1. Are there separate programs for boys and girls?
• YES. We have separate programs for boys and girls at each level.
2. What age can kids start playing?
• Players must be 5 years old as of July 1, OR entering kindergarten for the upcoming school year in order to be eligible for Mite 1 hockey.
• Players that are four years of age as of July 1, are eligible for the Mini Mite program. You will need to provide OMGHA with a copy of your child’s birth certificate that will be kept on file with our Registrar.
3. What is the difference between Mini Mites, Mite 1, Mite 2, Girls Mite, Supermites and U8?
• The basic difference is the age of each level:
i. Mini Mite: Birthdates between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2005 (typically pre-K)
ii. Mite 1: Birthdates between July 1,2003 and June 30, 2004 (typically Kindergarten)
iii. Mite 2: Birthdates between July 1,2002 and June 30, 2003(typically 1st grade)
iv. Girls Mite: Birthdates between July 1,2002 and June 30, 2004 (typically K-1st grade)
v. Supermite: Birthdates between July 1, 2000 and June 30, 2002 (typically 2nd-3rd grade)
vi. U8: Girls with birthdates between July 1, 2000 and June 30, 2002 (typically 2nd-3rd grade)
4. When does the season start?
• Early November for Supermites/U8 players
• Mid-November for Mite 1, Mite 2 and Girls Mite players
• Late November/Early December for Mini-Mites
5. How long is the hockey season for Mites/Supermites/U8?
• The season will run from November until mid-March. The season wraps up with our annual Mite Jamboree Weekend (March 20 & 21, 2010)
6. How long are practices?
• Practices and games are typically 60 or 65 minutes in length. Icetime is very expensive so players must be ready to go on the ice at the designated start time. It is usually best to be at the rink 20 minutes before your stated icetime in order to be ready on time.
7. Where do we skate?
• Indoor practices are held at Osseo Arena (Hwy 81) or Maple Grove Community Center (Weaver Lake Road). Outdoor practices are held at neighborhood parks designated by the City of Maple Grove Parks and Recreation Department.
8. When are the practices/games?
• Practices will be held on Saturdays and Sundays until games begin. Once games begin, the Sunday practice is replaced by a game. When outdoor ice is available, teams will practice Monday, Tuesday or Thursday night on outdoor ice.
9. Do I have to be at every practice/game?
• No. While it is beneficial and recommended to attend every possible training and scrimmage session, it is not mandatory and will not impact playing time.
10. How are teams formed?
• Mite 1, Mite 2 and Girls Mites: Teams are formed by elementary school attendance area depending on coach availability. Every effort is made to keep kids from the same school on one team. Some years, there are not people willing to coach from a particular area so players are mixed with other attendance areas.
• Supermites, U8: Teams are separated by elementary school attendance area then balanced for similar competitive levels using HEP scores and school grade level.
11. How many kids are on each team?
• Typically there are 13-15 players per team.
12. What equipment do I need?
• Helmet with facemask, mouthguard, shoulder pads, elbow pads, hockey pants (breezers), shin pads, hockey gloves, stick and skates. A hockey jersey and hockey socks are provided by OMGHA.
13. Where do I buy hockey equipment and how do I know how it should fit?
• Most sporting goods stores carry hockey equipment. Dave’s Sports Shop (MG), All Star Sports (Crystal), Dicks Sporting Goods and Sports Authority all carry hockey equipment. As a general rule of thumb, all equipment should fit comfortably without being too big. Do not buy skates that are too big with plans to grow in to them. Trying to skate with skates that are too big is similar with trying to sprint in shoes that are too big. It is very difficult.
14. Isn’t hockey equipment really expensive? Are there cheaper options?
• Hockey equipment can be costly, but new skaters do not need top of the line equipment. It is important to have a good quality helmet and properly fitting pair of skates. The most important piece of the remaining equipment is proper fit. Several sporting good stores have used equipment for sale at reasonable prices. At this age, kids typically grow out of equipment long before they wear it out.
15. My child would like to try to play hockey, but we are concerned about the cost. Are there any options for financial assistance?
• OMGHA does have programs available for families that need financial assistance. Please see www.omgha.com for more information.
16. When will I hear from a coach after I register?
• Coaches will contact players once teams are formed. Supermite and U8 teams are not formed until after HEP evaluations (which are held in late October). Mite 1, Mite 2 and Girls Mite teams will be formed in late October and coaches should contact players by November 1st.
17. How do I receive communications from the coach or OMGHA?
• You will receive communications via phone and email. Please be sure to provide accurate information during registration to get appropriate information in a timely manner.
18. What is HEP?
• HEP is a Minnesota Hockey mandated program that tracks the skill development of players. At the Supermite/U8 level, the HEP evaluations are used as one of several criteria when forming teams.
19. What should I do if I want to coach?
• Contact the director at the level you wish to coach. Then fill out a coaching application and MN Hockey Background check form and submit to the OMGHA registrar. (At this point in the season what potential coaches have done is send me everything and then I share the application with the directors. That is just the easiest way for the potential coach…send everything to one place…should we say something here about the Coaching Education requirements as well?)
20. My child is not a very good skater, can he/she still play hockey?
• Definitely. This is a development program serving kids of various ages and abilities. We do recommend attending public skating and newcomer skate sessions before the season begins.
21. What can I do before the season starts to help prepare for hockey?
• Attend open skating sessions at Maple Grove Community Center
• Take skating lessons through Maple Grove Parks and Recreation
• Attend newcomer skate sessions in late October
22. Is there a new parent orientation?
• Yes, the new player orientation will be held October 13th at 7:00pm at the Maple Grove Community Center.
23. What do I need to do to register?
• You can register online, or at the walk-in registration to be held Saturday September 19th, from 1-4pm at Maple Grove Community Center.
24. Are parents expected to volunteer or do fund-raising?
• Yes. At registration you elect whether to participate in fundraising and the volunteer program or not. You may opt to sell candy bars or buyout of candy bar sales fundraising program for $55. You may opt to volunteer 14 hours per player (20 hours max per family) or buyout of volunteer obligations for $300. OMGHA relies heavily on fund-raising and volunteerism to keep hockey affordable and provide a quality experience for everyone involved. Anyone with a child participating in the 4 year old program is exempt from this requirement.
25. If my player does not like hockey can I get a refund?
• We offer three newcomer skate sessions in late October to give you an idea how your first time player will react to being on the ice. If you are unable to attend those sessions, you will have two weeks in to the season to request a refund. OMGHA will not be able to refund the USA Hockey fee.
26. Where can I find more information if have more questions?
The website (www.omgha.com) has a great deal of information on it. If you cannot find the answers to your questions here, please contact one of the directors identified on the bottom of this page.
