Introduction to Mounds View Irondale Youth Hockey Thank you for considering the Mounds View Irondale Youth Hockey Association Mite / 8U Program. MVIYHA is committed to providing the best possible development experience for your child. Our Mite program is open to boys and girls who are at least age 4 by June 30 th of the current year. The Mite Program is divided into five classifications based mainly upon skating ability and hockey experience and secondly on age or grade. Starting in the 2017-18 season, parents were offered three registration choices for coed hockey. New skaters should join our Learn to Plan Hockey program, return skaters not yet in 1 st Grade should join Mite 1. All other players will participate in our Mite Evaluation process to ensure proper assignment of levels with like skaters. This document covers the following: 1. Levels of Mite Play 2. Estimated costs 3. Hockey Equipment Guide 4. Schedules 5. Mite Jamboree 1) LEVELS OF MITE / 8U PLAY Learn to Play Hockey [LTPH] Our $50 Learn to Play Hockey program is designed to teach the most basic development skills of hockey skating. It is intended for new or beginner skaters who have not had previous formal hockey instruction. The program feeds into our Mite 1 program and consists of eight hours of ice time over a four week period beginning in middle to late October. Skaters will be in full hockey gear and will participate in practices with other first year skaters. After completing one month of Learn to Play Hockey, players that choose to continue forward with our program can join a Mite 1 team for the remainder of the season for an additional cost of ~$50. Mite 1 This program is designed for those who have either completed the Learn to Play Hockey program or previously mastered the following skills: Forward skating with minimal falls Attempting backward skating; building confidence Ability to get up by themselves after falling down Snow plow stops Can carry a puck the length of the ice P a g e 1
Ability to follow simple instructions Most players in this category will be in Kindergarten or 1 st grade; older players will be allowed who have not played organized hockey before or are less skilled. This program will be conducted in a team format, focusing on continued individual skill development and an introduction to basic team concepts. Practices start in middle to late October and run through February and will be held with multiple teams on the ice. There will be an average of two hours of indoor ice per week [1 hour on Saturday & 1 hour on Sunday] and an additional hour of outdoor ice, weather permitting. Games will be played cross-ice against other teams from our association. Mite 1 Teams do not play games or scrimmages outside of our home association. There will be a practice:game ratio of about 4:1 over the course of the season. Mite 2 This program is designed for those who have either completed at least 1 year of Mite 1 or previously mastered the following skills: Backward skating proficiently, including transitions from forward skating to backward skating with minimal falls Controlled hockey stops in each direction on either foot Forward crossover turns Efficiently carry a puck while skating & turning Willingness to attempt and improve on advanced drills Most players in this category will be in 2 nd and 3 rd grade; 1 st graders will be allowed if they have completed two years of Mite 1 or are skilled appropriately. This program will be conducted in a team format, focusing on continued individual skill development and additional team concepts. Practices start in middle to late October and run through February and will be held with multiple teams on the ice. There will be an average of two hours of indoor ice per week [1 hour on Saturday & 1 hour on Sunday] and an additional hour of outdoor ice, weather permitting. Games will be played cross-ice against other teams within our association. Mite 2 Teams also play games outside of our home association so parents can expect some local travel but no overnights. There will be a practice:game ratio of about 3:1 over the course of the season. Mite 3 / Mite 4 Mite 3 was formerly the highest level in the Mite program, however, starting in the 2017-18 season we launched a Mite 4 level, too. Both Mite 3 and Mite 4 levels are designed to prepare kids for our Squirt program and will consist of the higher skilled players within the Mite program. Skating skills are fundamental, however, this level also requires a mental maturity to follow detailed instructions and fully participate in more advanced drills. The majority of the players will have completed 3 or more years of Mite hockey. Players will be evaluated based on P a g e 2
8U specific skating skills during warm-up sessions after the first few weekends of the season. Based on those evaluations, the combined Mite Coaches, Mite Directors and Boys Coordinator will determine the final rosters for Mite 2, Mite 3 and Mite 4 teams. MVIYHA reserves the right to determine the number of teams and to place Mite registrants on the appropriate team based on their skating & skills evaluations. The teams of 10-13 players will be formed in early November. Practices start in middle to late October and run through February and will be held with multiple teams on the ice. There will be an average of three hours of indoor ice per week [1 hour on Saturday & 1 hour on Sunday & 1 hour on Wednesday] and at least an additional hour of outdoor ice, weather permitting. Games will be played cross-ice & full-ice against other teams within our association. Mite 3 & Mite 4 Teams also play games outside of our home association so parents can expect some local travel but no overnights. Mite 3 & Mite 4 Teams may also participate in a small number of Tournaments and Jamborees. There will be a practice:game ratio of about 3:1 over the course of the season. This segment within the Mite Program is designed for girls who don t wish to play co-ed hockey within the Mite 1, 2, 3 or 4 levels. Association guidance is that at this age, girls can play in either Mites or 8U. Ultimately, you know your daughter better than we do so we still allow girls to select their program: Mite or 8U depending on their input and specific situation. During the previous seasons we had an older 8U team and a younger 8U team with most of the girls on the older team being in 3 rd grade. Our association methodology has shifted and we are adopting Evaluations within 8U for the 2018-19 season. We remain focused on delivering passionate, well-rounded skaters to the more mature levels beyond Mite & 8U Hockey. 8U feeds directly into our growing 10U girls program. 2) ESTIMATED COSTS It is a goal of the association to make hockey affordable for young players. Registration fees for introductory level players are reduced to encourage participation. Registration costs for 2017-18 were: $50 for LTPH $99 for Mite 1 $300 registration for Mite 2, Mite 3 & Mite 4 plus additional ice costs of $200-$500 depending on their level. USA Hockey charges a $40 annual registration fee for each Mite Player, although historically USA Hockey waives this for the youngest skaters born after 2012. P a g e 3
