Stowe Youth Hockey offers programs for players of all levels for players ages 5 to 14. USA Hockey, Stowe Youth Hockey's governing body, classifies player ages by birth year (Jan 1 to Dec 31). Below are the USA Hockey divisions:
6U : co-ed, birth year 2019 and 2020
8U: co-ed, birth year 2017 and 2018
10U: co-ed, birth year 2015 and 2016
12U : co-ed, birth year 2013 and 2014
14U : co-ed, birth year 2011 and 2012
Girls Specific Teams (8U/10U/12U/14U)
Learn-To-Skate
Bruins Academy Learn to Play (fall program only)
For players in the 10U division and above, teams may be selected through an evaluation process. The number of teams at each level is determined by the total number of players registered in each division.
Stowe Youth Hockey recognizes and follows the USA Hockey's recommended ADM (American Development Model) program. This program lies at the core of player development. The ADM utilizes a station approach to practice in order to simultaneously maximize ice utilization while presenting players with limited time and space training. This approach serves to increase repetitions, puck touches, and skating in traffic. As a result, particularly at the 8U(Mite) level, it serves to develop agility, balance, coordination, and speed (The ABCs). Another Fundamental component of the ADM for the 8U level is its emphasis on cross-ice, half-ice and small area games, all designed to help foster a read and react mentality, the essence of decision-making in the sport.