General Information
For the 2008-09 season the 8 & Under Program (Mite Division) consists of players with birth years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and perhaps some 2004. Our 8 & Under Program is based on fun and skill development.
The Mites are broken into three groups: Mite A/B (4-6 year olds), Mite C (7 year olds), and Mite D (8 year olds). Occasionally players will move up/down between groups, for example a first year 8 year-old may start skating with the Cs or even A/Bs to accommodate their initial skill level and optimize their development.
Tryouts for older age divisions (Squirt, PeeWee, Bantam, Midget) are held in late August, however Mites start typically around mid-October. There are evaluations for the C and D groups to form teams within those groups. The season goes until about the first week of March. The Mites get a break during the Christmas week as older age group tournaments are being hosted, etc. … which is actually a nice break to allow these younger kids holiday time with families, etc. We are also offering a "second-half season only" for Mite A/B age players (2002, 2003, 2004) allowing players to register and join the program for just the January to March portion of the season.
Mite A/B (4-6 year-olds; 2002, 2003, and 2004 birth years)
The A/B group practices together about 3 times per week (typically one week night, Saturday, and Sunday) and our association’s Hockey Director, John “Kibby” McKibbon and 8 & Under Director Jeff Wheeler are both involved with that A/B group. Weekend practice times vary but usually are mornings, typically somewhere between 8 and 11am. We typically have full ice to work with but many of the drills and scrimmages are cross-ice format, which follows USA Hockey recommendations and works best for that age/skill level creating more puck “touches” for all the players. Practice consists of fun drills focused on developing skills of skating, stick-handling, and passing/shooting. Each practice typically ends with 15 minutes of intra-squad scrimmage. We might schedule a couple fun “scrimmages” or what we call "co-op games" with other associations during the year.
Mite C (7 year-olds and first year 8 year-olds; 2001 birth year)
The C group practices together about 3 times per week similar to the A/B group with one week night and Saturday and Sunday morning practices. We will form two or more teams of about 10 skaters to play in Mite Jamborees throughout the season. Mite Jamborees, like most youth hockey tournaments, are commonly held on holiday weekends. Our Arvada Mite Cs have traditionally participated in three jamborees per season. Some of the Mite Jamborees in which our Mite Cs have participated include the Arvada Thanksgiving Mite Jamboree over Thanksgiving weekend, Foothills Catch an' Edge Jamboree over MLK weekend in January, Hyland Hills Mite Jamboree over President's weekend in February, and Colorado Springs Junior Tiger Jamboree the first weekend in March. We also schedule a handful of “co-op” games during our regularly scheduled ice time with other friendly local associations (home/away) to give the kids more game-like experience. Both the co-op games and jamboree games are half-ice with 4 skaters plus a goalie. Everyone plays equal time and no score is officially kept.
Mite D (8 year-olds; 2000 birth year)
The D group also practices together about 3 times per week. We will form one or two teams of 10-15 skaters in the D group. The team(s) will play full-ice format with 5 skaters and a goalie. The D team(s) will play an informal league schedule amongst CCYHL participating associations but no standings are kept. The D team(s) will also participate in a handful of Jamborees like the Cs described above (often the same tournaments include Mite C and D divisions).
Ice Cats - Spring Hockey Experience (2000 birth year)
After the season ends in early March and after a few weeks off the ice, a spring select team called the Ice Cats is formed with players from Arvada and nearby associations. This team practices for a few weeks in April and travels to compete in the Minnesota Meltdown AAA Tournament in late April. This gives players an opportunity to play with kids from other associations, perhaps for different coaches than during the regular season, provide an opportunity to elevate their game with other strong players, and help prepare them for competitive travel team play at the Squirt level.
Final Comments
The primary focus in the 8 & Under Division is introducing the fundamentals, skill development, fun, and letting the kids’ develop a passion for the game while preparing them to move on to higher levels. At the higher levels (Squirt, PeeWee, Bantam, Midget) there are opportunities to participate on competitive travel teams or in-house recreational leagues. High school hockey is also growing in Colorado and our association is very supportive as well as our coaches and players involved with the local high school hockey programs.
Registration and Fees
Registration for the 2008-09 season opens May 15th for returning players and June 1st for move-in players. Please note that our 8 & Under Division accepts ALL new players so the "move-in" process and tryouts do not apply to this age division. Registration in the 8 & Under Division will remain open and players can register at anytime including after the season starts.
The season fee for 7 and 8 year-olds is $650. The season fee for 5 and 6 year-olds is $500. A reminder that there is a designated "second-half only season" for Mite A/B ages (2002, 2003, 2004). The fee for the second-half only season is $350.
