Congratulations on another successful hockey season! WAHA crowned 34 state champions in the four Tier II divisions of association based hockey, and seven Tier I state champions. We continued the season by sending teams from both Tiers to the Central Districts Play-offs and to the USAH National Championship tournaments. In addition, the Kohlman Cup Tournaments for boys and girls was another memorable experience for our 12U players.
The success of Wisconsin amateur hockey is dependent on the local association. In February, WAHA held a day-long hockey symposium for state hockey directors from our associations and leaders from our Tier I programs. The purpose of the symposium was to discuss how to create a player development pathway for all to be mindful of and hopefully follow. WAHA board members and the USA Hockey Central District ADM Manager, Dan Jablonic, who also attended, had an opportunity to listen to these leaders discuss what they believed WAHA associations do well in terms of developing hockey players and where there is need for improvement. The leaders identified skill development as a major strength of player development. The greatest area of need: developing hockey IQ in our players. Another takeaway from this meeting was that our coaches need additional training over and above their CEP course work. The end product of the symposium was the formation of a group of hockey leaders who are meeting to work to improve the WI player development pathway.
Post season/summer independent hockey is now in full swing. Please be mindful of the importance of practice as well as competitive games. Your child’s development needs to be thoughtful and purposeful. Wisconsin Tier 1 programs will be holding tryouts in May and June and the Wisconsin Elite Hockey League tryouts will follow in July/August.
Please be safe and remember it is about the kids.
Fran Finco, WAHA President
WAHA ASSOCIATION STATE TOURNAMENT DATES FOR 2025 SET
Bidding for 2025 Hosts now open!
WAHA approved a rule change in state tournament weekends last year and finalized the dates for 2025 on March 26, 2023. When placing your bids be aware of the dates below for 2025 State tournaments.
Last weekend of February: Youth 14U, Girls 14U – February 22-23, 2025
1st weekend of March: Youth 10U, Girls 12U – March 1-2, 2025
2nd weekend of March: Youth 12U, Girls 10U – March 8-9, 2025
3rd weekend of March: Youth 18U – March 14-16, 2025
Host Bid form found on WAHA website under FORMS
Another couple of exciting weekends of hockey concluded for some of our Tier 2 12U players at the end of their season
Boys ~ March 25th-26th @ Chippewa Falls
Girls ~ April 1st-2nd @ Cornerstone Green Bay
Congratulations to all the teams on great tournaments!
Thank you to all the volunteers who put in countless hours to organize, coach and run the Kohlman Cup tryouts and tournaments.
Tier 1 registration for tryouts for the 2023-24 season will open after the completion of the 2023 National Tournament. Links for each of the WI Tier 1 organizations can be found on the WAHA website under PROGRAMS
As a part of the Declaration of Safety, Fair Play and Respect program, every Association should appoint someone on their Board to serve as a Safety Officer.
Once each Association has completed their spring elections, please include this new position and then send the contact information for this individual to Jerry Kennedy, the WAHA Player Safety Coordinator, at playersafety@wahahockey.com. Include the name, email and cell number of this individual.
This new position will be the liaison between the WAHA Player Safety Coordinator and/or the WAHA Player Safety Committee regarding all safety related topics from USA Hockey, and State or Federal Health Departments. They will have the responsibility to pass on all safety information to the entire Association.
Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association and the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame offer five $1,500 Scholarships and one $2,000 Scholarship to graduating seniors who are planning to continue full time education at an accredited University, College, or Technical School. Scholarship Applications and forms are found on the WAHA Website under Forms (Scholarship Applications). Deadline to apply is May 1, 2023.
WAHA Tier II Association Dates
April 15th Last date - Submit WAHA rule change requests or amendments to By-laws
May 15th Last date - State Tournament Bids for 2025
June - Submit Association annual dues
Association Leadership are encouraged to attend our annual meeting and workshop August 4-5th in Stevens Point at the Holiday Inn Convention Center.
This workshop is geared towards providing tools and information to Associations, so you can provide the best experience for our youth players.
Registration Link and presentation schedule provided on the WAHA website in May
WAHA 12U Girls Development Camp August 4-6th, 2023 - Female players 2010 and 2011 birth years - First wave registration of Kohlman Cup participants April 1-14th (Invitations sent).
General registration opens April 15th on the WAHA website under ABOUT WAHA > DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
Information about 12U Girls Development Camp
2009-2006 Central District Camp tryout registrations closed - Good luck to all the WI girls attending.
Congratulations and good luck to all the WAHA players who are moving on to Central District Camps and Festivals.
https://www.centraldistricthockey.org/page/show/7883537-wisconsin