Ages 4-12 • September 29 - March 24

The Island Colonials House League is designed to teach the fundamental skills of ice hockey and basic concepts of team play. It serves as an alternative or developmental stepping stone to the higher-level Arctic Foxes. Programs are offered at the Mite (8 & under), and Squirt (9-10) and Pee Wee (11-12) levels. Full ice hockey equipment is required.

Players must have skated in the RMU Learn to Play Hockey program and passed Hockey II or the equivalent at another rink, or participated in a recreational or competitive house league program. All players must be registered with USA Hockey. All players from outside the RMU programs must be tested to be able to skate in the house league. Please contact Bob Arturo at 412-397-4456 or Blaine Buterbaugh at 412-397-4475 to make arrangements for the test.

Fees includes 42-45 practices and/or games over an 18-week period, four games in the season-ending Colonial Challenge, an end of the year party, Christmas party and a parents and kids game. Each player receives a high quality jersey with name and number, matching socks, an individual participant trophy and five stick time passes.

Mite House League Times for Saturday and Sunday, October 6th and 7th

  Squirt House League Times for Sunday October 7, 2012

Pee Wee House League times for Sunday October 7, 2012

Registration

As like last year, we expect the House League wil be full prior to the first weekend, September 29-30. Therefore, we offer the following groups of players Priority 1 registration which guarantees them a spot in the house league as long as they register by Monday, August 15th.

Priority 1
Players who participated in the 2011-12 Fall Island Colonials, players who participated in our Learn to Play Hockey program between Sept. 2011 and July 2012, and players who played on the 2011-112Arctic Foxes.

Priority 2
Starting Friday, August 17th at 7:00 am, siblings of players in Priority 1 may register, based on spots available. Please call 412-397-4454 or stop by the front desk in person.

Priority 3
Open registration begins Monday, August 20th at 7:00 am, based on spots available.Please call 412-397-4454 or stop by the front desk in person.

We are projecting 24 teams of 12 players in the Mite program,eight Squirt and four Pee Wee teams, all of 15 players. However, if at the end of Priority 1 registration we have more teams then projected, the amount of ice slots participatns receive will be reduced along with a reduction in the league fee.

USA Hockey - American Development Program (ADM)

We will be following the ADM program in the house league. There will not be many changes, as we have already been running our program in a similar fashion for the past 12 years.

Mite Program

The Mite program (ages 8 & under) is for youngsters born 2004 and later. A maximum of 24 teams of 12 players are formed. The 24 teams are divided into six tiers, based on age and ability.

Practices feature four teams on the ice with a clinic style practice ran by Hockey Directors Bob Arturo and/or Blaine Buterbaugh with assistance from the teams coaching staffs. Individual skills of skating, stick handling, passing and shooting are emphasized.

Four teams play two Cross ice games where they scrimmage for one minute, participate in a skill for one minute, then rest for a third minute before returning to the scrimmage.

The Cross ice games raise the level of creativity among players, increase player participation, and dramatically increase puck touches per game.

NEW. Mite Limited Travel Program

The top two tiers will feature eight teams, consisting of 96 players selected at a three day tryuot, August 25, 26 and September 8. These eight teams wil take part in our New Mite Limited Travel Program. Practice is on Friday evenings at 6 pm. Practice alternate between an ADM team practice and Power Skating with Marianne Watkins and Blaine Buterbaugh. Their games on Saturday and Sunday will be both home and away. We project 6-8 away games, all within the greater Pittsburgh area. Players receive both a home and away jersey and socks.  Each player in the travel tier receives 19 ADM practices, 23 slots for Cross Ice Games, a parent-kid game, Christmas Party, and End of Year Party/Banquet for a total of 45 slots.

In House Mite Program

We continue to offer our traditional In House Program. TRhese 192 children are divided into four tiers based on age and ability. Each player taking part in the House Program receives 18 ADM practices, 19 slots for Cross Ice Games, one skills session, two ratings sessions,  a parent-kid game, Christmas Party, and End of Year Party/Banquet for a total of 43 slots.

Squirt and Pee Wee Programs

The Squirt program (9-10) is for youngsters born 2002-2003 while the Pee Wee program (11-12) is for youngsters born 2000-2001.

Eight Squirt and four Pee Wee teams of 15 are formed..

Approximately 1/3 of the practices will be run by Hockey Directors Bob Arturo and Blaine Buterbaugh with assistance from the team coaches. All games and practices are held here at RMU-ISC. Each player receives four ADM practices, 15 1/2 ice practices, 17 full ice games, one skill session, two rating sessions, a parent-kid game, Christmas Party, plus an End of Year Party/Banquet for a total of 42 slots.

All players must register for the proper age level. HOWEVER, all those who skated up before may continue doing so this year.

As a member of the Island Colonials you are eligible for a 10% discount on Steel Power-Power Skating with Marianne Watkins, our world renowned teacher.