The Hockey Ladder

There have been many questions on how you become involved with SSYHA and what path your child should follow before coming to participate in SSYHA. The following is a general guide for all parents new to the sport of hockey.


1) Learn to Skate: All players should generally start in the City of Steamboat Springs Learn to Skate program. Classes are 6-8 weeks long and are held several times throughout the year. Please contact Courtney Gill who runs the Howelsen Ice Arena skating programs for more information or on the City website at http://steamboatsprings.net/departments/parks_recreation/facilities/howelsen_ice_arena/youth_programs

2) Learn to Play Hockey/Initiation to Hockey: This is also a City sponsored program (information available at the above link). This is for players who have completed at least one session of the "Learn to Skate" classes or who already have some skating experience. These classes generally cover the basics of hockey, including but not limited to skating, passing, shooting and basic team concepts. This is a great class for players who might be too young for the SSYHA Mite program or who still have only limited experience on skates.

3) SSYHA: Steamboat Springs Youth Hockey offers programs for boys and girls ages 5-18 years of age (USA Hockey age classification chart). The SSYHA Mite program is the next step for players ages 5-8 years old moving up from the Learn to Play Hockey or Initiation program offered by the City. The Mite program builds on the fundamental skills acquired during the previous programs while adding an emphasis on team building and team concepts. The Mites typically practice on Monday and Friday afternoons and play games on Saturdays.

What happens after Mites?  The SSYHA hockey season typically starts in early September and ends early in March, depending on the particular team's playoff schedule. SSYHA has both a "recreational" and "travel" program at each level beginning with Squirts (9-10 years old). Recreational hockey or "B" hockey practices two nights per week (2 to 2 1/2 hours of ice per week), typically plays anywhere from 12-18 league games and will participate in 1 away tournament. Recreational teams are meant to be fun and the winning aspect of the games is not stressed. Players should expect equal ice time in most every situation within our recreational teams.

Travel hockey or "A" hockey practices two nights per week and one weekday morning before school. Travel hockey teams typically play a league schedule of 14-20 games as well as participating in at least 2 away tournaments through the season. Our travel teams will receive more practice time throughout the season and can generally expect to play more games over the course of the year. Additionally, our travel hockey teams will have a stronger focus on team concepts. When it comes down to playing time, these particular teams are more competitive and there will be instances where one player may receive less playing time than others. In these instances, we expect our coaching staff to follow a "Fair, but not necessarily equal" standard when running their team and would expect that shortening of the benches only happen in situations where there is a close game.

Debunking the myths about hockey- The two major myths about hockey.

1) Hockey is too expensive- While the initial shock of the cost of new hockey equipment can be extremely overwhelming, SSYHA offers a summer/fall Hockey Swap event for players to pick up previously used gear at great prices. Typically a full set of equipment can be purchased at the hockey swap for well under $100. While our fees may be relatively expensive compared to soccer or lacrosse, SSYHA operates as a 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit organization and our costs completely reflect the cost of operating the association including administration, ice time fees and tournament fees. SSYHA is working hard to keep costs to a minimum through fundraisiing efforts such as local tournaments, advertising and charity events. In almost every case examined, hockey is far less expensive than participation in the Winter Sports Club.

2) There is too much travel- As stated above, your child can expect to play around 12-20 league games each season. Around 1/2 of those games will be played in Steamboat Springs. When teams travel to other locations, you should expect to play at least 2 games once you reach that location. Many times, when games are played against Summit County, Vail or Aspen, trips can be made in the same day, requiring no overnight stay. Trips to the Front Range offer affordable options for lodging and meals which also help keep costs to a minimum. Travel is completely dependant on the team your child plays on. Recreational teams typically travel less, while Travel teams can expect additional games and tournaments away from home. Your child will not be playing every weekend and on holidays, so there is plenty of time for your family to enjoy outdoor activities in Steamboat on your off weekends and holidays.

These are just a few of the things that we hear from parents who have apprehensions about their child joining SSYHA. If you have other questions or concerns about SSYHA, please feel free to contact SSYHA at 871-0063 or via email at sshockey@springsips.com