The Garden Hockey Club offers a range of options to provide the type of hockey experience that fits your child’s age, playing experience, skill level, interests/goals and your family’s financial and time commitment.
For those that are brand new to hockey, the first step on your hockey journey is to attend at least one session of Learn to Skate. Once you complete a Learn to Skate session, the next step is Learn to Play, followed by our Garden Youth Hockey League. See the program offerings below.
For those that are brand new to hockey, the first step on your hockey journey is to attend at least one session of Learn to Skate. Once you complete a Learn to Skate session, the next step is Learn to Play, followed by our Garden Youth Hockey League. See the program offerings below.
Learn to Play- all ages welcome!
Our Learn to Play program provides an opportunity for families to join the hockey community and for youth to develop fundamental skills to help them succeed both on and off the ice. The Learn to Play Hockey program is a USA Hockey Cross-Ice Instructional program. All of our teaching and lesson plan materials are based on USA Hockey's American Development Model (ADM). This program is designed to be the natural progression from Learn to Skate to one of our age group leagues.
Although many players begin hockey at an early age, you are never too old to start playing hockey! There are many youth hockey players that begin playing hockey a little later, and we offer Learn to Play sessions geared towards both the younger and older age groups!
Once your player completes Learn to Play, your child's birth year will determine the next step.
8U
Garden Hockey Club offers a strong 8U (mite) program for 7 and 8 year-old players. Our 8U program follows the USA Hockey American Development Model (ADM) and focuses on development and FUN! Smaller areas, smaller nets, and LOTS of activity during practices improves their skills and fosters a love for the game! All of our 8U players play in our Garden Wolves House League. The regular season runs approximately 18 weeks. Mites have 1-2 practices per week, play cross-ice games with other mite teams within our program on the weekend, and participate in 1-3 Jamborees that bring teams from different organizations together to play.
10U/12U/14U/High School Prep (16/18U)
For 10U players there are 3 different possible paths: Garden House League, Tournament Team and Tier 2 AA teams
For 12U-14U players there are 3 different possible paths: Garden House League, Garden Adray Team, and Tier 2 A/AA teams
For 16U/18U players there is 1 path: Garden Adray Team
Garden House League Tier 3
Our House program provides an opportunity for any youth who wants to learn and play hockey, with a focus on skill development and teaching hockey concepts. Our House program uses the American Development Model (ADM) across all age groups to provide age-specific and developmentally appropriate skill-based training designed for long-term player development.
Garden House Tournament Teams Tier 3 (10U Only)
Provides an opportunity for select players on House/Tier III teams to have more ice time and play at a more competitive level for tournaments/games. Players play with their House team for Garden League and play on a Tournament Team for tournaments/extra games. Composed of players registered in the Garden House league.
Garden Adray Teams Tier 3 - 12U/14U/High School Prep (16/18U)
The Adray program is a competitive program that offers an opportunity for players to play at a higher level of competition with similarly skilled players against other associations within our Adray division. The league is tiered so teams are placed in a division based on the team's skill level (determined by pre-season play-in games, coach requests and previous years team statistics). Divisions are formed within each tier based on geographical location of the team when possible.
Tier II A & AA Teams - 10U/12U/14U
The Tier II program is a competitive program that offers an opportunity for players to play at a higher level of competition with similarly skilled players against other associations throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. Our Tier II AA GHC teams play in the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League. The league is tiered so teams are placed in a division based on the team’s skill level (determined by pre-season play-in games, coach requests and previous years team statistics). Divisions are formed within each tier based on geographical location of the team when possible.
Our Learn to Play program provides an opportunity for families to join the hockey community and for youth to develop fundamental skills to help them succeed both on and off the ice. The Learn to Play Hockey program is a USA Hockey Cross-Ice Instructional program. All of our teaching and lesson plan materials are based on USA Hockey's American Development Model (ADM). This program is designed to be the natural progression from Learn to Skate to one of our age group leagues.
Although many players begin hockey at an early age, you are never too old to start playing hockey! There are many youth hockey players that begin playing hockey a little later, and we offer Learn to Play sessions geared towards both the younger and older age groups!
Once your player completes Learn to Play, your child's birth year will determine the next step.
8U
Garden Hockey Club offers a strong 8U (mite) program for 7 and 8 year-old players. Our 8U program follows the USA Hockey American Development Model (ADM) and focuses on development and FUN! Smaller areas, smaller nets, and LOTS of activity during practices improves their skills and fosters a love for the game! All of our 8U players play in our Garden Wolves House League. The regular season runs approximately 18 weeks. Mites have 1-2 practices per week, play cross-ice games with other mite teams within our program on the weekend, and participate in 1-3 Jamborees that bring teams from different organizations together to play.
10U/12U/14U/High School Prep (16/18U)
For 10U players there are 3 different possible paths: Garden House League, Tournament Team and Tier 2 AA teams
For 12U-14U players there are 3 different possible paths: Garden House League, Garden Adray Team, and Tier 2 A/AA teams
For 16U/18U players there is 1 path: Garden Adray Team
Garden House League Tier 3
Our House program provides an opportunity for any youth who wants to learn and play hockey, with a focus on skill development and teaching hockey concepts. Our House program uses the American Development Model (ADM) across all age groups to provide age-specific and developmentally appropriate skill-based training designed for long-term player development.
Garden House Tournament Teams Tier 3 (10U Only)
Provides an opportunity for select players on House/Tier III teams to have more ice time and play at a more competitive level for tournaments/games. Players play with their House team for Garden League and play on a Tournament Team for tournaments/extra games. Composed of players registered in the Garden House league.
Garden Adray Teams Tier 3 - 12U/14U/High School Prep (16/18U)
The Adray program is a competitive program that offers an opportunity for players to play at a higher level of competition with similarly skilled players against other associations within our Adray division. The league is tiered so teams are placed in a division based on the team's skill level (determined by pre-season play-in games, coach requests and previous years team statistics). Divisions are formed within each tier based on geographical location of the team when possible.
Tier II A & AA Teams - 10U/12U/14U
The Tier II program is a competitive program that offers an opportunity for players to play at a higher level of competition with similarly skilled players against other associations throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. Our Tier II AA GHC teams play in the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League. The league is tiered so teams are placed in a division based on the team’s skill level (determined by pre-season play-in games, coach requests and previous years team statistics). Divisions are formed within each tier based on geographical location of the team when possible.
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