For questions contact:
Leann Naughton
LAHC Hockey 101 Coordinator
lnaughton.hockey@gmail.com
307.761.1240
OR laramiehockey@gmail.com

LAHC is partnering with the Colorado Avalanche and the NHL Player’s Association to also offer the Mile High Mites Program. This is an opportunity for players aged 5-9 who are new to hockey, and will run for 6 weeks starting in September. Players receive a full set of gear to keep, one hour of practice ice per week and other opportunities offered by the Colorado Avalanche. Players may join either or both Mile High Mites and LAHC's Hockey 101 (formally called Initiation)  For more information or to register for Mile High Mites please go to link below:

THE LAHC HOCKEY 101 PROGRAM
LAHC sponsors a Hockey 101 Learn-to-Play hockey program each year. This program is partnered in part with the City of Laramie’s Learn-to-Skate Program, to introduce new-to-skating and new-to-hockey players to our sport and our club. The LAHC Hockey 101 Program is offered as pre-season sessions in September and specializes in introducing skaters to hockey basics. Registration for Hockey 101 is done on the LAHC website.  A USA Hockey Fee may apply depending on the age of the skater, and LAHC offers gear rental for free with a deposit. 

For incoming skaters the City of Laramie Learn-to-Skate program can be another good program. They offer the program in month-long sessions and specialize in getting a brand-new skater on their feet.  You can register for this Learn-to-Skate Program through the Rec Center’s website, or by visiting the front counter of the Ice and Event Center.   

FEES AND REGISTRATION
Though the schedule may change in any particular season or session, generally LAHC’s Hockey 101 Program offers 2 on-ice sessions a week. Your only cost will be USA Hockey registration.  USA Hockey registration is good for an entire season and the cost is dependent on the age of your skater.  For 2022/23, players born in 2016 and after are free. Players born in 2015 and earlier pay $56 ($46 USA Hockey fee, $10 Wyoming affiliate fee). LAHC does not receive any funds from these USA Hockey fees and does not charge any additional ice fees to Hockey 101 players. Players are required to formally register through the online registration on the LAHC website. There is a cap on number of Hockey 101 players accepted each season. 

A player may register only once for the Hockey 101 Program, with the goal of registering for their age appropriate team after this learn-to-play program. If the Head Hockey 101  Coach does not feel your child is ready for team play, contact the registrar to make accommodations to rejoin the next years Hockey 101 session. There may be a moderate registration fee associated with registering a returning player for Hockey 101.  

To begin registration for the Initiation Program, go to the Registration tab on the LAHC website. The link is also at the top of this page.

OLDER SKATERS
Most players in Hockey 101 are under eight years old, though we do frequently have skaters that are older. As part of the Hockey 101 Program new skaters who are older would still skate with the learn-to-play program. In some cases, skill advancement may allow a new skater to practice and play league games with their age-level team if they are age appropriate for a Squirt (age 9 to 10) or older team. To move to this level of play approval must be given by both the Hockey 101 Head Coach and the Head Coach of the age appropriate team in coordination with the Coaches' Rep (Scott Miller). This is a matter of safety for both the player and their teammates.

