The Chatham Youth Ice Hockey Program (The Program) is funded, organized and coached by Chatham parents interested in introducing their kids to the sport of ice hockey. Kids of all ability levels can sign up for the league…there are no tryouts. This is not "Travel Hockey" and our first rule is to make sure every kid has fun. It's open to boys and girls. The kids are required to wear full hockey equipment (description will follow) to all functions (practices and games) and the program comprises regularly scheduled practice sessions and 1-2 games per week. The kids are placed on teams based on their age and skill levels. We follow the USA Hockey guide lines for age levels (see next section). The web site address for the program is www.chathamicehockey.com

TEAMS AND LEAGUES

The Program consists of teams based on age as follows: (ages are as of Jan. 1, 2009)

 

Pee Wees: birth years 1996 and 1997

Squirts: birth years 1998 and 1999

Mites: birth years 2000 and 2001

Independent-mites: birth years 2001and younger

Independent-mites 2002 and younger who wish to play at the mite level must receive the permission of Chatham Youth Hockey to do so. 

The above age groupings are based on USA Hockey guidelines which we must adhere to for competitive purposes. We compete in two different leagues; Morris County Youth Hockey League at the Mennen Arena and the Twin Oaks League, both in Morristown. Games are generally held on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. There are usually 2 games most weekends. Practices are held during the week or on weekends, depending on ice availability. We normally, buy ice at Twin Oaks, Union Sports Arena and Mennen (limited amount).

Depending on the number of kids who sign up for the various age levels, The Program may have more than one team at any given age level. The makeup of each team will be determined by the coaches and Program directors. There may, or may not be "A" teams and "B" teams depending on the disparity in ability levels and the competitiveness of the leagues we're in, but all the kids will get to play regularly. More on this aspect will be posted on the website as we assess the number of kids at each level.

THE SEASON

We usually get underway in mid to late September with practice sessions. Game schedules generally start in early October at Twin Oaks and early November at Mennen. The season goes through late March and we have a year-end party in early April after the playoff schedules are concluded. It's a long season and often times, practice or game schedules can be inconvenient. It is not unusual to have a Saturday, 6 a.m. practice with a game at 11 a.m., then a Sunday afternoon game at 1 p.m. From an early age, the kids are playing competitive games, according to the rules and keeping score against kids they don't know.

EQUIPMENT

The following list of equipment is required of all the kids in The Program:

  • Hockey Skates
  • Approved hockey helmet with face mask and chin strap. (Mouth guards are also a good idea for all the kids and are required for all Squirts, PeeWees, Bantams and Midgets).
  • Ice hockey stick (no street hockey blades, please!)
  • Shin guards
  • Hockey socks (Chatham Sports and Thompson's both sell blue socks with the single white stripe, which is what the kids wear for games).
  • Hockey pants. (These look like padded shorts).
  • Cup protector (For hockey, these are sold in tandem with under shorts that have Velcro strips to hold your hockey socks up. That's why you don't see garter belts on this list!)
  • Shoulder pads. (Hockey shoulder pads are smaller and lighter than football pads).
  • Elbow pads
  • Hockey gloves
  • Practice jersey (any color will do, the kids get game jerseys eventually).
  • Game jerseys (Thomson's orders these for us. They've been $40/ jersey the past few years. The kids need a white one and a blue one…i.e. 2 jerseys, home and away= roughly $80). < /li> < /li> < /li> < /li> < /li> < /li> < /li> < /li> < /li>

The above can often be purchased in packages at places like Mennen Arena in Morristown, Thompson's Sporting Goods and the Beacon Hill Club (both in Summit). They carry all of the required equipment and can fit your child professionally. I have also had success ordering equipment online from Hockey Giant (www.hockeygiant.com). For anything that needs to be fitted (i.e. skates, helmets), we advise avoiding places like Sports Authority (but that's your choice completely, or course)

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

The Program is totally run by the parents (no outside coaches, no town involvement). We depend on the parents for help and we encourage anyone interested to contact us and let us know what you'd be interested in doing. YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HOCKEY TO HELP OUT!! Beside coaches, each team needs a manager (to collect money, help out on game days and general coordination).

COSTS

The Program is funded solely by the parents. Costs basically consist of ice time which we buy from Twin Oaks, Bayonne and Mennen and league entrance fees. Figure on spending between $1,300 - $1,500 for the season. This does not include equipment and game jerseys, so add another few hundred to the bottom line.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Ice hockey is a fast-paced sport involving body contact. Even though "body checking" is not allowed until the kids are at the PeeWee level, there is continuous body contact at even the Mite level. Games and practices are closely monitored by coaches and officials for violent or overly rambunctious play, but kids do get knocked around some. The Program stresses fun as a first rule and all the kids get to participate. We aim to build basic hockey skills through practices and drills. Over time, the combination of practices and competitive game situations should help develop your child's speed, strength, agility and confidence.