Spring Development Program

AYHL is proud to announce its 4th Annual Spring Development Program! We believe spring hockey season is an opportunity for players to continue their development while being able to participate in other activities outside of hockey, so our spring program offers several different divisions and levels of commitment. The development program will focus on maintaining and building competitive players’ individual skill sets including skating, puck handling, conditioning, and overall team and individual hockey IQ.

Teams will be led by top-level coaches from within and outside of the Arapahoe Travel Hockey coaching staff who bring their passion for the game to the ice and will demand the best out of your player at each session.

The Arapahoe Warriors implemented a mandatory neck guard policy starting on April 1, 2024. This policy applies to all players participating in the Arapahoe Warrior Travel, Rec and 8U programs and states that all players are required to wear a cut-resistant neck guard or shirt with built-in cut-resistant neck guard while on the ice during practices, games and all on ice training sessions.

The safety and well-being of our athletes have always been paramount, and this measure is crucial in mitigating the risk of neck and throat injuries on the ice.

2 Coed Teams Per Age Group Including:

• 10U Navy Elite & 10U Select
• Each travel team will consist of up to 16 travel skaters and 2 goalies.
• Each travel team will have up to 15 additional practice players and 2 goalies.
• 12U Navy Elite & 12U Select
• Each travel team will consist of up to 16 travel skaters and 2 goalies.
• Each travel team will have up to 15 additional practice players and 2 goalies.
• 14U Navy Elite & 14U Select
• Each travel team will consist of up to 18 travel skaters and 2 goalies.
• Each travel team will have up to 12 additional practice players and 2 goalies.

• Coed Training Sessions will be held 3 times per week for the six-week program.

1 Teams Per Age Group at the following Age Level:

• 16U Navy Elite
• Travel team will consist of up to 18 travel skaters and 2 goalies.
• Spring Development Age Group may have up to 30 skaters and 4 goalies.
• 16U Training Sessions will be held 2 times per week for the six-week program.

1 Teams Per Age Group at the following Age Levels:

• 13U Lady Warriors
• The 13U Travel team will consist of up to 16 travel skaters and 2 goalies.
• Spring Development Age Group may have up to 20 skaters and 3 goalies.
• 13U Lady Warriors Travel Team will participate in the Stars and Stripes Hockey Tournament on May 2-5 in Minnesota.
• 19U Lady Warriors
• The 19U Travel team is dependent on registration interest and if formed will consist of up to 16 travel skaters and 2 goalies.
• Spring Development Age Group may have up to 20 skaters and 3 goalies.
• Potential 19U Lady Warriors Travel Tournament is TBD pending interest.

• Training sessions will be combined with the 13U and 19U Age Groups.
• Training sessions will be held 2 times per week for the six-week program.

11U Lady Warriors

• The 11U Lady Warriors Spring Development Group will consist of on ice training to help grow the fundamental foundation for all players.
• Training sessions will be held 1 time per week for the six-week program.
• Skating and stick handling will be emphasized as well as many team concepts being introduced.
• All players will have the option during registration to select travel player. Pending registration interest, a team may be formed to participate in scrimmages and (or) a travel tournament.
• Travel team (if formed) will consist of up to 16 travel skaters and 2 goalies.
• Spring Development Age Group may have up to 30 skaters and 4 goalies.

The Warrior Spring Development Program is a 6-week program running from April 8 to May 16, 2024. We understand the importance of players being able to play other sports and have done our best to schedule ice sessions on Monday through Friday. However, due to tournaments and internal rink programming the schedule does have some weekend training sessions.

Travel tournament fees are not included in the spring registration fee. An additional fee of $275.00 will be assessed which includes tournament fees and coaches travel expenses. Price also includes travel game jersey and socks.

During registration, players will be asked to select Travel or Practice Player.

By selecting "Travel Player", you are committed to accepting your travel player offer regardless of if your player makes the Elite or Select Team. Players who select Travel Player during registration and do not accept offer will be charged $150 for canceling along with the standard program fees.

If you select Travel Player, one of the following three determinations will be made during tryouts by the evaluators.

• Player will be selected to participate as a Travel Player in exhibition games and spring tournament.
• Player will be selected to participate as a Practice Player
• Player will be released from the Spring Program, however, they will have the opportunity to participate in the Weekend Skills Programs.

If you select Practice Player, one of the following two determinations will be made during tryouts by the evaluators.

