DMV Hockey Boom!
Youth hockey in the DMV is booming! Ever since the Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018, we’ve seen a massive uptick in fans, including the newest younger generation of future hockey players. A large part of TSD's mission is to help grow and nurture that community. I created this section to help those who may not know what options are available and explain the various complicated world of youth hockey in the DMV. Please note this list primarily encompasses the lower levels of hockey and does not include information about Junior Hockey or National Level Programs.
Tier 1 AAA | The Elite
Let’s define the different Tiers of Youth Hockey in the DMV. At the very top, we have Tier I AAA hockey. These are the top hockey programs in the area and come with significant obligations and financial considerations. We have two organizations in the DMV. The Washinton Little Capitals (Little Caps) recently relocated to Ion International Training Center in Leesburg. Before Ion, the Little Caps were collocated with the Washington Capitals at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. Some other websites may not have been updated from the 2019-2020 season, making you think they are still at MedStar. Another term you might hear associated with MedStar is Kettle. Kettler used to own the building, and the name became synonymous with the rink. The second Tier I AAA team in the area is Team Maryland. Team MD primarily uses Rockville Ice Area as its home rink. However, they will sometimes use Piney Orchard Ice Arena if needed.
Here are some important notes about Tier I AAA Hockey in our area. First, both organizations start at the 12U level. Second, both organizations structure their respective teams by birth year. This means for the 2022-2023 season. The starting birth year is 2011. Most teams do not allow younger players to “play up,” meaning a 2012 player generally cannot play with the 2011 team. A few exceptions have been made, but it is scarce.
The Washington Little Caps and Team Maryland play in separate leagues, but they still compete and play games against one another and have quite the rivalry going. Team Maryland plays in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) and an independent showcase series called Eastern Exposure Series (EES). Due to these factors, Team Maryland schedules their games and ensures a similar competitive level due to these factors. The Little Caps play in the Atlantic Youth Hockey League (AYHL) and join the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League as a showcase in the upcoming 2022-23 Season.
Tier I AAA Cost:
I’ve sampled some of the costs associated with Tier I AAA hockey in our area. Pricing is constantly fluctuating, but it is a good reference point. All prices shown are pulled from public access information and the 2021-22 season. The Little Caps did not publish their previous season dues, but they are most likely in line with the information below. Something to think about, Tier I AAA hockey travels father than Tier II AA clubs. Most travel for AAA may require plane tickets if the player is in public school.
TM MD Peewee: Cash upfront cost: $6,000 | Credit Card or Three checks during the season: $6,125. Pricing shown does NOT include Player/Parent Travel, Game Jerseys and Socks or other equipment (gloves & helmet), or Peewee Quebec Expenses.
TM MD Bantam: Cash Upfront: $6,200 | Credit Card or Three checks during the season: $6,300. Pricing shown does NOT include Player/Parent Travel, Game Jerseys and Socks, or other related equipment (gloves & helmet).
TM MD Midget: Cash upfront cost: $7,900 | Credit card or three checks during the season: $8,150. Pricing shown does NOT include Player/Parent Travel, Game Jerseys and Socks, or other related equipment (gloves & helmet).
TM MD Midget (18U): Cash upfront cost: $8,500 | Credit card or three checks during the season: $8,750. Pricing shown does NOT include Player/Parent Travel, Game Jerseys and Socks, or other related equipment (gloves & helmet).
WLC Pewee through Bantam Cost: Cash upfront cost: $5275 | Credit card 3 installments: $5,435 covering club fees. Club fees include the cost of coaches, goalie instruction, off-ice training, training facilities, ice fees (games & practice), referees, practice jerseys, socks, and specific tournament or showcase entry fees. The head coach decides the Team Assessment fee, which will vary depending on what additional tournaments the team will participate in. Separate amounts include NHL-authorized jerseys, team uniforms, and any additional gear the player would like to own.
WLC 15U (2007 Birth Year): Cash upfront cost: $5875 | Credit card 3 installments: $6035 covering club fees. Club fees include the cost of coaches, goalie instruction, off-ice training, training facilities, ice fees (games & practice), referees, practice jerseys, socks, and specific tournament or showcase entry fees. The head coach decides the Team Assessment fee, which will vary depending on what additional tournaments the team will participate in. Separate amounts include NHL-authorized jerseys, team uniforms, and any additional gear the player would like to own.
WLC 18U/16U Teams: Cash upfront cost: $7035 | Credit card 3 installments: $7195 covering club fees. Club fees include the cost of coaches, goalie instruction, off-ice training, training facilities, ice fees (games & practice), referees, practice jerseys, socks, and specific tournament or showcase entry fees. The head coach decides the Team Assessment fee, which will vary depending on what additional tournaments the team will participate in. Separate amounts include NHL-authorized jerseys, team uniforms, and any additional gear the player would like to own.
