About
Washington County Youth Hockey Association Programs offer hockey activities that include Try Hockey For Free, Beginner Hockey, Intro to Hockey, and age-based levels such as Mighty Mites (4U), Mini Mites (6U), Mites (8U), Squirts (10U), Peewees (12U), and Bantams (14U). Players take part in skills sessions, cross-ice or half-ice games, travel team games, away tournaments, and a home tournament, as well as events like a Mite jamboree.
• Ages: 3–14 years old
• Schedule: The hockey season generally runs September through April, with Mighty Mites practicing once a month for 45 minutes, Mini Mites practicing twice a week for 45 minutes, Mites practicing twice per week for 60 minutes, and Squirt teams practicing twice per week with games most weekends from October through early March.
The Washington County Youth Hockey Association’s mission is to encourage sportsmanship on and off the ice, promote teamwork, develop character and instill discipline through the sport of hockey. The association offers hockey programs from ages 3–14 and has been described as very progressive in offering developmental programs that are tailored to specific age groups. All programs for skaters ages 8 and under fall into the instructional category, and all programs for skaters ages 9 to 14 fall into the travel team category.
Try Hockey For Free provides children the opportunity to experience playing hockey for the first time with certified USA Hockey coaches and caring volunteers on the ice, and this program uses certified USA Hockey coaches. The Beginner Intro to Hockey program requires no previous skating or hockey skills, is open to Washington County residents ages 3–10 years, includes all gear, and allows kids to start at any point within the session with drop-ins welcome. For the Intro to Hockey program, all gear is included.
Instructional programs focus on shrinking the game to match the size of the player, developing skills, and having fun, and players can join these instructional programs at any point in the season with minimal to no travel. Travel team skaters must reside within Washington County, participate in tryouts for team placement, have games almost every weekend from November through mid March, and have the opportunity to earn a state championship for their level. Teams at the Squirt level and above have the opportunity to play for a state tournament title.
The Mighty Mites program is specially designed for 3 and 4 year olds to get comfortable on the ice, in the gear, and skating around, and it will look more like an organized recess than a traditional hockey practice, with all drills disguised by fun games. For Mighty Mites, the rink doors will not be closed and kids will be allowed to get on and off the ice during practice, and kids can join the Mighty Mites program at any point throughout the season. Mighty Mites generally have 20–25 practices in a season.
Mini Mites focuses on starting to get 5 and 6 year olds used to doing hockey drills, working in like-skill groups, and playing some cross ice hockey games, with a large emphasis on developing skating skills. Near the end of the Mini Mites season the kids will be split into teams, and a fun jamboree will be hosted as an end of the season celebration, and skaters can join the Mini Mites program at any point throughout the season until it reaches max capacity. Mini Mites generally have 40–45 practices in a season.
The Mite program is the first level where an all-girls team is offered. Mite skaters will play games against teams from other local associations, will get their first chance to try the goalie position, and will be placed on an in-house team with mixed skill levels to start the season, with in-house games taking place during practices. Mite skaters will also be placed on a travel team with the same skill level (red, white, blue), and Mite travel teams will play 8–12 games against local associations and, depending on their skill level, attend a jamboree or tournament or two. WCYHA hosts a Mite jamboree as an end of the season celebration and invites teams from around the state, skaters can join the Mite program at any point throughout the season until it reaches max capacity, and Mites generally have 40–45 practices in a season.
Squirts is described as the transition from little kid hockey to big kid hockey and as an incredibly fun and exciting level. At the Squirt level, players graduate from the instructional portion of youth hockey and move into the competitive travel portion, and Squirt is the first level of full-ice hockey and enforcement of USA Hockey rules such as faceoffs, offsides, icing, and tripping. Skaters at the Squirt level are placed on teams based on their performance at a preseason tryout, Squirt level teams will likely play in two or more away tournaments and will host a home tournament, and Squirt teams generally have 10 or more home games and 40–45 practices.
The Peewee level is similar to Squirt, but games and practices are longer, the game gets faster, and the talent generally improves. Peewee level players tend to be comfortable with the basics of hockey and its rules, and coaches generally start teaching the nuances of positioning and creating plays. Bantams are also included as a 14U level within the association’s programs.
