New to Hockey
We're excited you're interested in participating in the greatest sport ever played (at least we think so)! As hockey can be a life long sport, we have a program for every age level and ability! We've put together some great resources below to get you started.
Come Play Youth Hockey
More Than A Game...
Hockey develops skills on the ice that build a foundation for a lifetime. In addition to athletic prowess, hockey promotes confidence, pride, focus and responsibility. With an emphasis on fun, hockey is a game to be played and enjoyed for life. Click here to read more from USA Hockey
Hockey Equipment Checklist
Every hockey player needs the right equipment before he/she can step on the ice. Take a look at the Equipment Checklist below. Our Pro Shop at Family Sports Center can outfit your player with all the necessary equipment. Stop by or give them a call at 303-649-1115.
Tips for New Hockey Players
Click on the topics below to see "how to" tips and videos
Programs Offered at Arapahoe Warriors and South Suburban Parks and Rec
Learn to Skate - Pre 1
Age: 4-6
This class is part of our South Suburban Learn To Skate program. It’s a 30 minute weekly class for 7, 8 or 9 weeks. Beginning skills taught include fall down/get up, marching, gliding, clips, hops, back wiggles, snowplow stop.
Prerequisite - none
Learn to Skate - Pre 2
Age: 4-6
This class is part of our South Suburban Learn To Skate program. It’s a 30 minute weekly class for 7, 8 or 9 weeks. Beginning skills taught will include review, forward swizzles, one-foot glides, one foot snowplow stops, back 2-foot glides, forward pumps on a circle, back swizzles.
Prerequisite - Learn to Skate - Pre 1
Learn to Skate - Pre 3
Age: 4-6
This class is part of our South Suburban Learn To Skate program. It’s a 30 minute weekly class for 8-9 weeks. We will review and teach forward stroking, one foot glides on circle, bunny hop, two foot turns on a circle, forward slaloms, backward skating.
Prerequisite - Learn to Skate - Pre 2
Learn to Skate - Level 1
Age: 7-17
Beginning skating skills covered include fall down/get up, marching, two-foot glide, dips, one-foot snowplow, back skating, forward swizzles, hops, back swizzles and back two-foot glide.
(Levels 2 - 6 are also offered, but are not required for a hockey program)
Prerequisite - none
Learn to Play - Mighty Mites Hockey
Age: 4-8
This class is part of our South Suburban Learn to Play program. It's a 50 minute or 1 hour weekly class for 7 or 8 weeks. Full hockey gear required. Players learn fundamental skating and puck handling skills through station-based practices to prepare them for the next level of ice hockey. Sessions are offered all year.
Prerequisite - Learn to Skate – Pre 1 AND Pre 2 OR Mile High Mites OR Private lessons with an approved coach OR Evaluation/recommendation from an Arapahoe coach
Learn to Play - Mighty Warriors Hockey
Age: 9-17
This class is part of our South Suburban Learn to Play program. It's a 50 minute or 1 hour weekly class for 7 or 8 weeks. Players learn fundamental skating and puck handling skills through station-based practices to prepare them for the next level of ice hockey. Sessions are offered all year.
Prerequisite - Learn to Skate – Level 1 OR Mile High Mites OR Private lessons with an approved coach OR Evaluation/recommendation from an Arapahoe coach
Learn to Play - Junior Warriors Development League
Age: 9-17
The Junior Warriors Development League is part of our South Suburban Learn to Play program. Players will learn the fundamentals of hockey by playing 5v5 half-ice games each Sunday as well as occasionally playing 5v5 full-ice games. This is a NON-CHECKING league. Sessions are offered Fall and Winter.
Prerequisite - Learn to Skate – Level 1 OR Mile High Mites OR Mighty Mites OR Mighty Warriors OR Private lessons with an approved coach OR Evaluation/recommendation from an Arapahoe Coach
Other Youth Hockey Programs
Try Hockey for Free
Age: 4-9
Sponsored by USA Hockey and run by our Arapahoe Youth Hockey League (AYHL); 1 hour of ice time; all equipment provided for session; offered multiple times per year.
Prerequisite - None
Mile High Mites
Age: 4-9
The Colorado Avalanche have a partnership with the NHL & NHLPA for the Mile High Mites Learn to Play Hockey program. Built to maximize the number of kids playing hockey in Colorado by providing the gold standard of LTP programs. Each host association will provide a fun and effective program by delivering the game in an age-appropriate manner, consistent with USA Hockey ADM/LTAD models.
