Designed for young children who have been through a Learn to Skate program and our comfortable on skates, our program is for kids that have little or no organized ice hockey experience. Kids will be taught  to develop fundamental skills, good sportsmanship, team play and knowledge of the game, while having fun in an informal environment. Practices are held once a week on Sundays from 4:30 to 5:20 pm.  Our Learn to Play program is coached by Judy Sokol. Her email is j.sokol@comcast.net if you have any questions. 

Learn to Play starts on October 1st. 

Please note that a Family Membership is included in the Learn To Play fee. Please visit the Registration page and the Fees page for more information.

Did you hear about the sport from a friend or neighbor and want to find out more? 

First, you're in the right spot.  We offer programs for boys and girls at the youth level as well as high school aged players.

If you have a child that is interested in hockey regardless of age, or program, have them check out the USA Hockey website. Can't find what you are looking for? Just email us and we'll be happy to chat with you. 

Hockey is one of the fastest growing youth sports in the country right now. Don't worry if your kid has never played, our high-level coaches and practice environment will allow them to learn how to skate and stickhandle in no time.  A lot of kids have only picked up a hockey stick in the last year to two, and every year we add more new kids to our program.  

Hockey Equipment Guide - via Pure Hockey

https://www.purehockey.com/c/pure-hockey-fitting-guide

YOUTH HOCKEY GEAR GUIDE: A CHECKLIST FOR PARENTS

AN EQUIPMENT LIST FOR NEW-TO-HOCKEY PARENTS

The uninitiated parent will soon discover that buying hockey gear for kids isn't as simple as it might appear—there's a lot your child is going to need. Guides that help you determine the right hockey gear for your child can be of great service to the new-to-hockey parent. Here's a brief checklist of essential youth hockey equipment for your new player.

YOUTH HOCKEY GEAR

HOCKEY STICK

First, your child will need a hockey stick. Sticks come in a variety of materials, flexes, lengths, and for right- or left-handed players. They're also available at different price points, with the higher priced sticks generally including more carbon fiber for lighter, stiffer performance.

Buying a used stick can be smart as long as it's the right length hockey stick for your child. Typically, a stick should reach your child's chin when they're wearing skates. In terms of right- or left-handed, the dominant hand most often goes on top. If your child is right-handed, they'll shoot from the left side and vice versa. That said, some youngsters will choose what feels natural, even if it means the dominant hand is on the bottom.

ICE HOCKEY SKATES

Youth skates come in a variety of fits and at wide-ranging price points—the more expensive skates offer an elite youth skater most of the features found in the skates their NHL heroes wear. But if your child is just starting to skate or is new to the sport, you can procure a pair of reliable and solid hockey skates at a reasonable cost. That said, you get what you pay for. The premium skates offer premium protection and comfort—whether your eight-year-old needs it is for you to decide.

As with the rest of the gear, correct fit is essential. Your child should wear the same socks to the skate fitting as they'll wear on the ice, and lace and tie the skates as if they're about to hit the ice. What may feel initially uncomfortable and stiff should soften up with wear, though hockey skates are designed to be stiff. Much of the internal padding on new skates will mold to your child's natural foot and ankle contours for a comfortable fit and feel.

Note that goalie skates are not the same as player skates.

YOUTH HOCKEY HELMET WITH FULL CAGE

Whether your kid plans to play organized hockey or just get out on the pond with their friends, a helmet is a must-have, and it's worth paying up for a good one; our hockey helmet guide offers a lot of useful tips. Most kid-level leagues require a full cage, and some helmets are sold as a helmet/cage combination.

The helmet should include a HECC sticker, which assures it is certified and safe to wear. Some helmet technologies actually degrade over time and with wear—look for an expiration date, particularly if you're buying a used one or your child receives a hand-me-down helmet.

That said, our recommendation is to spend money on a new helmet and cage.

HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS

Hockey shoulder pads should protect your child's shoulders, chest, back, and biceps from impacts from falling, sticks, pucks, the boards, and other players. Some shoulder pads extend to cover the stomach and lower back. They're especially important once your child plays at a level that allows checking, though it's smart to have a kid wear them any time they're playing with other kids. Smaller pads allow for more mobility, and bigger pads make movement more challenging, but offer greater protection.

YOUTH HOCKEY GLOVES

Hockey gloves will keep your little skater's hands comfy and warm, but they're really made to protect them from slashes and stray pucks. They're available with a wide variety of protection and comfort options and at a multitude of price points, though new youth hockey gloves are quite affordable. Mostly made from synthetic leather and nylons, they tend to wear on the palm and insides of the thumb and index finger. Be advised: they're eventually going to smell. Bad. Some come with bacteria-reducing agents in the liner, which can help keep the 'rink stink' at bay.

HOCKEY ELBOW PADS

Your child's elbow pads pick up where the shoulder pads leave off, protecting the lower tricep to the upper forearm. They are sport specific, so pads designed for skateboarding or other sports are not appropriate for ice hockey. For hockey, they are usually made especially for the left or right arm. Hockey elbow pads are specifically designed to guard against impacts from falls, hooks, slashes, and the boards.

HOCKEY PANTS

We know—they're not really pants if they don't go below the knee, but pants they are. Hockey pants typically protect the groin, thigh, and hip areas. It'll be important for your child to wear a pair that is not so big they sag, but not so small they leave a significantly exposed area below the cuff and above the shin guard.