The aforementioned season costs are built with the assumption of active parent involvement as volunteers and in-season fundraising. Please refer to our Volunteer Policy and Fundraising Policy on our website for more information. Goalie Credit: MVIYHA does not provide any goalie reimbursement for Mite-aged players. 3) MVIYHA HOCKEY EQUIPMENT GUIDE Like in any sport, proper fitting equipment is vital to ensure your child s safety and also allow them to learn the skills necessary to play the game. This guide is designed to help you purchase the proper equipment. Required Equipment List (* = detail provided below in guidelines) *Helmet with full cage faceguard white helmet preferred *Mouth guard *Hockey skates *Hockey stick *Hockey gloves black gloves preferred *Elbow pads *Shin/knee pads *Hockey socks Shoulder pads Boys: athletic supporter with cup Girls: pelvic protector Breezers black preferred Large equipment bag Squeeze water bottle with their name clearly marked on it Optional Equipment List (detail provided below) Skate guards Neck guard Thin cold-weather balaclava Thin headband for longer hair Hockey Equipment Guidelines Helmet/Face Mask All equipment must be HECC [Hockey Equipment Certification Council] certified and properly fitted. TIP: Firmly grasp the cage with your fingers and ask your skater to move their head side-to-side and updown to check fit. MVIYHA prefers white helmets but do NOT replace a wellfitting non-white helmet with a white helmet. Upon helmet replacement for your skater, select white if possible. Label helmet with skater s name in front. P a g e 4
Mouth guard Pick a mouth guard with a strap that hooks on to the helmet cage/mask. Skaters must get used to wearing a mouth guard early. Hockey Skates Properly fitted skates are essential. The skate size will be ½ to 1 ½ sizes smaller than your child s shoe size. A proper fit is obtained best after trying on a few different sizes and walking around. Fitting Mite/8U Room for growth must be allowed but care must be taken not to fit too large. The most allowance you should make is about ½ (a thumb behind the heel width) when the foot is pushed forward as far as it will go in the unlaced skate. Children s feet grow an average of 1/3 per year between the ages of four and eleven. Skate sizes are in increments of 1/3. Theoretically, a child following the normal growth rate should need a new skate ½ size larger every six months. Hockey stick/choosing a Stick Standing in street shoes, place the tip of the blade on the floor and stand the stick straight up so the top of the stick end at the tip of the nose. Tape the blade and the handle to ensure the stick is easy to hold in a gloved hand. Gloves Proper sizing is important. The gloves should fit well but be large enough to accommodate a thin pair of gloves underneath for outdoor practice when the weather is cold. Elbow Pads It is important to have a heavy fiber cap covered with a shockabsorbing material. Do not over-size. Shin Pads Don t buy shin pads too large. When buying, be sure he/she tries them on with his/her skates, so as not to get them too long to fit with the skates. Hockey Socks The association will provide a pair of matching hockey socks with your jersey but a players should bring their own socks to start off the season and it s good to have a backup pair in your bag, just in case. Local Hockey Pro Shop Guide We are fortunate to have some great local Hockey Pro Shops that take pride in ensuring your child has the right size equipment. If you need some assistance purchasing equipment, we recommend: Strauss Hockey 1751 Cope Avenue E, Maplewood, MN 55109 Total Hockey 1845 County Road D E, Maplewood, MN 55109 Top Shelf Athletics 3600 Lexington Ave. N, Shoreview, MN 55126 651-766-9300 Lettermen Sports 9199 Central Ave. N., Blaine, MN 55434 763-780-8077 Play It Again Sports [Roseville or Blaine] Dave s Sport Shop P a g e 5
1001 Moore Lake Dr E, Fridley, MN 55432 763-571-4110 Athletic Outfitters 4111 85 th Ave NE, Shoreview, MN 55126 763-785-0661 4) DAYS AND TIMES PRACTICES/GAMES As mentioned above, the Mite and 8U programs play primarily on Saturday and Sunday from mid-october 2017 through late-february 2018. Your practice times will vary between the morning and afternoon throughout the season, and can be different from Saturday to Sunday in the same weekend. The primary indoor location is the Ramsey County rink in Shoreview located at 877 Hwy 96 W, St Paul, MN 55126. Outdoor practices are held at various community locations. Games vs. other associations for Mite 2, Mite 3, Mite 4 & 8U may fall on non-weekend days in the evening based on ice availability. 5) MITE JAMBOREE One of the season highlights is the Mite Jamboree held at North Oaks West Recreation Center. Every team gets a chance to play at least 2 games, we have a shootout contest with trophies, airbrushed hats, plus food and hot chocolate for everyone. This event will be in in late-january or early-february and promises to be one of the highlights of Minnesota Winter Hockey for our Association. If you have a question that isn t answered in this document, please engage one of the Mite Coordinators with an e-mail or phone call. We look forward to seeing you at the rink! Timm Ideker Michael Dick Mounds View Irondale (612) 875-0679 (651) 283-4838 mvyha.mite.coordinator@gmail.com duker519@yahoo.com For questions about 8U: Melissa Wendland 8U Liason (651) 334-5940 mmwendland@gmail.com P a g e 6