CCYHA Mission Statement:

The safety of each player is our organization's highest priority.  The purpose
of this organization is to provide an opportunity for young people to learn
the rules and skills of ice hockey through supervised instruction and
competition while emphasizing the ideals of good sportsmanship and
teamwork.

All CCYHA Travel Players: If you have not responded already, we need a response by Friday 7/27/21

After an unprecedented season last year, the CCYHA Board in conjunction with the new Pro Shop at Newington Arena (run by Hamden Sports) will be providing every travel player with a customized welcome back to hockey apparel package. 

A response is needed from everyone with your players shirt size and shorts size. An email needs to be sent with the following information (example below):

Player Name: Jim Smith

Team: Mite C

Shirt Size: Youth Small

Shorts Size: Youth Small

Emails must be sent to:

 by July 31st

CCYHA Members:

USA Hockey recently passed rule changes effective mites through midgets for 2021-2025. The full list of rule changes/interpretations could be found at the following link:

  https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.leagueathletics.com/Text/Documents/1978/75701.pdf

Some of the rule changes include:

• A game misconduct will now be assessed to a player who receives 4 penalties in a single game and to a coach whose team receives 12 penalties (changed from 5 per player and 15 per team).
• Icing is prohibited while a team is shorthanded.
• Shorter length of minor penalties
  • 12 minute periods - 1:00
  • Greater than 12 minute periods and Less than 17 minute periods - 1:30
  • 17 minute periods and greater - 2:00
• After a penalty is called, the ensuing faceoff will be in the zone of the offending team
• An unsportsmanlike penalty will be called when banging on the boards after a LEGAL or ILLEGAL hit
• Tag up offsides has been eliminated at all levels mites through midgets
• Body Checking is now called Competitive Contact and the first level of contact must be made on the puck. Making physical contact with an opposing player without making an attempt on the puck will be penalized
• Late body checks will be penalized. There is no longer such thing as "finishing the check". Once a player passes the puck, contact cannot be initiated.

CCYHA Members:

This past March the CCYHA family lost a longtime member/parent:

Jude Exantus, only 44 years old, leaves behind his wife Claudia and three children; TJ, Layla and Jayden.

Jude's son, TJ (midget), and daughter, Layla (bantam), play for CCYHA and the Exantus family have been longtime members of our program.

CTHS Hockey recently wrote a great article about Jude's battle and his story of coming to CT after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Please take a minute and read the story of Jude's extraordinary life:

https://www.cthshockey.org/post/praise

The life that Jude has lived has touched many people through his church, youth ministry and mission trips. 

Please consider supporting the 2021 Jude Exantus "Black Boss" Memorial Golf Tourney to benefit the family.

2021 Jude Exantus “Black Boss” Memorial Golf Tourney

Saturday, August 28th at Goodwin Park Golf Course

1130 Maple Ave., Hartford, CT

Check-in under the pavilion at 12 noon

Shotgun start 12:30 pm, scramble format

(outside alcohol not permitted per City ordinance)

Limited to first 100 golfers in 25 foursomes, $150 per golfer includes:

Golf, cart, food snack at the turn, 6 pm dinner after golf

Non-golfers $50 (dinner only)

All correspondence to 

Registration deadline Saturday, August 7

Mail checks payable to Steve Bradbury:

37 Cranston Ave., Wethersfield, CT 06109 cell:  860-818-4418

Prizes for Long Drive, Closest to the pin, putting contest.

Silent auction and raffle for great items !!!

All tourney proceeds will be going to the Exantus family:

Claudia (Dadou), TJ, Layla, and Jayden

This summer, the Giusto/Healy Hockey Sklls Camp returns to Newington Arena for two sessions. Sessions will focus on skill development and preparing players for the 2021-2022 hockey season.

Camp Session 2:  Monday August 16 - Thursday August 19

          Mite & Squirts (2011 birth year and younger) - 12:00pm-12:50pm  

          PeeWee & Bantam (2010-2007 birth years) - 1:00pm-1:50pm

          Midget / High School (2006 birth years and older) - 2:00pm-2:50pm

Cost per session: $210.00

On-ice instruction by:

          Anthony Giusto: Current President, Central CT Youth Hockey. Current CCYHA U16 Tier 2 Head Coach. Current Cheshire High School Head Coach. Former tier 1 youth and college coach. Former Robby Glantz skating instructor. Former Division I hockey player.

           Bryan Healy:  Current CCYHA U15 and U18 Tier 2 Head Coach. Former tier 1 youth and midget coach. Former Wethersfield High School and Xavier High School coach.

Registration online by following the below link:

https://www.arenagolfct.com/plans-pricing

Giusto / Healy Hockey Skills Camp is sponsored by Arena Golf. Virtual golf simulators located inside Newington Arena.  Book online at www.arenagolfct.com

The CCYHA U16 Tier 2 team competed at the USA Hockey National Championsips April 29-May 3. The U16's competed against 15 of the other top teams in the country in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  An amazing experience was had.  Congratulations to the team on making it to Nationals.

Results:

Central CT Capitals vs USA Eagles, Michigan (#6 ranked in US) - LOSS 7-1

Central CT Capitals vs Littleton Hawks, Colorado (#31 ranked in US) - LOSS 2-0

Central CT Capitals vs Afton Americans, Missouri (#7 ranked in US) - LOSS 6-1

Many players from our 15, U16 and U18 split season teams received high school awards following thier respective seasons. This list will grow as I continue to get more information.

Kevin Avery - U18 - Wethersfield HS - Hobey Baker Award Winner,  CIAC Division 2 All State 2nd Team, CCC South All Conference

Spencer Bartone - U18 - Wethersfield HS - CCC South All Conference

Noah Behrens Gould - U18 - Hall Southington Coop - Hobey Baker Award Winner, CCC South All Conference

Aaron Cholewa - U18 - Wethersfield HS - CIAC Division 2 All State 1st Team, CCC South All Conference

Duncan Hollander - U18 - Hall Southington Coop - CIAC Division 3 All State 1st Team, CCC South All Conference

Braeden Humphrey - U16 - Newington Coop - CCC South All Conference

Kyle Marino - U18 - Eastern CT Coop - Hobey Baker Award Winner

Jacob Markowitz - U16 - Farmington Valley - CCC North All Conference

Owen McGoldrick - U18 - Conard HS - Hobey Baker Award Winner, CIAC Division 3 All State 2nd Team, CCC South All Conference

Chase Millen - U18 - Wethersfield HS - CIAC Division 2 All State 2nd Team, CCC South All Conference

Thor Novicelli - U18 - Cheshire HS - Hobey Baker Award Winner

Sean Oconnor - U18 - South Windsor HS - CIAC Division 2 All State 1st Team, CCC North All Conference

Colby Quinn - U16 - Wethersfield HS - CCC South All Conference

Sean Roach - U18 - Hall Southington Coop - CCC South All Conference

Keane Smith U18 - Glastonbury HS - CIAC Division 2 All State 1st Team, CCC North All Conference

Ryan Solomon - U18 - Xavier HS - CIAC Division 1 All State 2nd Team

MacAllister Stambaugh - U18 - Farmington Valley - CCC North All Conference

Niklas Vasiljevs - U18 - Cheshire HS - CIAC Division 2 All State 2nd Team, SCC All Conference 2nd Team

Congratulations to all award winners. This is an impressive list

Central CT Youth Hockey Program Overview

CCYHA is one of the largest and most successful travel programs in the state. We are an American Development Model (ADM) compliant program with the objective of long-term development. Our mission is to provide an opportunity for young people to learn the rules and skills of ice hockey through supervised instruction and competition while emphasizing the ideals of good sportsmanship and teamwork.

Program Offerings:

         Development Programs

                  Learn to Play Hockey – This program is for our beginner hockey players ages 3 and up. Session 1 is a 5 week session (one weekend instructional hour per week) from mid October until the weekend prior to Thanksgiving.  Session 2 runs from December through mid March and consists of two weekend instructional hours (Sat. and Sun.) per week. Registration for Learn to Play Hockey opens in late summer.

                  Mite Development – This program is for our players (ages 4-12) that have already participated in a Learn to Skate or Learn to Play hockey program.  The Mite Development program runs mid October to mid March and consists of two weekend instructional hours (Sat. and Sun.) per week. Registration for Mite Development opens in late summer.

                  House League – This program is for kids aged 5-12 who have at least 1-2 seasons of skating AND hockey experience. Players are placed onto teams and have two practices and 1 game per week.  Games are played half ice, with real boards across the center ice line separating the two games. Games are played 4 verse 4 plus a goalie in net (using goalie equipment). The House League program runs from mid October to mid March. Registration for House League opens in late summer. 

         Travel Programs

                  U8 Mite Travel (2013 & Younger Birth Years) – CCYHA is compliant with USA Hockey ADM model at the U8 level. The mite travel teams consist of our more experienced players at the U8 level. Mite travel teams will compete in CHC. Tryouts are held in March for the following season. Mite Travel teams will have two practices per week plus 2 games per weekend. Most weekends consist of one home and one away game. The number of mite travel teams will be dependent on several criteria including; number of participants, birth years, and talent level. The Mite Travel program runs from late August to mid March.

                  U10 Squirt Travel (11 & 12 Birth Years) – We have offerings for all experience levels at the U10 level. We typically have several teams at the A, B and C levels. Tryouts are held in March for the following season. Squirt Travel teams will have two practices per week plus 2 games per weekend. Most weekends consist of one home and one away game. The number of squirt travel teams will be dependent upon number of participants. Our squirt travel teams will compete in CHC and will have the opportunity to qualify for Tier 2, Tier 3 and Tier 4. Our Squirt AA team will also compete in the Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League (EJEPL). This will consist of a 16 game schedule, 8 games of which will be played at two festivals and 4 home and 4 away games. The Squirt Travel program runs from late August to mid March.

                  U12 PeeWee Travel (09 & 10 Birth Years) – We have offerings for all experience levels at the U12 level. We typically have several teams at the A, B and C levels. Tryouts are held in March for the following season. PeeWee Travel teams will have two practices per week plus 2 games per weekend. Most weekends consist of one home and one away game. The number of peewee travel teams will be dependent upon number of participants. Our peewee travel teams will compete in CHC and will have the opportunity to qualify for Tier 2, Tier 3 and Tier 4. Our PeeWee AA team will also compete in the Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League (EJEPL). This will consist of a 16 game schedule, 8 games of which will be played at two festivals and 4 home and 4 away games. The PeeWee Travel program runs from late August to mid March.

                   U14 Bantam Travel (07 & 08 Birth Years) – We have offerings for all experience levels at the U14 level. We typically have teams at the AA, A and B levels. Tryouts are held in March for the following season. Bantam Travel teams will have two practices per week plus 2 games per weekend. Most weekends consist of one home and one away game. The number of bantam travel teams will be dependent upon number of participants. Our bantam travel teams will compete in CHC and will have the opportunity to qualify for Tier 2, Tier 3 and Tier 4. Our Bantam AA team will also compete in the Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League (EJEPL). This will consist of a 16 game schedule, 8 games of which will be played at two festivals and 4 home and 4 away games. The Bantam Travel program runs from late August to mid March. For those players that plan to tryout for their high school teams in the fall, we will explore offering a Bantam Half Year option. Players who plan to tryout for their high school must notify CCYHA on the commitment agreement so we can plan accordingly. These players will be guaranteed a spot on a travel team if they do not make their high school team. 

                   Midget High School Teams – CCYHA will be hosting Midget teams for the Wethersfield HS and Newington HS coop. These teams will be a half season team with players from those high schools on the roster. These teams will be undeclared midget teams.  Midget season will run from late-August through Thanksgiving.

                   U16 &U18 Midget Tier 2 and U15/U16 Split Season Teams – Building off the success of last year’s season at the midget tier 2 level, Central CT Youth Hockey (CCYHA) will be, once again, forming split season teams at the U16 and U18 Tier 2 levels for the 2021-2022 season. Our U18 team finished tied for second in Tier 2 and our U16 team went undefeated in state games and have been crowned STATE CHAMPIONS and will be representing CT at USA Hockey Nationals. These teams fill a void in our area at the Tier 2 level. Teams will be competing in CHC Tier 2 with the winners of the CT State Tournament advancing to the USA Hockey Tier 2 National Championships. Teams will practice and play at Newington Arena. Tryouts will be held in mid April.

Additional Program Offerings:

                  ProCrease – On-ice goaltender instruction for all Mite-Bantam teams two times per month.

                  Future Fitness -  Off-ice training for all Bantam teams two times per month.

                  Goaltending Director – CCYHA has a Director of Goaltending to help advance the skills of goalies within our organization.

                  Summer Ice – We will be offering ice throughout the summer. Each age group will have a weekly session to stay on the ice (if they wish). This will be a combination of skills, small area drills and scrimmage.

                  Skills Sessions – Regularly scheduled skills sessions will be offered throughout the season.

                  Turkey Shootout Pond Hockey Tournament

                  State Tournament

       Program Fees:

                  Tryout Fee: $100.00

                  Mite Travel: $2,325.00

                  Squirt Travel: $2,375.00

                  PeeWee Travel: $2,625.00

                  Bantam Travel: $2,725.00

                  Bantam Half Year: $1,500.00 (if we have enough players for a half year team)

                  Midget U16 & U18 T2, U15/U16: 1,850.00

CCYHA created a Director of Goaltending position to help foster goaltender development within the organization.  The position's primary role will be to work with each coaching to staff to ensure goalies receive the proper attention & instruction during practices.  The Director will also distribute information about the position for coaches, goaltenders & goaltender parents, work with each team to track their goalies' development, coordinate with Procrease and be a general resource to answer any questions that come up related to goaltending & goaltender development.  Matt Allatin will be taking the lead as our first Director of Goaltending.  If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to him. He could be reached at 

Director of Goaltending

 

Responsibilities

• • Educating Coaching Staff - each team designates a goalie coach

  • Periodic check ins with each team’s goalie coach

    • Discuss progress - identify areas for improvement

  • Coordinate with Procrease as needed

  • Address any questions from goaltenders or goaltender parents 

  • Participate in goaltender tryout evaluations

 

Educating Coaching Staff

• • Each team will designate a goalie coach for the season - their job will be to work with the goalie during the season

  • The Director of Goaltending will provide education to the designated coaches - identifying basic fundamentals that can be reinforced in practice - in form of a meeting before the season starts (all coaches are encouraged to attend)

  • Discuss points where practices typically neglect goalies in practice - ways to improve practice plans

 

Periodic Check-Ins with Designated Goalie Coach

• • Coaches explain how the goalie is progressing through the year

  • If the goalie struggles with a particular facet of the game the director will work with the coach and Procrease to identify drills for improvement

 

Coordinate with Procrease as Needed

• • Communicating specific areas of improvement for each goalie as they arise

 

Address Questions/Concerns from Goaltenders or Parents

• • Answer questions & provide advice as needed to goaltenders or goaltender parents

 

Tryout Evaluations

• • Evaluates goaltenders at the goalie specific tryout session

    • One of several evaluators

    • Not involved in player placement

What better way to spend time while our kids are practicing and playing than to play some virtual golf. Overlooking the Red Rink at Newington Arena, Arena Golf will be open for business on Monday November 2 at 9am. Please visit www.arenagolfct.com for more information and to book time in our state of art golf simulator.

The CCYHA U18 Tier 1 Midgets completed their quest for a BACK TO BACK National Championship by defeating the North Jersey Avalanche 3-2 in overtime.  The CCYHA Selects started the national tournament with convincing wins over the Belle Tire 9-1 and Washington Little Caps 5-2.  Game 3 brought a loss for CCYHA at the hands of the Boston Jr. Eagles by a score of 4-1.  By going 2-1 in the opening round, the team earned the top seed coming out of their bracket.  The opponent in the quarterinals would be #1 nationally ranked Shattuck St. Mary's. CCYHA was up to the test as they advanced to semifinals by defeating Shattuck 8-6.  In-state rival Yale Jr. Bulldogs was the opponent in the semifinal round.  CCYHA earned a berth in the national championship game by defeating Yale 6-2.

The final game was a matchup against #5 nationally ranked North Jersey Avalanche. After CCYHA took a 2-0 lead late in the third period, the Av's tied it up with 2 goals in a 14 second span in the final minute of play to force overtime. The game ended early in the first sudden overtime period as Killian Rowlee secured the second of the back to back National Championships for CCYHA.

The Central CT Youth Hockey Selects Academy u18 Tier 1 team wins the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP by defeating the Cape Cod Whalers 5-2.  Congratulation to the midgets on winning a national championship for CCYHA.