Essex Vermont Youth Hockey

Essex Youth Hockey Announces Renewed Focus on Development and Fun for their Youngest Players

EYHA and Vermont State Amateur Hockey Adopts Cross-Ice for Mite Level (8 and Under)

Essex -- Following the recommendation of USA Hockey the Vermont State Amateur Hockey Association (VSAHA) and Essex Youth Hockey Association (EYHA) are excited to announce a program designed to renew their focus on development and fun for their youngest players.

Both VSAHA and EYHA have established plans to phase in the USA Hockey Cross-Ice program.  This program is based on practicing and playing hockey across the ice surface as compared to practicing and playing lengthwise along the full length of the ice surface.

This cross-ice practicing and playing model has been used in US hockey “hotbeds” Minnesota and Massachusetts and by many of the leading hockey nations in the world for a number of years.  It has been shown that children who begin playing hockey in this environment have an outstanding hockey experience.  The move is similar to youth soccer, lacrosse, and baseball where players play on surfaces and with playing conditions adapted to foster development and teach the game.

As part of the new program EYHA has arranged for current players, who played in a full ice “travel” program to continue to play for one more year, and all players will be introduced to full-ice play at some point during the season.  

EYHA believes the new model, for ages 8 and under (Mites), will result in an increased number of participants at this level. 

EYHA will offer three ways for young players to get involved in the exciting sport of hockey.  “Novice” and “Cross-ice House” programs will continue for boys and girls new to hockey.  These programs practice and play on weekends and do not include traveling to other towns for games.  The third program, also for boys and girls, is the “Cross-ice Travel” teams program.  These teams practice twice per week and compete against teams from Vermont and include some out of state tournament/jamboree play on weekends.  As mentioned, for 2007-08, only EYHA will field a “full ice transition travel team” for eligible players only.

Bill Beaney, NCAA National Coach of the Year, who has led Middlebury College to multiple championships, has been a strident advocate for cross-ice play.  Coach Beaney believes, “Players learn best when moving and confronting different situations. With the use of [cross-ice] games, we can challenge each player to participate at his [or her] own level and also stimulate the growth of the multi-level players on each team.”  Long time Essex High School Boys’ Hockey coach Bill O’Neil echoes the sentiments of Beaney saying, “In a cross ice game the players will touch the puck significantly more times…I use cross ice games in practice with my varsity players for much the same reason.  This is a great move for EYHA.”

Multiple studies have in fact shown that cross-ice results in increased player development however EYHA’s move is also deeply rooted in assuring that all young players have a positive AND FUN experience playing hockey.  Many youth hockey advocates believe that it is the perfect time for area boys AND GIRLS to get involved in hockey. 

EYHA – which serves approximately 350 boys and girls from Essex, Westford and the Chittenden East School district -- will hold registration on September 5th and 6th at the Inn at Essex from 5:00 p.m. to 8 p.m.  For more information visit www.essexyouthhockey.org.