Home — Park County Youth Hockey Association

The Structure of USA Hockey
(or, Where can you go from the PCYHA?)

This guide attempts to provide an overview for players and parents interested in how PCYHA hockey fits in with the larger picture of USA Hockey. It may be helpful for players wishing to continue their involvement in hockey after they have finished their careers with the Park County Youth Hockey Association. — Rob Koelling, 5/18/2004

USA Youth Hockey Streams
( from USA Hockey -- PDF file )

  1. Initiation — Emphasizes basic skills, fun, and physical development in a non-competitive environment.
  2. Recreation — Emphasizes house team play and recreation, fitness, and skill development. Winning is not stressed. Opportunities for recreational hockey at the club level exists from youth hockey through adult recreational leagues.
  3. Competitive — Emphasizes travel and higher skill development for players seeking a competitive hockey experience.
  4. Select — A national program designed to prepare the best youth players to compete in international competition.

Note: Competitive hockey opportunities are available in a variety of configurations. Al Bloomer, Associate Head Coach and managing partner of the Billings Bulls, offers an excellent explanation in his 2004 presentation Opportunities in Hockey After High School. (This is a pdf document.) The following materials draws heavily on Bloomer's remarks, as well as USA Hockey publications and other sources, in order to present an overview (with links) of various hockey options for players.

See Flow Chart

Amateur Competitive Hockey -- Midget Leagues
(Ages 15-18* -- See USA Guidelines)
Levels: Tier 1: AAA, Tier 2: AA; Midget A, B, C

* high schools may allow 18 year old students who are seniors to play

Club

  • Club affiliation
  • Ages: 15 to 17
  • May be recreational or competitive
  • May lead to college or Junior Hockey opportunities

High School Varsity

  • High School Affiliation
  • Ages: enrollment in High School
  • Competitive
  • May lead to college or Junior Hockey

Prep Schools

  • Prep School Affiliation
  • Ages: follows USA Hockey Classifications
  • Extremely competitive
  • Designed to lead to college or Junior Hockey
  • Division I & II classification
  • Links: prephockey.org

Amateur Competitive Hockey -- Junior Hockey Leagues
(ages: under 20. See USA Guidelines)

"The program is available to high school students and graduates who seek a greater or different challenge than that which might be available through their prep school team, high school varsity or club team, or area 17-under teams. The principal purpose of this development program is to prepare the athlete for career advancement either in a collegiate program or a professional opportunity." — USA Hockey Links: USA Junior Hockey Magazine (Note: Canada also has Tier I and Tier II Junior Hockey, but these are aimed at non-college bound players and are considered professional programs by the NCAA. Playing on a Junior A team past a player's expected high school graduation date will affect NCAA eligibility. See Al Bloomer's discussion of this issue.)

Tier I

"The Tier 1 program is a developing concept designed to become the best amateur hockey league in the world which will attract the top 16-20 year old players and further develop its coaches and officials through the highest level of competition."— USA Hockey

Tier II

Amateur Competitive Hockey -- College and University
 

Useful Links

 

© Park County Youth Hockey Association • Updated 5/18/04
Park County Youth Hockey Association • Riley Arena • 1400 Heart Mountain St. • Cody, Wyoming 82414