Greater Battle Creek Ice Hockey Association
Tell them a Bruin sent you!
Greater Battle Creek Ice Hockey Association
Frequently Asked Questions
Use these links to find the answers to the frequently asked questions, or you can scroll manually down this page.
- My kid wants to play hockey --- how much does it cost?
- What are the different age-brackets for kids in hockey - the names are so confusing! Mite? Midget? (I thought a Bantam was a ROOSTER????)
- What gear does my kid need for LTS or LTP/3HL/etc?
- How much does the gear cost? Where can I buy it if I don't rent it?
- Can my kid join a "real team" half-way through the year if he starts out at 3HL and is ready to move up?
- Where can we get signed up?
- I don't know if my kid needs LTS or if he skates well enough already to go into 3HL -- can someone evaluate him?
- Will my kid get hurt?
- When does the season run?
- What does my money pay for?
- If my child is on a team, does that mean we have to travel all over to play?
- How many kids are on a team?
- Can girls play too?
- At what age/level do the teams start checking?
- My kid is already 10, is that too late to start?
- If I can't afford the entire fee, is there any type of assistance?
Q: My kid wants to play hockey --- how much does it cost?
A: The easy answer is: it depends!
Does your child know how to skate? If not, then the Learn To Skate program is where you'll need to start. There are two sessions per year and even if it's mid-session, you can still sign up; the fee will be prorated accordingly.
If your child already knows how to skate, but doesn't know how to play hockey, then you'd start in our 3HL program. Our 3HL program is "learn to play" where the emphasis is on learning hockey skills... and having FUN! Most ice times will be practice times, with different stations to work on various hockey skills such as stick-handling, shooting, passing/receiving, etc, while at the same time strengthening their skating skills. Periodically we will have game-day, and games are played cross-ice rather than end-to-end. This reduces the time that kids spend chasing the puck and increases the time they spend actually playing the puck and further building their skills. Even if it's mid-session, you can still sign up and the fee will be prorated accordingly.
If your child has already played hockey before and is ready to play on a team, the age of the child will determine which team they'll be placed on, per the rules of USA Hockey.
Back to the top
Q: What are the different age-brackets for kids in hockey - the names are so confusing! Mite? Midget? (I thought a Bantam was a ROOSTER????)
A: The names sure don't seem to make any sense, do they? In the following chart, use the age that the child will be on December 31st of the current hockey season to figure out what team they'd be on.
15 to 18 -- Midget/JV
13 or 14 -- Bantam
11 or 12 -- PeeWee
9 or 10 -- Squirt
8-and-under -- Mite
Back to the top
Q: What gear does my kid need for LTS or LTP/3HL/etc?
A: ALL kids must have full gear, including LTS and 3HL. The most important part is to make sure all equipment is properly fitted. Skates don't fit like shoes, and you can't just throw on an extra pair of socks if the skates are too big. Same for a helmet -- a helmet that is too big or too small won't properly protect your child's head in a fall or collision.
Most kids in LTS are afraid to fall down, because it hurts to fall down on the hard ice. Kids who are afraid of getting hurt aren't as willing to "take a risk" and attempt the next big step in learning to skate such as letting go of the bucket or turning a corner, going faster; but because they are wearing full hockey gear, they'll quickly discover that hockey players wear all that gear for a reason -- it works! Falling down doesn't hurt when you're wearing shin/knee pads, padded pants, elbow pads, shoulder pads, and big padded gloves!
All participants at any level must have full protective gear.
Back to the top
Q: How much does the gear cost? Where can I buy it if I don't rent it?
A: The price of gear will vary greatly, depending on brand/style and whether you buy used or new. Skates, for example, can be purchased new for as low as $35, or as high as $500+! There are numerous websites that sell hockey gear online or you can also go through a variety of local retailers such as Jack Pearls, MC Sports or Dunham’s, but particularly for your first purchase, you're going to want to try things on to get an idea of sizing. GBCIHA has a relationship with BJ Sports in Kalamazoo and they are very good at helping kids get properly fitted. It is vital that the gear fit properly if it's going to offer the proper level of protection! The GBCIHA has gear available for rent for $40 per season and we will also help with the fitting process.
