Greetings from WAHA,
Registration, player evaluations, determining teams, finding the right coaches, Code of Conduct renewal/reminders for boards, players, coaches, parents, and officials – all of those high energy events signal the first hockey games are right around the corner.
I am hoping that you have as much fun as my wife and I did, building relationships with the people who you watch games with week in and week out, so that 15 years from now you are still socializing with them and reminiscing about the unforgettable moments in your children’s hockey experiences. The good stuff.
One thing I would ask you to remember this year is that you are all culture keepers of your associations.
What you accept as common behavior – good or bad – is the backbone of the player/parent/coach experience. Please hold yourself and others to high levels of positive behavior. The season is way more fun that way.
See you at the rink.
Finco, President
Nominate a Hockey Hero!
Being a part of a great hockey community is a what keeps bringing kid and families back to the rink season after season. There are those in our hockey communities who just stand out as being Hockey Heroes though, and we would like to recognize those individuals. Please send us your nomination of a Hockey Hero that goes above and beyond for a team / association / community, and makes hockey better because of it.
Reminder that USA Hockey passed a new rule that requires all players in all Youth and Girls age classification to wear a Neck Laceration Protector. This rule went into effect on August 1st. It also requires all on-ice officials under the age of 18 to wear a Neck Laceration Protector. As most of our associations will be in full opperation this month, it's imparative that players are utilizing neck laceration protection in all practices and games.
Each WAHA Association has a designated Safety Officer which should be clearly indicated on their website. This will help members navigate concussion protocol, and gain information about your assocociation resources, such as Stop the Bleed Kits and AED locations.
If you have any questions about Safety issues, please contact the District Player Safety Coordinator
Jerry Kennedy USA Hockey Central District region4director@ameritech.net 608-335-3011
For information on USA Hockey player safety visit:
https://www.usahockey.com/playersafety
Coaches needing to progress in the Coaching Education Program (CEP) levels this season should be securing those online sessions now.
Virtual sessions are open and available by going to USAH Coaching Clinic Registration
Female only and clinics for those coaching females are also being offered Click Here for list and links to register
Female focused coach networking opportunities can also be found on the above link.
The following Associations have been awarded a $1000 Grass Roots Grant to help their Association grow through equipment and resources. In total , $55,000 worth of Grass Roots Grants wil be distributed to WAHA Associations this year.
Region 1 | Amery Youth Hockey |
Region 1 | Ashland Youth Hockey |
Region 1 | Barron/Chetek Youth Hockey |
Region 1 | Chippewa Youth Hockey |
Region 1 | Hayward Sports Center |
Region 1 | River Valley Hockey Association |
Region 1 | Spooner Area Youth Hockey |
Region 1 | Superior Amateur Hockey Association |
Region 2 | Antigo Area Youth Hockey |
Region 2 | Eagle River Recreation Association |
Region 2 | Lakeland Hawk Ice Assoc. |
Region 2 | Marshfield Youth Hockey Association |
Region 2 | Merrill Youth Hockey Association |
Region 2 | North Lakeland Ice |
Region 2 | South Wood County Youth Hockey Assn |
Region 2 | Tomahawk Hockey Association |
Region 2 | Wausau Hockey Association |
Region 3 | Appleton Area Hockey Association |
Region 3 | Green Bay Area Youth Hockey Association |
Region 3 | Manitowoc County Youth Hockey Assn |
Region 3 | Marinette/Menominee Area Youth Hockey |
Region 3 | Oshkosh Youth Hockey Association |
Region 3 | Sheboygan Blue Line Association |
Region 3 | Waupaca Area Youth Hockey Association |
Region 4 | Beloit Youth Hockey Association, Inc. |
Region 4 | Ice Wolves Youth Hockey Association |
Region 4 | Janesville Youth Hockey Club |
Region 4 | McFarland Youth Hockey Association |
Region 4 | Monroe Hockey Association |
Region 4 | Patriots Youth Hockey Association |
Region 4 | RWD Youth Hockey |
Region 4 | Stoughton Youth Hockey |
Region 4 | Sun Prairie Youth Hockey Association, Inc. |
Region 4 | Thunderbird Youth Hockey |
Region 4 | Verona Wildcats Youth Hockey Association |
Region 4 | West Madison Polar Caps Youth Hockey Assn |
Region 4 | Wildcat Youth Hockey Association |
Region 5 | Elmbrook Youth Hockey Association (EYHA) |
Region 5 | Fond du Lac Blue Line Hockey Club, Inc. |
Region 5 | Kenosha Blue Line Hockey Club |
Region 5 | Ozaukee Youth Hockey Association |
Region 5 | SHAW |
Region 5 | Washington County Youth Hockey Association |
Region 5 | Waukesha County Youth Hockey Association |
Region 6 | Altoona Youth Hockey Association |
Region 6 | Menomonie Youth Hockey Association |
Region 6 | New Richmond Youth Hockey Association |
Region 6 | River City Youth Hockey Association |
Region 6 | River Falls Youth Hockey Association |
Region 6 | Sparta Youth Hockey Association |
Region 6 | Somerset Youth Hockey Association |
Region 6 | Tomah Youth Hockey |
Region 6 | Onalaska/Holmen Tornado Youth Hockey |
Region 6 | Viroqua Area Hockey Association |
Region 6 | West Salem Hockey Association |
All players should be registered on a USA Hockey roster, including 8U players.
