The Michigan Amateur Hockey Association has announced a new program to help players transition from cross-ice to full-ice hockey prior to them starting in the 10U level of play.
The new program will present a defined path of transition for 8U players, consisting of an eight to 10-week schedule of regional games for just 2015 birth-year players. All participants must have completed their respective association’s half-ice program between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31 of the current season.
The new program – which was approved by USA Hockey for an official launch this season – will run alongside each participating association’s regularly-scheduled 8U calendar, beginning in the first month of 2024, and concluding with a season-ending tournament in March.
“We’re very excited that USA Hockey has granted MAHA approval to launch this new program,” MAHA President George Atkinson explained. “With this new concept in place, we offer a clear path from Learn to Skate to Cross-Ice Hockey – and then a transition to Full-Ice Hockey during the proper development window for those players moving on to 10u hockey the following season.”
While the program is for the 2015 birth-year players participating within their local association, exceptions may be made for combined association programs if two neighboring associations do not have enough players to field a team by themselves.
For more information, interested parties can contact Hockey Events Manager Jon Hosking at jhosking@maha.org.
