PLEASE READ THIS SECTION BEFORE REGISTERING

Our Mite and 8U Programs are broken down by levels. As you register your son or daughter, make sure to enter the correct birthdate and that will guide you to the right level. See the age chart below for more information. 

Please note:

• Most players are assigned to a level based on USA Hockey's age chart below.
• Players should only skate Termites when they are in their first year of hockey and in one of the youngest two birthdate ranges.
• Players who have participated at the Termite level, but have not yet played at a competitive level for SAHA or other competitive program, are recommended to register for Mite 1/8U-1
• Players who have previously participated at a competitive Mite/8U level for SAHA or other competitive program, are recommended to register for Mite's/8U's
• Most players will only skate at a level once.  So if a player skated in Termites last year, they likely will move to Mite 1/U81 this year. There are exceptions in some cases. 
• While most players will play in one of the levels listed for their birthdate range, we will move players to other levels based on the players evaluation and when it's deemed appropriate by the Mite Director, commissioners, and other coaches. 
• Assigned level may be be determined by evaluation scores. 
• Evaluation schedule will be set after registration closes.
• All teams are structured with the goal of parity among teams at a level. 
• If your son is interested in playing goalie, please note that on the registration.

If you have further questions, please email John Priester (priester.john@gmail.com)

Registration Opens: July 25, 2023

Registration (Regular fee) Closes: Sept 15, 2023

Registration (Late fee) Closes: Sept 29, 2023

Evaluations: October 13-15, 2023

Thanksgiving  Mite Tournament: Nov 24-26, 2023

Skate For The Roses Tournament: Jan 18-21, 2024

Stillwater Mite/8U Jamboree: March 8 - 10, 2024

The goal of our Mite eval process is to assure players are at the right level and make parity between teams at each level.

- Players will be issued a numbered jersey. Players must return the jersey before leaving the ice on their final tryout.

- Players shall wear a helmet with NO IDENTIFYING TEAM MARKINGS or STICKERS (AAA, Teams Names, etc).  

- NO TEAM NAMES allowed on helmets, breezers or breezer covers. 

- Wear all your standard hockey equipment.

- Players may be asked to skate in multiple eval groups.

- If you can't make your scheduled eval time, please email John Priester (priester.john@gmail.com)

- All players at any Mite (1-4) and U8 (1-4) level have been assigned an evaluation group.

- There are no evaluations for Termites

- Players interested in playing goalie on their Mite or U8 team this season are encouraged to come to the Goalies-only evaluation session on Friday Oct 13 5:45p – 6:45p.  This is in addition to skating with an evaluation group.  Players interested in being goalie are still expected to skate with their team during the season but will be expected to play goalie for about half of their team’s games.  There will be goalie equipment provided during the evaluation session and each team will have a set for the season.  If interested, please contact John Priester (priester.john@gmail.com).

- On Sunday Oct 15th 435p – 620p there will be an additional Mite/U8 evaluation session for chosen players.  All players should be available for this session.  The players selected to participate will be notified by 9p on Saturday Oct 14th.

- All ice is at TCO/Rec Center South

-Parents can sit on the North side of the arena only.

We are excited to welcome our newest members to SAHA and welcome back our returning players advancing in the next stage of their development. As we begin a new season, we wanted to share some exciting developments to our program. 

Our initiation program will ensure we are providing an amazing, fun experience for all our athletes—regardless of ability or background. From our top-level players to absolute beginners, all of our players should feel they have a place in our program, can grow as players and people, and, most importantly, have as much fun as possible. 

We believe in the player development wheel. When players have fun, they work hard. When they work hard, they get better. When they get better, they have fun. And thus the cycle repeats. But the key is you have to begin with fun. 

Our mite and U8 programs are the gateways for everything that comes after this---hockey and beyond. We will work hard to ensure our players fall in love with hockey and continue to come back year-after-year. Together, we can make that happen.

Go Ponies!

1. We will direct our coaches to the best way of teaching kids hockey fundamentals and the lifelong lessons associated with being a class act athlete. We will advise our coaches to teach the kids to respect and listen to coaches, be kind to their peers, and give exceptional effort. When that cycle of behavior takes place, it creates a positive path to success and enjoyment for the kids.

