Mini Mites (New Mites) – typically first year coed players and beginning skill level
Mite 1 – typically second year players
Mite 2 – typically third year players
Mite 3 (Travel Mites) – typically last year mite players and most advanced skill level
U6 House (New Mites) – typically first year girl players ages 4-9 players and beginning skill level
U8 House – typically second and third year players; intermediate level
U8 Travel – typically last year 8U players and most advanced skill level
ACYHA tries to keep kids with their age group as much as possible, but will make adjustments in order to best place players with others at a similar skill level.
Teams within each level are balanced to ensure competitive and fun play. The number of teams at each level will be based on player registration numbers.
Travel Mite and Travel U8 is typically for players entering their last year of Mite/U8 hockey and for players with the most advanced skill level. Travel Mite & U8 play games against other District-3 teams (Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Wayzata & other nearby communities). Per the USA Hockey guidelines, Travel Mites and U8 will play 3-5 games in 3 vs. 3 format on half-ice. USA Hockey does allow up to four 5 vs. 5 full-ice games between Jan- March.
Don't let the 'Travel' part of the name scare you, it simply means that there are more ice opportunities and games; the teams never travel outside the western suburbs.
At the 8U/Mite level, we will not have full-time goalies. We encourage the kids who are interested in goaltending to participate both as a skater and a goalie
ACYHA does offer Goalie Clinics for those wishing to participate and explore the position more.