NECK GUARD

The neck guard greatly reduces the chances of your child's throat being cut by a skate blade or the odd stick blade. The chances of this injury occurring are already astronomically low, but most organized leagues require a neck guard; they're worth the cost, for sure—and they're one of the less expensive items on our list. Hockey neck guards come in youth, intermediate, and adult sizes.

MOUTH GUARD

A mouth guard is an inexpensive piece of kid hockey gear that can save you big dollars later on. They're available in a wide range of prices, the most popular type being the boil-and-bite models you can purchase at sports retailers. You can also spend more for a custom guard your child's dentist makes.

HOCKEY UNDERWEAR: JOCK/JILL AND PROTECTIVE CUP

Another important piece of equipment, the jock (for him) or jill (for her), is available in old-style garter models or as newfangled compression shorts or pants. Some include the protective cup and some do not. Either way, most leagues require them, and when your child understands how important this protection is, they will be happy to wear it.

HOCKEY SHIN GUARDS

Shin guards should be sized to fit from above the top of your child's skate to above the knee—they include knee protection. Made of hard plastics, foams, and a lining, they are an important part of the total package. Shin guards often come especially made for the right or left leg, so pay attention to details. You can also purchase a shin guard-and-pant combination that eliminates the guesswork.

HOCKEY SOCKS

Youth hockey socks are supersized 'sleeves' made to fit over the shin guards. Sometimes a team or club will provide a color-specific pair with a jersey, and other times you have to purchase them. They're long and attach to the jock or jill via garters, or with velcro for the compression shorts. Some players keep them up by wrapping them with hockey tape.

THE HOCKEY BAG

You'll need something to carry all that gear. Rather, your kid will. Hockey bags come with or without wheels, with and without compartments, in various sizes and shapes—you get the picture. You can go for the duffle bag, the backpack, or the zip-up, rectangular, wheeled, luggage-style bag. It's important for your kid to lug their own gear—it's part of the commitment to the sport. But find one they can manage without too much difficulty.

BUYING USED OR NEW YOUTH HOCKEY EQUIPMENT

When you buy new hockey gear for your child, you're getting equipment in peak condition that will last a few seasons. And if you have multiple young hockey players, you'll be able to pass along your investment. The main challenge you'll encounter in used equipment is finding gear that fits how it should. You don't want to sacrifice comfort, protection, or fit for the sake of a few dollars—the main drawback of purchasing used gear. This is particularly true of the all-important hockey helmet.

Many hockey leagues will loan you hockey equipment for your child if you can't afford everything at once. Or consider purchasing on-sale equipment for your kid—usually last year's new stuff—which can include great values. And if your child plans to skate recreationally or play pick-up pond hockey, you may choose to forego some items.

Whatever the scenario, your young hockey player is going to need hockey equipment. Our fitting and sizing guides can take some of the headaches out of the process. We get it: there's a lot to consider and some significant dollars are at stake. Do your research. And don't forget to talk to your fellow hockey parents—the seasoned hockey mom or dad is an excellent resource for practical advice.

HOW TO DRESS YOUTH HOCKEY PLAYERS

We don't need to tell you that hockey is the greatest game on earth. You probably also know it requires the right equipment for comfort, performance, safety, and for fun. But new-to-hockey parents might be a little intimidated by the gear their child needs to wear. What is all this stuff and in what order does it go on? To shorten the learning curve, we've laid out the best way to gear up because, as with most things, there's the efficient way to do something and then there are all the other ways.

To start, your child needs the following equipment:

• Shorts (containing a protective cup)
• Shin guards
• Socks
• Pants
• Skates
• Shoulder pads
• Elbow pads
• Jersey
• Helmet
• Gloves
• Stick

HOCKEY SHIN GUARDS

Once your child is in his or her jock or jill and skate socks, the next piece of equipment to put on is the shin guards. Simply place the shin guard over the shin and knee. Your child's knee should fit as close to the center of the knee cup as possible. Then fasten the velcro straps.

HOCKEY SOCKS

Pull the hockey socks on over the shin guards. With the tight end at the bottom of the shin guard, pull the socks all the way up. Open the velcro tabs on the mesh shorts and attach the sock to the velcro tab on the back and front.

HOCKEY PANTS

Next come the hockey pants. Step in and pull them all the way up, using the lacing and belt to secure them at the waist.

HOCKEY SKATES

Then come the skates. Have your child sit down and slide his or her foot all the way into the skate. Make sure they kick their heels back slightly, settling their feet into the back of the skate boots. Tight laces are key to a young player's skating ability. Most young beginning players are not strong enough to tie their laces tight enough. Often it is the parent of the young player who will tie the skates tight enough, until the player is of an age which he or she has enough strength to do it independently. Be sure to double-knot the laces so they don't come loose during the game. Now your child is ready for the shoulder pads.

HOCKEY SHOULDER PADS

Slide the shoulder pads over the head, securing both chest straps firmly. Then secure both bicep straps.

HOCKEY ELBOW PADS

Elbow pads are the last piece of gear to put on before the jersey. First, slide the arms into the pads. The elbow should rest comfortably in the elbow cap. Finally, secure the pads down with the velcro straps. This should allow the padding to extend from your child's lower bicep to the top of the glove.

HOCKEY JERSEY

Before moving on to the helmet, put on the jersey. After the jersey is in place, it's time to put the helmet on.

HOCKEY HELMET

Slide the helmet onto your child's head. Once the helmet is in place, secure the side straps from the facemask to the helmet, followed by the chin strap. Once the straps are fastened, the chin cup should fit snugly against the chin.

HOCKEY GLOVES

Lastly, your child should put on gloves, grab his or her stick, and hit the ice!