Leadership for Washington County Youth Hockey Association Programs includes Emily Bayer as Mighty Mite Lead and Mini Mite Lead, Chris Johnson as Mite Lead, and Reed Cartwright as Director of Hockey.
Last updated July 28, 2026.
• Ages: 3–14 years old
• Schedule: The hockey season generally runs September through April, with Mighty Mites practicing once a month for 45 minutes, Mini Mites practicing twice a week for 45 minutes, Mites practicing twice per week for 60 minutes, and Squirt teams practicing twice per week with games most weekends from October through early March.
The Washington County Youth Hockey Association’s mission is to encourage sportsmanship on and off the ice, promote teamwork, develop character and instill discipline through the sport of hockey. The association offers hockey programs from ages 3–14 and has been described as very progressive in offering developmental programs that are tailored to specific age groups. All programs for skaters ages 8 and under fall into the instructional category, and all programs for skaters ages 9 to 14 fall into the travel team category.
Try Hockey For Free provides children the opportunity to experience playing hockey for the first time with certified USA Hockey coaches and caring volunteers on the ice, and this program uses certified USA Hockey coaches. The Beginner Intro to Hockey program requires no previous skating or hockey skills, is open to Washington County residents ages 3–10 years, includes all gear, and allows kids to start at any point within the session with drop-ins welcome. For the Intro to Hockey program, all gear is included.
Instructional programs focus on shrinking the game to match the size of the player, developing skills, and having fun, and players can join these instructional programs at any point in the season with minimal to no travel. Travel team skaters must reside within Washington County, participate in tryouts for team placement, have games almost every weekend from November through mid March, and have the opportunity to earn a state championship for their level. Teams at the Squirt level and above have the opportunity to play for a state tournament title.
The Mighty Mites program is specially designed for 3 and 4 year olds to get comfortable on the ice, in the gear, and skating around, and it will look more like an organized recess than a traditional hockey practice, with all drills disguised by fun games. For Mighty Mites, the rink doors will not be closed and kids will be allowed to get on and off the ice during practice, and kids can join the Mighty Mites program at any point throughout the season. Mighty Mites generally have 20–25 practices in a season.
Mini Mites focuses on starting to get 5 and 6 year olds used to doing hockey drills, working in like-skill groups, and playing some cross ice hockey games, with a large emphasis on developing skating skills. Near the end of the Mini Mites season the kids will be split into teams, and a fun jamboree will be hosted as an end of the season celebration, and skaters can join the Mini Mites program at any point throughout the season until it reaches max capacity. Mini Mites generally have 40–45 practices in a season.
The Mite program is the first level where an all-girls team is offered. Mite skaters will play games against teams from other local associations, will get their first chance to try the goalie position, and will be placed on an in-house team with mixed skill levels to start the season, with in-house games taking place during practices. Mite skaters will also be placed on a travel team with the same skill level (red, white, blue), and Mite travel teams will play 8–12 games against local associations and, depending on their skill level, attend a jamboree or tournament or two. WCYHA hosts a Mite jamboree as an end of the season celebration and invites teams from around the state, skaters can join the Mite program at any point throughout the season until it reaches max capacity, and Mites generally have 40–45 practices in a season.
Squirts is described as the transition from little kid hockey to big kid hockey and as an incredibly fun and exciting level. At the Squirt level, players graduate from the instructional portion of youth hockey and move into the competitive travel portion, and Squirt is the first level of full-ice hockey and enforcement of USA Hockey rules such as faceoffs, offsides, icing, and tripping. Skaters at the Squirt level are placed on teams based on their performance at a preseason tryout, Squirt level teams will likely play in two or more away tournaments and will host a home tournament, and Squirt teams generally have 10 or more home games and 40–45 practices.
The Peewee level is similar to Squirt, but games and practices are longer, the game gets faster, and the talent generally improves. Peewee level players tend to be comfortable with the basics of hockey and its rules, and coaches generally start teaching the nuances of positioning and creating plays. Bantams are also included as a 14U level within the association’s programs.
Leadership for Washington County Youth Hockey Association Programs includes Emily Bayer as Mighty Mite Lead and Mini Mite Lead, Chris Johnson as Mite Lead, and Reed Cartwright as Director of Hockey.
Last updated July 28, 2026.
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