A complete set of protective gear includes:
-- Helmet (All CSA and HECC certified helmets have a sticker indicating their certification.)
-- Neck Guard (padded or unpadded)
-- Chest/Shoulder Pads
-- Elbow Pads
-- Hockey Gloves
-- Hockey Jock or Jill ("cup" or "pelvic protector")
-- Garter for hockey socks
(note: There is a combination jock/garter that is more convenient than a separate jock and garter. It is like a pair of shorts with a pouch for the cup, plus Velcro tabs for holding up the socks.)
-- Hockey Pants
-- Hockey Socks (these are more like leg-warmers than socks, as they don't actually cover the feet)
-- Shin / Knee Guards
-- Skates
-- Mouth Guard
Back to the top
Q: Can my kid join a "real team" half-way through the year if he starts out at 3HL and is ready to move up?
A: MAHA's (Michigan Amateur Hockey Association) rules state that they can join a competitive team up to December 31st and still be eligible for playoffs. The difference in the amount of the fee will be prorated, also giving credit for the 3HL time not used.
Back to the top
Q: Where can we get signed up?
A: Complete information on how to sign up is available on our website under “New Player Sign-Up”.
Back to the top
Q: I don't know if my kid needs LTS or if he skates well enough already to go into 3HL -- can someone evaluate him?
A: Absolutely! Use the “Contact Us” form on your right and we'll hook you up with someone who can help you.
Back to the top
Q: Will my kid get hurt?
A: While there's always a chance of injury in any activity, hockey compares with other sports such as soccer, football, basketball, and baseball when it comes to injury rates. All of our coaches are certified by USA Hockey, which sets national standards for safety and conduct, including the concept of "heads up" hockey -- being on the lookout at all times. Hockey players also wear more protective gear than players in any of the other sports mentioned above. The practice of "checking" (body-to-body contact to get the puck away from another player) is not allowed until the PeeWee age division -- there is no checking allowed in LTS, 3HL, Mites, or Squirts.
Back to the top
Q: When does the season run?
The season starts in late August and runs to early March.
Back to the top
Q: What does my money pay for?
A: The primary expense associated with ice hockey is the purchase of ice. The GBCIHA buys ice at an hourly rate from the Cereal City Development Corporation (CCDC), who manages the Rink for the City of Battle Creek. A very small portion is used for association administration operating expenses such as postage and copies.
Back to the top
Q: If my child is on a team, does that mean we have to travel all over to play?
A: That depends on whether or not your child plays on a “travel team” or a “house team”. GBCIHA does not have true house teams, meaning they only have home games. We have “House B”, which means traveling some of the time, but typically staying within the state of Michigan. It is our belief that this exposes the players to a better variety of competition. True travel teams do tend to travel a bit more, but still enjoy some home games. Most teams will participate in a couple tournaments during the season as well. The Rink also hosts tournaments, you can find out more about those by visiting the “Tournaments” link on our site.
Back to the top
Q: How many kids are on a team?
A: Generally speaking a team does not have more than 20 players, but depends on the specific needs of the team. House teams allow any child any level to play, travel teams typically have try-outs to play on their teams.
Back to the top
Q: Can girls play too?
A: Absolutely! Most every team at the Mite and Squirt level has girls on the teams. Once they reach the Pee Wee level, and the players are able to start “checking”, there are all girl teams available to participate in if it becomes too physical. Many girls have played for the B.C. Bruins and have gone onto play at the college level!
Back to the top
Q: At what age/level do the teams start checking?
A: Pee Wee, which starts at 11 years old.
Back to the top
Q: My kid is already 10, is that too late to start?
A: Absolutely not!! An evaluation can be done on their skill level to determine what the best fit is. Most children advance so quickly that it might not take any time at all to catch up. Fill out the “Contact Us” form on the right and someone will contact you to set-up an evaluation time.
Back to the top
Q: If I can't afford the entire fee, is there any type of assistance?
A: There are programs to help families who may not be able to afford the entire fee. Please go to the “Scholarships” link on our website for more information and application.
Website provided by Net Magik Pros
