Follow the registration link above for the Junior Braves Mite/U8 Travel program.

Please note that the Wilmette Tribe Hockey Club is now part of the Wilmette Hockey Association. The Tribe will now compete as the Junior Braves!

The goal of the Wilmette Hockey Association Junior Braves is for young hockey players to develop a foundation of skills and love for the game so they play for a lifetime. Hockey is a game of skill AND passion. Junior Braves come to the rink with energy and an edge that lets everyone know they are a hockey player and they love the game!

You get tons of ice time in the Wilmette Junior Braves Travel program including (all included in the fees):

• Two (2) weekly on-ice practices (a mix of ADM skills and team practices)
• Goalie clinics
• CUHL regular season games when approved by the State of Illinois
• Tournaments when approved by the State of Illinois
• End of season playoffs, when approved by the State of Illinois

Additional Features of The Program:

• All teams will be led by our top-notch Wilmette Junior Braves professional coaches
• Team sizes that maximize player development and ice time
• Home and away jerseys are provided by the club
• New socks will be provided by the club for all players

We look forward to a season of fun and development! Go Junior Braves!

Follow the registration link above for the Junior Braves Mite/U8 House League program.

Please note that the Wilmette Tribe Hockey Club is now part of the Wilmette Hockey Association. The Tribe will now compete as the Junior Braves!

The Wilmette Jr. Braves House program is focused on fun, competitive, low-­stress team play. The program's goal is for young hockey players to develop a foundation of skills and love for the game so they play for a lifetime. Hockey is a game of both skill AND passion. Wilmette Jr. Braves members come to the rink with energy and an edge that let's everyone know they are a hockey player and they love the game!

About the Wilmette Jr. Brave House Program:

• House League Director is Tim Benz
• House League Coaching Education Session, featuring WHA coaches and our Hockey Director, Tim Benz
• The return of the popular Parent Hockey Educational Session
• Saturday Skills Sessions for Devo and Junior Mites that develop skills, speed and hockey sense to help players take their game to the next level
• Saturday Group Skills Sessions for Senior Mites, which gets players sharp and ready for the big game. This group session will be organized around player skill levels and teams.
• Sunday Match-ups: Devo, Jr. Mite and Sr. Mite teams will meet on the Studio Ice. Benefits of Studio Ice include: 
  • Small space games means more ice time and puck touches
  • More ice time and puck touches means more battles, more chances and more fun

PROGRAM LEVELS AND AGE GROUPS

We offer three (3) programs in the House league targeted to players that are aged 4-8 years (birth year 2012 and younger). 

• Developmental (Devo) Mites: For younger skaters new to team hockey. Typically ages 4-6. This is a great program to graduate to after the Park District Programs, such as Learn To Skate or Intro To Team Hockey. However, any child with basic skating skills will feel comfortable in this program. Kids play mostly on the Studio Ice.
• Junior Mites: For younger mites with previous team hockey experience or an appropriate level of team hockey skill. Typically ages 5-6. Older mites without previous team experience may also play at this level. Kids play mostly on the Studio Ice.
• Senior Mites: Ideal for skaters with previous team hockey experience or an appropriate skill level. Typically ages 7-8. A child with a 2014 birth year may be considered for Sr. Mites if coaches approve during conditioning/evaluations.

Players may be moved up or down levels based on evaluations.

If your player is birth year 2011 or older, they are part of Youth Hockey under USA Hockey. Please visit the WHA Braves House Program here: https://www.wilmettehockey.com/house.

Note sure which program is right for your child? No problem. They will be placed in the correct program based on ability during evaluations at the start of the season. Or you can contact our coaching staff. 

Please review the Wilmette Park District and North Shore Ice Arena COVID-19 Guidelines:

https://www.wilmettepark.org/ice-rinks

https://northshoreicearena.org/

Come Dressed to Play

All players (other than goalies) MUST dress at home and come to practice fully dressed. We encourage your player to use hard plastic skate guards to protect those edges while on the pavement! PPE masks must be worn by all persons who enter the rink. For players, that means helmets must be worn with bubble face guards (see below) or they must use a PPE mask under their cage.

Player Masks While on the Ice

OPTION 1: (RECOMMENDED) Replace the traditional open-air "cage-style" helmet face guard with a "bubble-style" helmet face guard. See https://www.bauer.com/en-US/hockey-helmets/facial-protection/concept-3-full-face-shield-visor-614879.html. Provided your player has a helmet equipped with a bubble-style face guard, no additional PPE mask is required to be worn while on the ice.

OPTION 2: Continue to use a traditional open-air "cage-style" helmet face guard, but you must also wear a PPE mask to cover your skater's nose and mouth.

Parent Observation

For Devo and Jr. Mites we will endeavor to allow one (1) parent per skater to observe all sessions provided that the parent wears a PPE mask and abides by social distance guidelines. We cannot always guarantee that parents may stay and watch, but conversations with the Park District are ongoing. 

SPRING

• All House Mites - $450

FALL

• House Devo Mite - $575
• House Junior Mite - $985
• House Senior Mite - $985