Northshire Hockey

This registration session will allow you to complete contact information, sign up for participation and submit payment. To complete registration through our secure site, please have your Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and player information available.  Following the completion of this registration, you will see a charge on your account from Northshire Hockey.  

1. This year, Northshire Hockey will offer free pre-season skating clinics for all 8U and above players. This program will add an extra practice each week for the first month (until BBA practices begin). Every NHA player will have 1 skating lesson (goalies will have a goalie specific clinic) every week at no extra cost. (If you would like to help fund this new program, please reach out to Mark at president@northshirehockey.org).

2. YOUTH INTRODUCTORY PROGRAM: Girls and boys who are 9-14 years old have the opportunity to come and learn how to play the most exciting sport with other kids this season. This program is designed for kids who have never played to learn the very basics of skating and how to play hockey.  Invite your friends to come and try hockey and learn from some of the best coaches we have. The Intro program has an equipment rental program to keep the costs low for new players who want to come out and try hockey.

Email jferguson@nccvermont.com for more information and to register for our intro to hockey!

3. If you would like to apply for the Jonathon Levin Scholarship, please add "scholarship" in the discount code at the checkout portion of the registration. That will create a zero balance. After you complete the NHA registration, please visit JL Scholarship to apply.

4.   All co-ed teams will play and compete in either the Northern New York Hockey League, and the girls' teams will play in the Vermont State Hockey League.  We have added a question in this year's registration to ask about your players' commitment to the team they will be on. The reason is for our players' safety, and player and team knowledge. Our Coaches work hard in practices, and when players consistently don't come, they miss out on a variety of skills and team knowledge (how we play hockey as a team). Another important factor is that there are a few teams that will have a minimal roster, so if a player isn't showing up, we may only have 2-3 players on the bench, which isn't fair to the team. We also need to know who will be participating in the State Tournament. If your family is on vacation, it will impact the team. The expectation is that if you are signing up for a full-season team, you are committing to the full season of activities. 

• 6U: Our 6U program is where our youngest players come out and give hockey a try. If you have a player who can stand on skates, our great coaches will take it from there. Our Coaches will teach your skater basic skating, how to stick handle, pass, and shoot, but more importantly, your player will learn to love coming to the rink and to have fun on the ice. This team practices once a week and does not play games.

• 8U: Our 8U players practice two times a week and play in cross-ice games- mostly on Saturdays. We play a mixture of home and away games. This program takes your player and expands their hockey knowledge. They start to skate faster, make better passes, and their shooting improves. Your player begins to learn the basics of teamwork and how to play hockey together. This season, we will look into having a smaller group of experienced players and families who want to do more. We will be forming a tournament team for this group to compete at a slightly higher level. This team will play in our regular games but will also get to play in small tournaments and jamborees. We will send out more information and get feedback in early to late August about this team.

• 10U: The 10U program is where players finally get to play in full games, with refs. This age group has a full  (20+) game schedule where we play home and away. The players will advance their individual and team skills and truly learn what it takes to be a hockey player. It's fun, it's much faster and the kids really start to take ownership of being a hockey player. 

We will have two teams at this age group. We will have a two teams at different tiers. USA Hockey breaks down each level into 5 tiers, tier 1 is the best level in the country, tier 2 is the next step down in playing ability and often is the best teams within a region and state. Tier 3 are teams that play in their state and if they win the state tournament they get the opportunity to play in the USA Hockey Regional tournament. Tier 4 is for players and teams to play in the state tournament, but does not have a regional tournament. Tier 5 is a level for real beginners to be able to go and play hockey,  learn skills and will have the opportunity to play in the state tournament as well. During the first week of practices, all players will participate in player evaluations where coaches will put the players through different drills and rate them on various hockey skills, competitiveness, and hockey knowledge. They will play a scrimmage against each other on the first ice weekend in October. Afterwards, the players will be placed on one of the two teams, and that will be their assigned team for the season. 

• 12U: The 12U program will continue to build a player's individual skills and team skills. There is the possibility of having two teams at the 12U level this season. We will need to have 22 fully committed players at this level to be able to accomplish this. If your player will not be able to commit to the full season of games and the state tournament, we need to know at registration in order to plan accordingly. We will go through the same process listed in the 10U section on how team placements work. If we do not get enough players for two teams, we will have one team. USA Hockey allows 20 players on a roster, so if we have 20 or less fully committed players, we will have one team. The coaches and NHA board will have a plan in place so that every player has an equitable amount of playing time to reflect the attitude, effort, and attendance for each player. More information will be pushed out to this level in early August.