2. The beginning years of hockey is where a child will decide if they enjoy the sport or not. We want give every child a chance to enjoy this game and come to the rink with a smile on their face. Whether their hockey journey lasts one year, three years of for a lifetime, at SAHA, we put all our resources around making sure the kids have fun!

3. We expect all SAHA members to respect the sport and all the stakeholders involved in it. As coaches and parents, we are their main role models, so we must act the part. The Initiation years should be filled with making friends for the kids and the families. We should all work for the good of the program to make this happen.  

4. We will perform a skills assessment at the beginning of the season to determine player placement within the eligible levels. This process groups players first by age, then by skill level—with the sole intention or properly placing the player at the appropriate level to ensure long-term success. 

5. Our Beginner Mite Program will benefit from the experience of several talented returning coaches. This process, in addition to ensuring an appropriate number of players and coaches on the ice at a given session, will allow us to match our development curriculum with the appropriate skill level of our newest players.

The initiatives for this season are the result of a thorough evaluation of our Mite/8U program and our continued commitment to providing our players with the best development experience possible.

If you have any questions on which level might be appropriate for your son or daughter, please feel free to contact John Priester (priester.john@gmail.com).

SAHA MITE/8U INITIATION DIRECTOR
EMAIL: priester.john@gmail.com
 

How old does my child have to be to play hockey?

The recommended age for children who are entering the program for the first time must be 4 years of age as of June 1 of the year entering the program. Please see the Boys Mite and Girls 8U Guidelines above for more information on the appropriate level for your child.

 Does my child have to know how to skate to participate in the SAHA Hockey program?

The Termite program is designed to teach kids the fundamental skills that are required to play the sport of hockey. Skating is the most important skill and is heavily emphasized throughout the mites and U8 programs.  The season starts in late Oct/early Nov and ends in late Feb. Each session is 45 minutes in length.  There are typically between 25-30 sessions planned.  They are all Sat and Sun (no weekday sessions).  All of the sessions are either at TCO/Rec Center or Lily Lake Arena.

If your son or daughter has no skating experience, we highly recommend signing your son or daughter up for the St. Croix Valley Recreations Center's Learn to Skate Programs prior to signing up. 

How do I register my child?

Boys (mites) and girls (8U) MUST register ONLINE - NOTE: All registrations for the SAHA hockey program must be accompanied by a USA Hockey Registration confirmation AND a copy of the official birth certificate for the participant. If your child participated in the SAHA last year, we have a birth certificate on file. If your child is new to the program, USA Hockey requires us to get and keep get a copy of the child’s birth certificate before processing the registration forms. 

Do I need to live in the Stillwater School District?

Generally yes. However, if you reside outside of the 834 ISD boundaries but your child is enrolled in an 834 ISD and you intend to keep your kids in the Stillwater School District, you can request a waiver to play hockey for Stillwater.    

At what level should I sign up my child?

Please see the Boys Mite and Girls 8U Guidelines above for more information on the appropriate level for your child.

Will my child be placed with other children from his/her school? Can I sign my child up with a friend?

We try, but do not guarantee that a child will play with others from the same school or friends. It is dependent upon number of teams, number of children registered, etc.  

Why are the fees higher for each respective Level?

The amount of ice time is increased at each level.

What do my fees include?  Are there any other costs or "team fees" that I will need to pay later in the year?

The registration fees for all levels within the Initiation Program cover all fees.  Further, teams are allowed to charge team fees.  The most common instance for team fees is if a team decides to have an end-of-season party, awards, etc. These costs are not covered in your registration fee.  You do of course need to supply your own equipment for your child as the fees do not cover individual equipment.

What is the refund policy if my child doesn’t like it?

Refunds are available until Dec 1st.  If you decide to cancel before December 1, you will receive 50% of your registration money back. 

How long does the season run?

The season begins in late October / early November and ends in late February or early March.

How often do they practice?

Number of skates varies by team and week. Typically, practices for the younger levels are on Saturdays and Sundays. The older levels will have Friday and some weekday ice. 

Is hockey equipment provided?

No. You will need to get proper hockey gear for your child prior to playing in any SAHA program.