EQUIPMENT
Hockey gear is a big part of learning to play.  Ice is hard.  It’s hard to stay standing on, it’s hard to fall on, and at this stage in hockey your skater’s gear is often going to be the difference between bouncing up or feeling the fall.  LAHC does have hockey gear and we offer it for use to Hockey 101 skaters for the season at no charge, just a $50 refundable deposit. Per USA Hockey rules, skaters in Hockey 101 will be required to wear full gear to be on the ice. The City of Laramie Learn-to-Skate Program however does not require gear. We do highly encourage you to reach out to us to get gear for your new skater if you’re doing this program.  They will pick up skating much faster if they are not worried about falling, and the transition to hockey will be much easier when you child and you are both used to the gear.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Hockey is a unique sport, as you have to learn to skate before you can learn to play.  This would be similar to needing to learn to walk before you could start playing soccer or baseball.   As a spectator to Learn-to-Skate and Hockey 101, prepare to be entertained.  At least once, your skater will skate to the boards to wave at you through the glass, and instantly disappear as their feet go out from under them!  At this stage in development, our focus is on teaching them to get to their feet, fall properly, begin to use their skate edges, begin to stop, and most importantly to love being on the ice.  Much of their practice will be spent playing games.  For instance, games like Sharks and Minnows or Tag are especially effective at teaching new skaters to keep their heads up, look around the ice, and change directions to avoid being tagged.  Activities like sliding on their stomach or rolling over on the ice are also foundational to learning to get back up quickly.  The limited hockey we do play at this stage is not structured.  Strategy and skill will be part of their development as a skater progresses in LAHC. 

TIPS FOR GEARING UP
Putting on hockey gear can be frustrating at first; putting hockey gear on an excited 5-year-old can be a real challenge!  Plan ahead.  The following YouTube video will give you a good demonstration.  Take a moment to watch it.  It will help you greatly. Whatever you do...do not put the skates on first!

https://youtu.be/5whqfqAxyd4

What should you wear under the gear?  Do not put on snow pants and a winter coat. With all of their gear and activity, your player WILL NOT get cold while on the ice.  In fact, many come off the ice in a full sweat.  Many kids just wear a long-sleeved t-shirt and light-weight sweat pants, pajama pants or shorts.  Jeans are too bulky.

If your skater is getting dressed at the rink, plan on getting to the rink about 20-30 minutes prior to your practice time to get dressed.  Remember to use the bathroom before gearing up!  You can help dress your player in the lobby. Spread out as much as possible as it can get very crowded. The lobby is generally used for Initiation players, as locker room assignments are normally for 9-year-olds and older, leaving the lobby available for our skaters that need adult help to gear up.

Another great solution is to dress at home.  You can put all the gear on in the comfort of your living room.  Have them wear their tennis shoes to the rink and you can help them get their skates on once you arrive at the rink.

During Covid players are encouraged to dress at home and just put skates on at the rink.

SKATE SHARPENING
The bottom of a hockey skate is concave, having two sharp edges on the outer edges of the blade and an open area in the middle called the hollow.  As a result, they require regular sharpening through the season to keep a skater’s ability to turn, stop, and glide.  Expect to need to have your skater’s skates sharpened occasionally through the season.  You can ask your coaches, or the staff at the rink if you have questions about what choices to make when sharpening or when you need to sharpen your skates.  Also, please Note, the skates provided by LAHC usually need sharpening before the start of the season. The rink offers skate sharpening. Often you must leave skates and have them sharpened during the day or overnight. This cost is not covered by LAHC.

STICKS
Sticks may also require re-taping. A coach or older player can help with this or there are various online resources for learning how to tape a stick. Hockey tape is not provided by the LAHC; players can purchase some at the rink.

OTHER
Safety equipment such as a protective cup (or pelvic protector for girls) and mouth guard should be provided by a player’s family. The rink sells mouthguards and there are many online resources for shorts or compression shorts with an integrated cup and Velcro straps for holding up hockey socks.

Simple additions provided by the player’s family, like new skate laces or hockey tape to secure Velcro straps can make equipment more comfortable. 

WHEN YOU GET HOME
After practice you will be going home with a happy and tired player and a bag of wet gear. This gear will develop a life of its own if left in the closed bag.  We recommend that you air-dry the equipment after each practice.  You can open the bag or spread the gear on the floor for the night to allow it to dry completely. Hockey gear drying racks can also be homemade or purchased and can be a helpful way of teaching a younger skater to inventory and care for their gear.

For questions contact:
Leann Naughton
LAHC Hockey 101 Coordinator
lnaughton.hockey@gmail.com
307.761.1240
OR laramiehockey@gmail.com