What's the difference between Mite 1 and Mite 2?
Mite 1
Usually Kindergarten & 1st Grade
Just learning how to skate and may still be pushing a chair.
Skating, turns, stopping and learning to work and play as a team is worked on during practices.
May play in up to 5 jamborees during the season
Mite 2
Usually 2nd & 3rd Grade
A little more competitve play, start to learn and play all positions,including Goalie.
May play in up to 10 League Games and 5 Jamborees during the season
What are all of the association of Duluth Hockey?
Is the sport of hockey safe for my child?
Yes. Hockey players wear more protective equipment than any other sport. A study has shown that ice hockey injuries ranked after both basketball and soccer in emergency room visits related to sport and recreational activities. Youth hockey is a different game than the NHL. With a different set of rules in place, youth hockey places a stronger emphasis on sportsmanship and friendly competition. Contact is not allowed prior to the 14U level (age 13 & 14). At Bantams, checking is allowed but NO fighting.
What is a Jamboree/Tournament?
A fun filled weekend at another association with usually 3 games spread throughout the weekend. Associations around the area host Jamborees and Tournaments throughout the season. During those Jamborees, it is a great chance for parents to get to watch their little hockey player.
What is my time commitment/volunteering responsibility?
As hockey parents, you are asked to volunteer in any way you can. We need dads to help with rink maintenance and ice flooding, typically 1 night a week once we get the outdoor ice built up. Moms are asked to work in the concessions at our rink a few times during the season.
During the Jamborees or Tournaments, we ask that as many parents that can help do, especially during your child's level of play jamboree. Everything from shopping for food, making decorations, putting together an auction, timekeeping, shoveling the snow, maintaining the rinks, there are plenty of opportunities.
We are an all-volunteer association and it takes many hands working together to maintain and build our association.
What equipment will my child need?
Your child will need basic hockey gear. Helmet, Shoulder Pads, Elbow Pads, Athletic Cup, Breezers, Shin Guards, Hockey Gloves, & Hockey Skates.
Each Association has the specific color of Hockey Socks.
How much does Hockey cost?
There is a USA Hockey fee of $56 that every child born in 2012 or before is required to pay to obtain a USA Hockey Number. (Children born in 2013 and after are exempt from this fee.)
Teams may have an assessment for any team-specific charges that may be accrued.
There is financial and equipment assistance available. We feel it is important for every child to have the opportunity to play hockey.
When do we have Outdoor ice? And what do we do until then?
We typically will try to start building ice the weekend after Thanksgiving, weather permitting.
Until then Associations have ice reserved at the local indoor rinks to begin practices. We usually begin these in the last 2 weeks of October and continue through November.
The outdoor season will last until late February, or until the ice begins to melt and is no longer skatable.