Prerequisite - Recommended: Learn to Skate – Pre 1 OR Level 1
South Suburban/Arapahoe Warriors Youth Hockey Leagues/Programs
8U Program
Age: 5-8
AYHL promotes a developmental environment in which children between the ages of 5 - 8 can learn the basic skills of hockey. Our 8U program consists of 6 levels: Beginner 2, Beginner 1, Intermediate 2, Intermediate 1, Advanced 2 and Advanced 1. Practices will be cross-ice and follow the USA Hockey ADM (American Developmental Model). 8U players will also participate in Friendlies and Jamborees.
Prerequisite - Learn to Skate – Pre 1 AND Pre 2 OR Mile High Mites OR Evaluation/recommendation from an Arapahoe coach
10U - 18U Warriors Recreational Hockey League
Age: 9-18
Warriors recreational program has 4 age divisions: 10U, 12U, 14U and 16U/18U. As part of the CRHL (Colorado Recreational Hockey League), AYHL plays associations from around Denver including Arvada, Colorado Jr. Eagles, Denver University, Greeley, Hyland Hills, Littleton, Northern Colorado and Summit.
Prerequisite - Learn to Skate – Level 1 OR Mighty Warriors Hockey OR Junior Warriors Development League.
10U - 16U Warriors Travel Hockey League
Age: 9-16
Warriors travel program includes the following age divisions: 10U, 12U, 14U and 16U. As a Tier II program, AYHL has AA, A, and B teams that participate in the Colorado Competitive Youth Hockey League (CCYHL). This program offers players a very competitive and challenging level of competition that requires a higher degree of physical, financial and time commitment.
Players go through tryouts to make a travel team.
10U - 16U Lady Warriors
Age: 9-16
Arapahoe Lady Warriors program provides a competitive hockey program for girls between the ages of 9 - 16 years of age. Lady Warriors will compete at the Travel A level.
Players go through tryouts to make a travel team.
Other South Suburban/Arapahoe Warriors 8U Hockey Programs
8U Graduate Program
The 8U Graduate Program is for Arapahoe Warriors who will be graduating to 10U next season. It is an opportunity for players to receive top-level coaching from Warriors Travel Hockey coaches. Teams will participate in the Pioneer Classic 8U Grad Tournament, where all games will be full-ice.
8U Spring Development -Learn to Play Program
This 8-week skill development program has players rotate from station to station working on individual skills such as skating, stickhandling, shooting and more. Players need to be able to skate to participate in this hockey development program. One ice session will focus on skills and the other ice session will be small area games.
4v4 Summer League
This 4v4 competitive hockey league is open to all 8U players who played at the Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced Level during the past season. Teams will be drafted into two (2) divisions to ensure competitive games to maximize development. Games are Sunday mornings.
8U Summer Development - Learn To Play Program
This 10-week skill development program has players rotate from station to station working on individual skills such as skating, stickhandling, shooting and more. Players need to be able to skate to participate in this hockey development program. One ice session will focus on skills and the other ice session will be small area games.
Other South Suburban/Arapahoe Warriors Youth Rec and Travel Hockey Programs
Warriors Spring Develpment
This spring development program focuses on maintaining and building competitive players’ individual skill sets, including skating, puck handling, conditioning, and overall team and individual hockey IQ.
Teams will be led by top-level coaches from within and outside of the Arapahoe Travel Hockey coaching staff. Tryouts are open to all Rec and Travel players.
Lady Warriors Spring Development
This spring development program focuses on maintaining and building competitive players’ individual skill sets, including skating, puck handling, conditioning, and overall team and individual hockey IQ.
Teams will be led by top-level coaches from within and outside of the Arapahoe Travel Hockey coaching staff. Tryouts are open to all female players.
Summer 5v5 League
The Warriors Summer Hockey League is a 5 v 5 league that runs from June through mid-August. We combine players from Rec and Travel to create balanced teams for fun and competitive games for all age levels including 10U, 12U, 14U and 18U.
Summer Skills Camps
Stick handling and deception Camp
Goalie Camp
Battle Camp
Shooting Camp
Power Skating Camp
Sharpen Em Up
This camp works on conditioning, skating and skills at the Arapahoe Training Camp for skaters and goalies. You will work on all aspects of the game to get your body, mind and physical skills ready for the upcoming season.