Tier 2 | Travel Hockey
Next, we have Tier II hockey, the primary make-up of youth hockey. Tier II includes AA, Single A, and B levels of play. Each club has a combination of skills so that you may hear different terms. These terms might include “Double A,” “Single A,” “Upper A,” “Lower A/B,” and a combination of them. These terms relate to the skill and level of play the team will compete in the league/tournaments. If you're looking for a list of DMV Tier 2 teams, check out our DMV Youth Hockey Orgs page.
Tier II hockey is the primary means for youth players to begin the travel hockey experience. Most local clubs start at the 8U level and go up to the 18U level. Below, I have listed a list of the Tier II hockey programs in the local area. I suggest finding the nearest rink to your house and seeing nearby clubs.
I get many questions regarding the quality and competitiveness of the various clubs. While everyone has their opinions, I believe each year is different, and there are too many variables to answer that question. Like anything else, all the clubs in the area have pros and cons.
Tier II Hockey Costs:
Like Tier I hockey in the area, Tier II hockey comes with costs. Last year my son played 10U AA, our club dues were around $3,500, and we had a “Team Assessment Fee” that came out to about another $1,000. Altogether, the season cost without gear was $5,000. Two tournament fees were NOT included in the price. The first is a tournament hosted in February in Tampa. The second is the Lake Placid “Miracle on Ice” CAN-AM tournament. Then there was the travel.
The hotel monopoly monstrosity is a HUGE headache when getting into the travel hockey world. Most tournaments are categorized as “Stay to Play” tournaments. When the team manager registers the team to play in tournaments, you are told what hotel you must stay in and how much it will cost. You have zero say in the decision or the cost! Take our Tampa tournament, for example. We were forced to stay in a Holiday Inn Express. That’s not bad in itself. What was bad was the amount of mold, how dirty it was, and how much we were forced to pay, $189 a night, which doesn’t include tax!
Travel Hockey Cost Overview:
Be prepared to spend thousands of dollars for one travel hockey season. I would budget around $10,000 a year for younger (Peewee & below) travel players and $15-20,000 for older
(Bantam & up) players.
Girls Hockey | On The Rise
While I may not be the best person to go to for this type of information, I will try to update this when I learn more. I do know that Hockey for Girls is BOOMING right now.
Almost every ice house in the area has a version of girls-only teams and leagues! The only Tier I AAA Girls’ team in the area (that I know of) is the Washington Pride. The Washington Pride has teams at the 12U, 14U, 16U, and 19U.
Most Tier II clubs will have an all-girls team that competes in the CBHL in a girl’s division. Please get in touch with your local rink to speak with an official for more information.
I will work on gathering more information and contacts. Again, The Sharpening Dude does not like to write with bias, so we try not to recommend any club over another.
House League | Where We All Start
House hockey is where it’s at! Costs are much more reasonable, and it fits into more parents’ and players’ skill sets and attitudes. House hockey is where you can learn the game, enjoy the game and not spend every waking moment at an ice rink! House is where players will start once they know how to skate well enough. Some excellent house programs are out there, and believe it or not, they travel!
They don’t travel far like Tier I or Tier II travel hockey, but they are forced to play other local rinks due to the lack of players here in the DMV house. In this case, the farthest you might have to travel is about an hour, maybe an hour and a half, with traffic.
These programs are central to the rinks and usually are affiliated with a Tier II travel hockey program. Find a rink near you on the map and call and ask about house teams for more info. Costs for these are much more reasonable, with it usually running a few hundred dollars for the season. You might hit $1,000 if the program decides to enter some local tournaments.
Future Caps | Learn To Play
TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE!!! USA Hockey and local organizations/rinks are teaming up to help broaden the community. After all, Hockey Is For EVERYONE! Most rinks sponsor a day/weekend/week where anyone can come to the rink and put on some free (most likely used but clean) gear, skates, and stick and hit the ice to try it out. Many high-level coaches/players and club alums are giving back by being on the ice and a part of these events. Please, contact any rink and let them know you’re into hockey and want to try it. Someone somehow will find a way to get you on the ice. I have never seen someone in the community actively tell someone not to try it.
Future Caps:
This program is affiliated with our deal NHL team, The Washington Capitals. The “Big Caps” sponsors this program. Targeted at younger kids 10U and below, Future Caps provides FREE GEAR to those who sign up, including ice skates! To get a little one involved, you’ll need to head over to the Washington Capital’s website to see which rinks are affiliated with the program. MedStar Capitals Iceplex, Ashburn Ice House, and The St. James are affiliated and can provide more information.
Learn to Play:
Most rinks will have a Learn to Play (L2P) program. It is designed to make players more comfortable on the ice and teach the very basics of the sport. It’s a great way to enter the world of hockey, and the best part is you don’t have to be young to do this. Any age is allowed to participate in L2P. The ice is typically separated into groups of similar age/skill players, and the coaches go through the basics. It’s a great way to get engaged, and if you’re experienced or have a kid that wants more ice time, it’s a great way to give back to the community.