The Salt Lake County Youth Hockey League program is a recreation level youth ice hockey program for boys and girls, ages 6-14. 

The philosophy of the program is to promote the ideals of fair play, sportmanship, cooperation, teamwork, and physical fitness.  FUN is the primary goal of the program, while at the same time encouraging the skill development of all players.  Equal ice time and equal opportunity to play, regardless of the game situation, are the cornerstones of the program.

The program is registered and sanctioned by USA Hockey, the official governing body for amatuer hockey in the United States of America.  

Not entirely. 

Beginning level players are required to first complete the Start Smart instructional program before playing in the league program.  Also, new players must first have some basic skating skills before participating in Start Smart.  If your child is also a beginning level skater, he/she may first need to complete one semester of a Learn-to-Skate program at your local rink before signing up for Start Smart.

Also, due to the large disparity in skills between a typical recreation level player and a travel team player, advanced players who are currently rostered on a travel team are not permitted to participate in the program.  Please see the Travel Level Players Policy for more information. 

The regular season begins in mid-September, and runs until mid-late March.  There is a 1 week break for Thanksgiving and about a 2 week break during the Christmas/New Years holidays.

There is also a 6-week Spring Skills Clinic program that runs mid-April until late May, and a 6-week Summer 3-on-3 program that runs early June until late July.  

Salt Lake County Youth Hockey is a county wide, rink based program.  Each of the 3 Salt Lake County Ice facilities operates their own branch of the program.  You sign up for the program at the rink of your choice.  This will be your home rink.  ALL practices take place at your home rink.  Approximately half your games will be played at your home rink, and the rest will be played at the other 2 county ice rinks (road games) against teams in the same age division based at the other rinks.

1. Acord Ice Center, in West Valley City.

2. Salt Lake County Ice Center in Murray.

3. SLC Sport Complex in Salt Lake City (by the U of U).

There are 4 separate age divisions, established by USA Hockey.  They are:

1. Mites (ages 6-8)

2. Squirts (ages 9-10)

3. Pee Wees (ages 11-12)

4. Bantams (ages 13-14)      

A hockey season, as defined and established by USA Hockey, runs Sept. 1 through Aug. 31.  You register for each individual season according to the age your child will be on Dec. 31 of that season. 

For example, if you are registering for the 2007-08 season, and your child is 9 years old as of Dec. 31, 2007 (meaning his/her 9th birthday occurs on or before Dec. 31, 2007), you will register as a Squirt (9-10 year olds).

Another example: If your child is 14 at the time you register BUT will turn 15 on or before Dec. 31, he/she is ineligible to play because he/she is too old.

Most games are on Saturdays, with occasional games on Friday early evenings.  Times vary, depending on the game locations. 

Practices days and times may vary, depending on your home rink.  Generally speaking, ALL practices at the Acord Ice Center and the SLC Sports Complex are on weeknights.  Most practices at the County Ice Center are on weeknights, with occasional practices on Sunday late mornings or early afternoons.

Yes.  Full ice hockey equipment is required for participation.

There is some equipment that is also required for the Start Smart program.  As a result, you may already have much of what you need for the league program after your participation in Start Smart.  

In addition, the County Ice Center in Murray operates a Used Skate & Equipment Exchange annually in early September.  This is an opportunity to purchase quality used equipment for a good price.  Email to jbarebrugge@slco.org to inquire about that event.

For more information about other places to obtain equipment, please see the Contact Us page to make contact with a league administrator at your home rink   

The registration fee for the 2007-08 season was $295 if paid by the registration deadline, and $325 for late registrations.

The cost for the Spring Clinic program is $60, and the Summer 3-on-3 is $90.

New players are generally required to complete the Start Smart Instructional program before playing in the league. 

There are a number of skills that are required for a player to participate effectively on an ice hockey team.  Some players in the program have been playing for a number of years.  We feel it is important for new players to develop those skills to at least some degree before they begin competing, otherwise they may be intimidated, become discouraged, and not want to continue. 

Each of the 3 Salt Lake County ice facilities operates their own Start Smart program.

New players may begin Start Smart at age 5, so they are ready for the league program at age 6.

If your child will turn 5 by Dec. 31, you may register for the fall or winter semester of Start Smart.  Consequently, as your child will turn 6 by Dec. 31 of the following year, you may at that point register as a Mite in the Youth League program.

If your child will not turn 5 by Dec. 31, you may participate in the Learn-to-Skate program to develop more skating skills, until he-she is old enough for participation in Start Smart.