Hockey Progression

Here is a visual representation in the form of a flowchart to assist you in navigating the various progressions through Lakes Area Hockey Association. If you have any questions at any stage, please reach out to the hockey director.

Our Learn to Skate program is the first step into the hockey progression. Participation in the program enables beginning skaters to learn basic skating skills for recreational enjoyment. On-ice instruction is led by Learn to Skate USA certified coaches. Session dates and durations vary throughout the year.

Our L2P program is the second step into the hockey progression. L2P is geared towards developing excited young players who want to continue their hockey experience by concentrating on fundamentals such as skating skills, stick handling, moving the puck, and shooting the puck. On-ice instruction is led by USA Hockey certified coaches. Session dates and durations vary throughout the year.

Our In-House Hockey is a no-travel, low-commitment program for players ages 5-14 possessing basic to intermediate hockey skills who have completed our L2P, and/or Mites age 8 and Under (8U) programs. Practices and cross-ice games are held in-house at Lakes Ice Arena with teams divided by age groups.

The 6U-8U Mites Travel Program is the next step after completion of Learn-to-Play sessions. A player needs to have their own equipment. It is targeted at further developing the skills of the beginner to the intermediate player to both enjoy the game and eventually progress to the more competitive levels. Practices consist of hockey drills interspersed with fun games utilizing the skills they are taught in accordance with the USA Hockey ADM (American Development Model). Players will have the opportunity to form travel teams to compete at tournaments and jamborees.

Intermediate to advanced players can try out for the Boji Mammoths travel teams within each age group. Travel teams typically play in the Minnesota District 4 League (MND4) and the Midwest Hockey League (MHL) and play competitive league and non-league games and tournaments throughout the mid-west. Practices are typically three times per week for 1 hours and seasons run from October through mid-March.

Coaching staff for each age group are certified by USA Hockey and have passed a background check. Coaches typically advance from one age group classification to the next as the players advance every two years. The head coach's contact information for the upcoming hockey season is located on the team's page. 

The team will play in the Midwest High School Hockey League (MHSHL) and is for 9th-12th graders located in the Iowa Great Lakes Area. The league holds an end-of-season tournament and the champion has the opportunity to compete in the USA Hockey Youth National High School Division 1A tournament.