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AVHA Mites Program

AVHA offers a very affordable mite program for boys and girls, between the ages of 5 and 9, who reside within the Apple Valley High School attendance area. We offer FREE first year of hockey with a FREE equipment package. Our fees are very reasonable compared to other local associations in the ensuing years of mite hockey.

The philosophy of the AVHA Mite Program is to teach hockey skills to boys and girls in a fun environment. We emphasize the basic skills kids need as they mature as hockey players, with a heavy emphasis on skating. Kids do not need to know how to skate to participate. We will teach them. Competition is limited, but increases as the kids move through the mite program.

Sessions begin in late October and run through mid March. Our primary indoor ice times will be on Saturdays and Sundays at one of our two Apple Valley rinks (Apple Valley High School and Hayes Arena). We will also utilize outdoor rinks for weekly practices when weather permits. Kids will participate largely with their peers as a group, but will also be placed on a team and will have team-specific activities.

AVHA will be organizing mites into four levels:  

Mite 1:  Beginner - K and 1st graders

Mite 2:  Intermediate - K and 1st graders

Mite 3:  Intermediate - 2nd and 3rd graders

Mite 4:  Advanced - 2nd and 3rd graders  

It is our goal to get all players skating with their grade-level peers by the time they leave mites. However, we will watch kids and move them when appropriate to play with like-ability/experienced players. Preference will always be given to the older and more experience player when it comes to selection for a higher level when applicable.

Our first year players (new to hockey) at the 2nd and 3rd grade level will most likely be placed as a Mite 2 or 3 and not with the younger Mite 1 level unless requested.

All 2nd and 3rd grade mites will be eligible to try out for mite traveling teams (intermediate/advanced and 8U0.   These teams will compete in a limited District 8. The Advanced/Intermediate/8u tryouts will occur sometime in late November or early December. More information on these teams will be presented at our mite parent meetings. The cost for games and extra practices ice will be the responsibility of the traveling mite players and will not be incurred by the remaining mites or AVHA, similar to a regular traveling team.

Once levels are selected, we will practice primarily on Saturdays and Sundays with outdoor ice during the week. Depending upon numbers of kids at each level, we will group kids with their peers from a skill level.

For additional information please contact our mite coordinator at mites@applevalleyhockey.com