Hockey Development Center Programs

All ages are as of December 31, 2010. All programs are co-educational.

Primary Programs

Mite (Birth year 2002-04)

• One year of playing experience on a Mite team required.
• Developing Mites NOT eligible.

Squirt (Birth year 2000-2001)

Pee Wee (Birth year 1998-1999)

Michigan Tech's Mite, Squirt, and Pee Wee programs are carefully designed to introduce the fundamental skills of hockey to all players. With the exception of goaltenders, students in these programs are given the opportunity to learn each position.

These three primary programs are built around 3 hours and 45 minutes of daily on-ice instruction, focusing on power-skating and such fundamentals as shooting, passing, checking, and playing position.

Developmental Programs

Bantam (Birth year 1996-97)

Midget House/High School JV (Birth year 1992-95 AND still attending high school in fall 2010)

This program stresses both individual and team skills, including the role of the forward and defenseman in breakout patterns, neutral-zone techniques, offensive-zone alignments, checking systems, playing position, and team play.

Each day, players spend 3 hours and 45 minutes on the ice. These training sessions are intended to develop students' abilities to perform as team players and to improve fundamental skills, such as shooting and passing. Players also receive daily power-skating instruction. Three instructional scrimmages are conducted during the week.

Participants also receive instruction in the proper use of weight-training equipment, and they participate in a daily stretching and warm-up session.

Goaltenders

Four goalies are accepted in each age group.

This program, featuring one-on-one work with instructors, is designed to maximize each goaltender's potential.

Training, including power-skating, improves agility, coordination, stance, goalieconcentration, quickness, balance, and movement.

Participants also learn the proper techniques for stick, pad, skate, glove, and deflector saves, as well as for covering angles and correct positioning.

Participants receive specialized off-ice training that includes goalie-specific drills.

During elite sessions, expect less instructional time and more game situations.

Elite Training Program

PeeWee (Birth year 1998-99)
Bantam (Birth year 1996-97)
Midget Elite / High School Varsity (Birth year 1991-95 AND still attending high school in fall 2010)

This intense, one-week program is designed for serious, competitive players.

Each day, participants receive 3 hours and 45 minutes of on-ice instruction in the advanced techniques of skating, team concepts, and positional play. Four instructional scrimmages are conducted during the week.

Participants also receive instruction in the proper use of weight-training equipment, and they participate in a daily stretching and warm-up session.

To be eligible for this program, players must:

• Compete at the A, AA, or AAA level in their geographic area in the current academic year (2008-09).
• All registration is by position.
• Submit (1) a letter of recommendation from the player's coach and (2) a copy of the USA Hockey team roster (Form 1-T) from the 2009-10 season. Registration is incomplete without the letter and roster. Please Note: The letter of recommendation must include information about the player's character and work ethic, ability and skills, the level at which the team is registered (A, AA, AAA), the hockey association in which the team is a member, and the league in which the team competes.

In order to uphold the integrity of the Elite Program, we reserve the right to move players to a less-competitive group or send them home if the staff feels they cannot compete with the group and/or their registration materials are incomplete.

Additional Summer Programs

Summer Youth Athletic Programs features boys' and girls' basketball, cross country running, figure skating, mountain biking, tennis and volleyball camps. Call (906)487-2975 or click here for more information.

Summer Youth Programs (academic) features exploration in careers and knowledge. Call (906)487-2219 or visit http://youthprograms.mtu.edu/ for more information.