• 12U/14U Girls Team- This year, we will be offering a 10U/12U team and a 12U/14U girls team.  If your player is a girl who is 9- 14 years old, they can participate on this team. This team will work on their individual and team skills and be coached by a great group of coaches who are excited to share their passion for hockey! These teams will have a full slate of games, home and away, and play in a few tournaments throughout the season.  The 11 and 12-year-old players will be placed on one of the two teams based on player evaluations at the beginning of the season. 

For more questions, please reach out to Mark at president@northshirehockey.org, or at 802-440-2950.

• 14U: Our 14U program will be the final team before the players join the BBA teams. These players will continue their skills training and begin to learn what it takes to move on to the next level.  

• 16U: This season, we will offer a full season, invitation-only, 16U team. This program is going to work in collaboration with the BBA coaches. This level will begin in the fall (start date will be determined soon) and go all the way through the winter season. We will plan on playing in the Vermont State Tournament. Games/tournaments will be played throughout the fall and winter season. For more information, reach out to Coach Slade at (802) 440-2950.

• 18U Split season: We will have an invitation-only 18U split season team where players will start playing in the fall and finish in our local 18U tournament. This team will be made of our local players first, and then we will fill the gaps with players outside of our area. Questions, please reach out to Coach Mark Slade at (802) 440-2950.

5. PLAY UP REQUESTS – NHA, VSAHA, and USA Hockey strongly recommend that all players play on teams based on their birth year. Any player requesting to move up a level must indicate their desire to the NHA Board during the registration period. All requests must go through an approval process that involves the NHA Board, Coaching Staff, as well as the VSAHA Board. NHA will consider play-up requests that meet the following criteria:
1. Roster numbers on the receiving team are 15 or less skaters
2. Roster numbers on the sending team 15 or more skaters
3. Goalies - Receiving team has 1 goalie or sending team has 3 or more goalies

(Special circumstances will be reviewed and considered by the approval committee.)

Each Player must register first with USA Hockey and then return to this Registration Session to signup for the 2025-2026 Season. Please make sure when you continue on to the NHA registration that you enter your NEW 2025-2026 USA Hockey membership number and not last year's number.

• Step 1:  CLICK HERE to go to USA Hockey Registration and register your player(s). Be sure to PRINT and SAVE their confirmation code(s). Remember to register EACH of your players with USA Hockey. Each player must have their own unique USA Hockey confirmation number.
• Step 2:  Return to this registration and proceed. Later in this registration session you will need to enter the USA Hockey Confirmation Code that you received in Step 1.

PARENTS:
1. Teach and practice good sportsmanship at all games and practices. You are role models!
2. Know the rules of the game of hockey.
3. Respect the officials. Respect the coaches – they are volunteers.
4. Do not coach your child as a spectator from the sideline. Let players play and coaches coach, and support both positively.
5. Do not criticize other players regardless of the circumstance.
6. Follow the "24 Hour Rule." If you have a complaint resulting from a game (or practice), speak with the coach on the following day after practice.
7. Never discuss playing time and positions with coaches. Ask what you can do to help your player improve.
8. If there is a serious problem, notify the NHA Board of Directors.
9. Emphasize the FUN in the sport and the importance of a best effort at all times, and good game, not wins and losses.

PLAYERS:
1. Respect your teammates, coaches, referees and opponents at all times.
2. Give 100% effort at each practice and game. Learn from your coaches. Practice hard. Play smart. Have fun!
3. Know the rules of the game of hockey and abide by them.
4. Support and encourage your teammates. Set a positive example. Display good sportsmanship at all times on and off the ice.
5. Wear the required equipment at all games and practices, and keep your equipment well maintained.
6. Be dressed and ready for practice 10 minutes before start time. Be dressed and ready for games 30 minutes before start time.
7. Don't be afraid to make a mistake; mistakes are part of learning.
8. Communicate any grievances, misunderstandings or concerns you have with your coaches.
9. Notify coaches as soon as you know you can’t make a practice or game.
10. Notify a coach if you have a new or existing injury or illness.
11. Be modest in victory and gracious in defeat.

ALL:
1. Any conduct, including abusive language and/ or gestures, racially insensitive remarks, damage to property or belongings, or any other conduct that reflects poorly on yourself or NHA is deemed to be unacceptable and will not be tolerated. This rule applies to everyone at all times and includes all players, parents, siblings and guests when in or around games or practices.
2. During any tournament or game you represent NHA. Illegal conduct such as shoplifting, destruction of property, consumption of drugs or alcohol, or any other negative or illegal activity will not be tolerated.
3. The Board of Directors of NHA will deal with unacceptable conduct at its sole discretion, imposing warnings, suspension or expulsion, as it deems appropriate.
4. THERE IS NO REFUND FOR SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION BASED ON VIOLATIONS.

By registering with Northshire Hockey you are in agreement with our guidelines and expectations.

Please direct any questions regarding this registration to: