New to Owatonna Hockey

How can my child try hockey in Owatonna?

1) Attend a game at Four Seasons Arena: Experience the thrill of hockey by attending a game at Four Seasons! It's a fantastic family activity, and the best part? It's FREE! Check out the game schedule at: https://www.owatonnahockey.com/page/show/359827-calendar

2) Skate Morehouse Park: Morehouse Park is the place to be for pick-up games and fun on the ice. They have multiple rinks and offer skate rentals. Learn more about their schedule and rentals at: https://www.owatonna.gov/.../fac.../details/morehousepark-22

3) Skate Four Seasons: Join open skate sessions at Four Seasons Arena. It's a great way for your child to get comfortable on the ice. Find the open skate schedule here: https://www.steelecountymn.gov/calendar.php

4) Talk to Us! If you have questions or want to learn more about hockey in Owatonna, don't hesitate to reach out to us on social media. We can connect you with a seasoned OYHA parent who can explain the ins and outs of playing hockey in our community.

5) Join OYHA's "Let's Try Hockey" summer events: No equipment? No problem! We organize "Let's Try Hockey" events where we provide the ice time, equipment, and coaching. Just show up and play! Keep an eye on our social media and check our website for upcoming event dates.

Why Hockey for my child?

Hockey isn't just a sport—it's a comprehensive experience that benefits your child in numerous ways. From building physical fitness and teamwork skills to instilling discipline and resilience, hockey offers a holistic approach to growth and development. It's not just about what happens on the ice; it's about the life lessons learned through dedication, perseverance, and camaraderie. Plus, the thrill of playing the game is unmatched, making hockey an incredibly rewarding journey for your child. Plus - there's so much heritage here in the state of hockey! Playing hockey in Minnesota is a truly unique sporting experience the whole family with treasure!

USA Hockey also has an outstanding website the details the benefits of hockey for children! Navigate to the link below for details!

https://www.usahockey.com/comeplayyouthhockey

Where/how do I register my child for hockey? What are the steps?

OYHA's registration typically takes place in early August. In September, we offer optional camps to help skaters prepare for the season and get ready for tryouts

Registration starts online in July and is completed in-person in early August at Four Seasons Arena to finalize registration and pick up practice jerseys. The link to start online registration will be available when registration opens in July.

How the teams work/age groups?

Below is a rough estimate. Each year MN Hockey sets date ranges for each of the divisions below, so your child's birth date will ultimately determine which level they play at.

Mites (boys and girls)

Youth 6 & Under / Mini-Mite: Youth ages 5 and 6.

Youth 8 & Under / Mite: Primarily youth ages 7-9 but can include players eligible for Mini-Mite/6U.

Girls

8 & Under: Young girls ages 8 and under.

10 & Under: Young girls ages 9 and 10.

12 & Under: Girls ages 11 and 12.

15 & Under: Girls youth ages 13, 14 and 15

Boys

Squirt: Youth ages 9-11.

Peewee: Youth ages 11-13.

Bantam: Youth ages 13-15.

How do tryouts work?

Tryouts are specifically for travel teams, which include Squirt/U10 and older age groups. Every player who participates in the tryouts will be placed on a team.

Tryouts are in the beginning of October for the U12/U15/Peewee/Bantam teams. Late October for U10 and late November or beginning of December for Squirts

How can I learn more about the sport of hockey?

There are several excellent resources available for learning about the sport of hockey, catering to different levels of knowledge and interests:

1. USA Hockey: The official website of USA Hockey offers a wealth of resources for players, coaches, officials, and fans. You can find information on rules, player development programs, coaching resources, and more.

USA Hockey has a great guide for new parents here: https://www.usahockey.com/newparents

2. YouTube: YouTube is a treasure trove of hockey-related content, including instructional videos, highlights, documentaries, and analysis. Channels like Hockey Tutorial, How to Hockey, and The Hockey Movement offer tutorials, drills, and tips for players of all levels.

For more information specific to OYHA, visit our website at OwatonnaHockey.com!

How do I dress my player for hockey?

These videos give detailed tutorials for dressing players and goalies!

Players: https://youtu.be/5whqfqAxyd4

Goalies: https://youtu.be/hdy5kZ5dwj8

What kind of commitments do parents have in youth hockey?

In addition to shuttling kids to and from games/practices parents are expected to fulfill "Dibs" hours, or pay an additional donation at registration.

Each family of a child is expected to contribute their time to work the concession stand, or other responsibilities the association needs to keep hockey in Owatonna! These hours are called "dibs" hours. If the family fulfills their "dibs" hours, the deposit check is not cashed, however if they fail to fulfill all of the required hours the check is cashed and goes towards association needs.

What is the total cost at sign up to register? Include registration costs, raffle, etc.

2025/2026 season registration costs:

Bantam/U15 - $975

Peewee/U12 - $825

Squirt/U10 - $650

Mite - $220

Mini-Mite - $160

Registration costs can be paid in full at August registration, or can be paid in a series of installments (5 installments due Oct 1, Nov 1, Dec 1, Jan 1 and Feb 1.) throughout the year if that's more palatable for your family.

Each family is expected to contribute X hours of their time to work the concession stand, or other responsibilities the association needs to keep hockey in Owatonna! These hours are called "dibs" hours. If the family does not fulfill their "dibs" hours, they are assessed a $1000 per player up to a $3000 family max.

Additionally each family is expected to purchase $200 in raffle tickets (4 tickets at $50/ticket) for each player to be included in an end-of-year drawing. Families are welcome to sell their tickets to friends/family/etc. if they don't wish to bear the $200 burden themselves!

How much does hockey equipment cost?

The cost of hockey equipment can vary widely depending on factors such as brand, quality, and whether you're buying new or used gear. Here's a rough estimate of the cost for basic hockey equipment:

Skates: $50 to $1,000+

Helmet: $30 to $300+

Shoulder Pads: $30 to $200+

Elbow Pads: $20 to $100+

Gloves: $20 to $200+

Shin Guards: $20 to $150+

Hockey Pants: $30 to $200+

Jersey: $20 to $150+

Hockey Stick: $20 to $300+

Mouthguard: $5 to $50+

Jock or Jill: $10 to $50+

Socks: $5 to $30+

Bag: $20 to $150+

In total, you can expect to spend over $250 for a full set of hockey equipment. Keep in mind that prices can vary significantly based on brand, materials, and whether you're purchasing new or secondhand equipment. OYHA is proud to feature an equipment rental program that makes player and goalie equipment incredibly affordable for any family! Please go to the link below for more information!

https://www.owatonnahockey.com/page/show/359834-equipment

What kind of travel costs can I expect to have?

Travel costs vary by age and team with the youngest skaters (ages <8) playing 100% in-town games! Ages 8+ are considered "travel" teams and the cadence/amount of travel varies. The best way to get a feel for what the game/travel schedule looks like by age and level is to navigate to the team calendar that's aligns with your child's age and view the season schedule! Navigate to the link below for more details! For all ages - every effort is made to have one tournament be home, one tournament within driving distance and one tournament that would be a hotel stay. Bantams and U15 have 2 hotel stay tournaments.

Girls

8 & Under Girls: Young girls ages 8 and under.

10 & Under Girls: Young girls ages 9 and 10.

12 & Under: Girls ages 11 and 12.

15 & Under: Girls youth ages 13, 14 and 15

Boys

Youth 6U / Mini-Mite: Youth ages 5 and 6.

Youth 8U / Mite: Primarily youth ages 7-9 but can include players eligible for Mini-Mite/6U.

Youth 10U / Squirt: Youth ages 9-11.

Youth 12U / Peewee: Youth ages 11-13.

Youth 14U / Bantam: Youth ages 13-15.

Team Pages:

https://www.owatonnahockey.com/page/show/359823-teams

Are there scholarships or subsidies I can leverage to make hockey less expensive?

Scholarships are available for families in need, and you can reach out to Mary Kelvie at oyha.adm.director@gmail.com for further information.

OYHA provides rental equipment for players, typically at a cost of $30 per year. This rental equipment can also be used for summer camps. For future reference, in the spring of 2026, the Minnesota Wild offers a cost-effective equipment program called The Little Wild Program, which provides full gear and skates to young skaters. Registration for this program takes place in the spring, and the program itself starts in September. It's worth noting that spots in metropolitan areas tend to fill up quickly within a day or two. Many OYHA skaters have taken advantage of this program in the past, and OYHA has even served as a host site. For more information on The Little Wild Program, you can visit: Link to Minnesota Wild Little Wild Program

If you're interested in skate leases, Straight River Sports offers that service. An annual skate lease can cost as little as one-third of the price of buying new skates. The price may vary depending on the age group and whether you prefer to lease brand new or used skates. Andy at Straight River Sports can provide you with specific cost details based on the type of skate and the age of the skater. If you opt to buy your kid skates, most kids can use their skates for two or three seasons, depending on factors like growth spurts.

Where do we practice?

Four Seasons Centre, 1525 S Elm Ave, Owatonna, MN

What do game committments and practice schedules/ice times look like by age?

Practice schedules and game commitments vary by age with mites scrimmaging every other week, and the older traveling teams playing several games a week. We recommend viewing the schedule from your child's age group by navigating to the team pages that align with your child's age, and viewing their calendars. This will give you a feel for what the game and practice commitments look like.

Mites and mini-mites (children 8 and under): https://www.owatonnahockey.com/page/show/360936-program-information-for-parents

Players 8+: https://www.owatonnahockey.com/page/show/359823-teams

Girls

8 & Under Girls: Young girls ages 8 and under.

10 & Under Girls: Young girls ages 9 and 10.

12 & Under: Girls ages 11 and 12.

15 & Under: Girls youth ages 13, 14 and 15

Boys

Youth 6U / Mini-Mite: Youth ages 5 and 6.

Youth 8U / Mite: Primarily youth ages 7-9 but can include players eligible for Mini-Mite/6U.

Youth 10U / Squirt: Youth ages 9-11.

Youth 12U / Peewee: Youth ages 11-13.

Youth 14U / Bantam: Youth ages 13-15.

What equipment do I need?

To play hockey safely and effectively, you'll need several pieces of equipment. Here's a list of essential hockey gear:

Skates: Properly fitted ice hockey skates are essential for maneuvering on the ice.

Helmet: A certified hockey helmet with a face cage or shield to protect your head and face from impacts.

Shoulder Pads: These protect your shoulders, chest, and upper back from collisions and impacts.

Elbow Pads: Designed to protect your elbows from falls, collisions, and puck impacts.

Gloves: Hockey gloves protect your hands and wrists from sticks, pucks, and impacts while providing grip on the stick.

Shin Guards: These cover your shins and knees to protect against slashes, sticks, and puck impacts.

Hockey Pants: Pants with built-in padding protect your hips, thighs, and tailbone from impacts and falls.

Jersey: A hockey jersey identifies your team and provides some protection against friction and impacts.

Hockey Stick: Choose a stick appropriate for your height, position, and skill level.

Mouthguard: Protects your teeth and mouth from impacts and collisions.

Jock or Jill: Essential for protecting your groin area.

Socks: Specialized hockey socks help keep shin guards in place and provide some additional padding.

Bag: A hockey bag to carry and store all your gear.

While these are the essential pieces of equipment, depending on the level of play and personal preference, additional gear like neck guards, wrist guards, and padded shirts may also be used for added protection. Always ensure that your equipment fits properly and is in good condition to maximize safety and performance on the ice.

Where do I buy equipment?

In Owatonna, Straight River Sports has hockey gear and skate sharpening services. Online Pure Hockey, HockeyMonkey, and Total Hockey are great resources. Pure Hockey also has locations in the Twin Cities. Play It Again Sports in Rochester and the Twin Cities is a great stop for new and used gear! Sideline Swap is also a great place to buy new and used hockey equipment.

Safety in Hockey - How do I know my kid will be safe on the ice? Is hockey dangerous?

USA Hockey also establishes guidelines for the number of practices and games per season for each age group, aiming to prevent injuries and burnout. You can find more detailed information on these guidelines by visiting the following link:

OYHA's Player Safety Page:

https://www.owatonnahockey.com/page/show/1503488-player-safety

Safety off the ice - How do I know my child will be safe with the coaches and other adults?

Coaches are required to complete coaching lessons appropriate for their age group and undergo concussion protocol training, as mandated by USAH. For the safety of our players, coaches, team managers, locker room parents, and board members are also required to undergo a background check and complete the mandated SafeSport training before being allowed in the locker room. Parents who have not completed the background check or SafeSport training are not permitted in the locker room. USAH and OYHA require players have a SafeSport parent present with them in the locker room at all times.

Also reference the locker room guide:

Parent code of conduct - regulating parent behavior

OYHA carries a Parent Code of Ethics featured in the OYHA Operating Guide. Parent's are held responsible for their behavior per the guide. District 9 (which OYHA is part of) disciplines parents and associations whose parents are deemed disruptive or disrespectful of referees, players, coaches, other fans, and rink staff at hockey games or practices.