YOUTH LEAGUE OVERVIEW
We offer three levels of youth hockey:
MITES: Primarily ages 5-8 as well as any older players who need to learn to skate. All new Mites players receive a helmet and stick to keep.
JUNIOR: Primarily ages 8-12. Players must be able to safely skate, use their stick, and understand the basics of the game to play in this division (both younger and older players may occasionally be placed in this division based on their ability).
SENIOR: Primarily ages 13 to 17. Players should be strong skaters, technically skilled, and capable of playing the game safely at a much faster pace (older and younger players may occasionally be placed in this division based on their ability).
SPRING SEASON: April to June
FALL SEASON: September to November
GAMES: Junior and Senior division games take place on Friday and Saturday evenings. (Mites do not play games.)
PRACTICES: One evening per week for Junior and Senior divisions, day/time determined once your child is placed on a team. (Practices will not start earlier than 5:30 pm.
Mites practice on Saturday mornings at 10 am.
EQUIPMENT: This is a non-checking league. Helmet with full face cage or shield, elbow pads, gloves, shinguards, inline skates, and hockey stick are required. Inline hockey girdles and inline hockey pants strongly recommended, but not required. Mouthguards recommended, but not required.
PLAY-OFFS AND CHAMPIONSHIP:
Both our junior and senior divisions will compete in single-elimination playoffs, culminating a championship game! All junior players receive a trophy, with the winning team players receiving larger championship trophies. Senior division winners receive trophies as well. Trophies are distributed at a postseason celebration at the rink!
MITES INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM:
This program is purely instructional with no games. We teach kids to skate and get comfortable in their gear by playing lots of fun games. Full equipment is required for Mites players. Every Mite receives a participation medal during their own postseason celebration. Children of all ages have been Mites at one time or another, so if your child is older, don’t hesitate to sign him or her up!
Please contact us with any questions. We are excited for a great season!
Andrea, President 973.270.7919
Rachel, Vice President 973.903.9210
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where can I buy equipment?
Pure Hockey in Fairfield is the ideal place to get your gear, but we strongly recommend getting your gear secondhand if possible, especially if your child is new to the sport. Visit www.purehockey.com, as they have useful guides on how to measure your child for each piece of equipment. Once you know what you need, try Facebook marketplace, eBay, or sidelineswap.com to outfit your child. If you’re buying used gear, expect to spend an average of $20 each on gloves, shinguards, and elbow pads. Skates, $40 to $80. If you’re buying used skates, be sure to check the wheels. If they appear unevenly worn, you will need new wheels, which can be costly.
We recommend buying a helmet new, but if you do buy one used, be aware that they have an expiration date on the back.
If your child does not have in-line skates, we strongly recommend inline hockey skates. These skates tend to have softer wheels, which are needed for our rink tiles. Inline skate sizing is different from shoe sizing. Several brands make youth skates in adjustable sizes, which are a fantastic way make your year last longer. We do not recommend other types of gear that claim to be adjustable, such as Bauer Vapor X-tend, as the fit tends to be poor.
What kind of replacement skate wheels should I buy?
If your child needs new wheels, or if his wheels are very hard, we strongly recommend soft wheels. 72A wheels are best for our rink tiles, but anything up to 76A will work. 80A and higher wheels are too hard for our rink and your child will find it much harder to skate. Be aware that if your child also likes to skate on asphalt, he/she will quickly grind up those soft wheels! 76A wheels offer a decent balance that will last longer on asphalt and tile.
What about shoulder pads and pants?
Shoulder pads are not required, but may make some children more confident. Roller hockey girdles and pants will make your child more comfortable and offer great protection for the tailbone. We strongly advise against wearing ice hockey pants and socks, however, as they are designed for the cold and can quickly overheat your player.
When are practices?
Each team practices once a week on a weeknight. The Junior division teams typically practice from 6 to 7 PM while the Senior teams practice from 7 to 8 pm. You may specify any nights that you are not available when registering, and we will do our best to accommodate.
Can my child be placed on the same team with his friends?
Possibly, but we can typically only accommodate placing two players together rather than three or four. We may also have to separate friendship groups if they are on the same travel ice hockey team, for example. The primary goal when establishing teams is to ensure each team is fair and evenly balanced while also fulfilling as many special requests as possible.
Why does my child have to attend an evaluation?
Even if your child has played with us for years, we still need to see him or her out on the rink so that all coaches have the opportunity to evaluate skill level. This allows all coaches to play an informed role in building fair and evenly matched teams.
Do many girls play in your league?
Yes! We have girls who play hockey with us at all levels. There are usually at least two or three girls on each team. We also have some female coaches!
How do you determine which division a child belongs in?
This is another reason evaluation day is so important! We may determine that a 12-year-old should be playing with the senior division due to his or her advanced skills. Similarly, we may determine that a 15-year-old who is new to hockey belongs in the junior division. We always ensure the player is comfortable with the division they are placed in.
Whatever decision is made, it’s a fluid one. A few weeks into the season, we may discover that a Mites player is ready for the junior division or that a senior division player needs to come back down to juniors. We try to be as flexible as possible, while also prioritizing safety, healthy competition, and enjoyment for all players.
Please contact us if you have any other questions! Thank you!