships are abundantly made by both child and parents. These friendships and memories last a lifetime.

Boys and Girls can play on the same teams from Mite age all the way through Bantam. Girls over Mite age may opt to join a girls only team if there is one available at her age level.

Probably not as much as you might think. Although it can be expensive in other parts of the US, hockey is relatively inexpensive in our surrounding area. At the Learn to Skate and Mite levels equipment is rented for a nominal fee. As skaters progress there are options for purchasing good used equipment. When time spent playing hockey is factored in, the sport is very competitive on a cost per hour basis. The total cost is also dependent on what your child participates in during the off season and the extra training you opt to do. Some skaters opt to continue on special teams or doing camps throughout the spring and summer months. There are some scholarship options available please click the link below to learn more about available scholarships.

Most games are within a 60 mile radius of Baraboo. Many people carpool. Hockey families feel that the travel time is well spent family time. Tournaments are generally one or two per year and may require an overnight stay. Home games vs. travel games are more frequent at the younger age but become about fifty/fifty as players get older.

First year Learn to Skate and Mite skaters can rent equipment for free. After that there is a rental fee. All skaters need to provide their own skates, a stick, jersey, neck protector and mouth guard.

When children are beginners it is sometimes easier to get their gear on at home, bringing them to the rink dressed. As they get older most kids like to get dressed on their own at the rink. There are several locker rooms to get dressed in and each team is assigned a locker room for a given practice. The camaraderie is good to build a bond in the team, but up through Mites most parents will need to be in the locker room with their child to help them get dressed or at least tie their skates. Once they hit Squirt's parents will no longer be allowed in the locker room. SafeSport certified locker room monitors will be required at each practice.

Hockey has a longer season than most sports but it sure seems to make the winter go faster. Preseason practices generally start in mid September and games start in November. The season wraps up in late February and may go on a few weeks longer depending on your game schedule, tournaments and state championships.

TYH is 100% ran by volunteers. Utilizing volunteers allows TYH to keep costs down. As a hockey parent you are expected to complete your required service hours, attend your teams Open Skate nights, and help out at your child's home games by working in the penalty box or helping in the score booth occasionally. Buy-out options are available that cover required work hours (Buy-outs are not available for team related duties).