This enables both USA Hockey and WAHA to ascertain where growth and retainment is most sucessful and provide support and assistance accordingly.
Dick's Sporting Goods WAHA Shopping Days
20% off to get you all set for the upcoming season!
October 11-13th 2025
USA Hockey Team Up Against Concussion Week
October 21-26, 2024
Share your video of a team leader delivering this message
1. We’re a team, and teammates look out for each other.
2. A teammate with a concussion needs your help.
3. I expect you to speak up to me, a coach, or an athletic trainer if you think a teammate has a concussion.
Tag @WAHA on Facebook with your video or share your video upload by Facebook message to @WAHA Instagram tag @wahahockey
Why give the TUAC speech?
Concussion Legacy Captains give the Team Up Against Concussions speech to their team to improve concussion reporting so we can prevent the worst outcomes of concussions. The latest research tells us the program is both necessary and effective. Here’s why:
WAHA is thrilled to continue our partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance to help improve and strengthen culture in hockey associations across Wisconsin. We recently completed a workshop with association leaders titled “Culture Shaping for Leaders” designed to assist association leaders on how to evaluate and identify ways to make their program(s) more positive, equitable, and accessible to all athletes. When athletes are part of a positive sports culture, they are more likely to experience the many benefits that sports can provide - from developing resilience and leadership skills to building healthy connections and support systems.
Thank you to the 50 associations that had at least one representative attend the training, and a special shout out to West Madison Polar Caps for their “Culture Champs” initiative – check it out here.
Amery youth hockey |
Region 1 |
Chippewa Youth Hockey Assn. |
Region 1 |
Hayward Sports Center |
Region 1 |
Rice Lake Hockey Association |
Region 1 |
Eagle River Recreational Association |
Region 2 |
Lakeland Hawks Hockey |
Region 2 |
Merrill Youth Hockey Association |
Region 2 |
Mosinee Hockey Club |
Region 2 |
North Lakeland Bucks |
Region 2 |
Price Ice |
Region 2 |
South Wood County Youth Hockey Association |
Region 2 |
Stevens Point Youth Hockey Association |
Region 2 |
Tomahawk Hockey Association |
Region 2 |
Wausau Youth Hockey |
Region 2 |
Appleton |
Region 3 |
De Pere Youth Hockey |
Region 3 |
Fox Valley Youth Hockey Association |
Region 3 |
Green Bay Area Youth Hockey Association |
Region 3 |
Manitowoc County Youth Hockey |
Region 3 |
Marinette and Menominee Area Youth Hockey |
Region 3 |
Oshkosh Area Youth Hockey Association |
Region 3 |
Shawano Hockey League |
Region 3 |
Sheboygan Lakers |
Region 3 |
Waupaca Area Youth Hockey Association |
Region 3 |
Ice Wolves Youth Hockey |
Region 4 |
Madison Capitols AAA Hockey Association |
Region 4 |
Middleton Youth Hockey |
Region 4 |
Oregon Youth Hockey |
Region 4 |
Patriots Youth Hockey Association |
Region 4 |
Verona |
Region 4 |
West Madison Polar Caps |
Region 4 |
Wildcat Hockey (Waunakee) |
Region 4 |
Elmbrook Youth Hockey Association |
Region 5 |
SHAW Youth Hockey |
Region 5 |
Washington County Youth Hockey Association |
Region 5 |
Waukesha County Youth Hockey Association |
Region 5 |
Waupun Hockey Association |
Region 5 |
Baldwin Hockey Association |
Region 6 |
Eau Claire Youth Hockey |
Region 6 |
Menomonie Youth Hockey Association |
Region 6 |
New Richmond Youth Hockey Association |
Region 6 |
Onalaska/Holmen Tornado Youth Hockey |
Region 6 |
River City Youth hockey |
Region 6 |
River Falls Youth Hockey Association |
Region 6 |
Somerset Youth Hockey Association |
Region 6 |
Sparta Youth Hockey |
Region 6 |
Viroqua Area Hockey Association |
Region 6 |
West Salem Hockey |
Region 6 |