• Player will be selected to participate as a Practice Player
• Player will be released from the Spring Program, however, they will have the opportunity to participate in the Weekend Skills Programs.

Not all players will make a Spring Development Travel Hockey Group as a Travel or Practice Player. Players who are released following tryouts will have the opportunity to participate in the Warriors Weekend Skills Program at a discounted fee or full refunds (minus tryouts fees) will be processed. Further details about the program will be provided to those players following tryouts.

Coed Travel Tournament:

Warrior Elite & Select (10U-16U) Coed travel teams will play in the "Windy City Spring Classic" tournament in Chicago (May 17-19) and potentially one in state tournament (TBD).

Lady Warriors Tournaments:

• 11U Lady Warriors Spring Development Team will be formed pending interest during registration. Tournament has not been selected at this time.
• 13U Lady Warriors Spring Development Team will be attending the Stars and Stripes Tournament on May 2-5 in Minnesota.
• 19U Lady Warriors Spring Development Team will be formed pending interest during registration. Tournament has not been selected at this time.

Additional local scrimmages and games may be scheduled as ice becomes available. An additional cost for ice time and referee fees may be incurred. Only Travel Players will play in scrimmages.

Only players who select “Travel Player” at time of registration will be evaluated for the Elite or Select travel teams. This does not guarantee your player a spot on the travel team. Players who select Travel Player during registration and do not accept offer will be charged $150 for canceling.

Travel tournament fees are not included in the spring registration fee. An additional fee of $275.00 will be charged upon rostering which includes tournament fees and coaches travel expenses. Price also includes travel game jersey and socks.

Arapahoe Travel pant shells are not included in the Travel Tournament fee but are required for all Elite and Select Travel Players. Pant shells will be the same shells that were worn in the 2023-2024 travel season or can be purchased for $50 after tryouts.

• Kelly Hollingshead (Current Arapahoe Travel Hockey Program Director / Current Arapahoe 12U AA Head Coach / Former 18U Colorado Thunderbirds Head Coach / Team Captain University of Denver Pioneers / Professional Player)
• Matt Anthone (Current Arapahoe 14U AA Head Coach / Current Arapahoe 14U Director / Former 18U Colorado Thunderbirds Assistant Coach / AAA Player)
• Alex Netreba (Current Arapahoe 10U AA Head Coach / Current Arapahoe 10U Director / Arapahoe Director of Player Development / Former Thunderbirds Player)
• Ivan Benevelsky (Current Arapahoe 12U Head Coach / Current Arapahoe 12U Director / Former European Professional Coach / Ukraine National Team Player / Professional Player)
• Grant Gallo (Current Arapahoe 16U AA Head Coach / Current Arapahoe 16U Director / Nazareth College Player / USPHL)
• Jenna Abeyta (Current Arapahoe 12U Lady Warriors Head Coach / Former Post University Division 1 Player / Former 19UAAA Player / USA Hockey National Camp Attendee / Former Team Colorado Player)
• Julia Tylke (Current Movement Coach with Perfect Skating / Former Professional Player Swedish SDHL / Former St. Cloud University Player / Former Chicago Young Americans Player / Former Team Illinois Player)
• Terry Bevan (Current 12UA Head Coach / Former Shattuck St. Mary's Prep Team Player / Former Hamilton College Div III Player)
• Doug Condon (Current Arapahoe 19U Lady Warriors Head Coach)
• Brett Hollingshead (Current Arapahoe 12U Coach / Former Colorado Thunderbird)

Other Arapahoe Travel and guest coaches.

AYHL is proud to announce Goaltending Coach Matt Zaba and staff will be leading separate weekly sessions for all our Spring Program Goalies. Matt Zaba is currently the goalie coach for Arapahoe “Goal Guardians” and the Founder and Director of Goaltending for Mountain High Hockey. After an 8-year professional career, including stops in the NHL, AHL, ECHL and Europe, Matt began his coaching career with his alma mater, Colorado College Tigers. Coach Zaba has worked directly under the guidance of New York Rangers Goalie Coach, Benoit Allaire, Los Angeles Kings Goalie Coach, Bill Ranford and Swedish National Team Goalie Coach, Stefan Ladhe. We believe this is an excellent training opportunity for all Spring goalies to improve the fundamentals of their game. The focus will be on all aspects of the position including save selection, positioning, and mental preparedness.

Goalie sessions will be on separate days from regular scheduled practices and will take place weekly 8:30-9:30am at South Suburban Sports Complex (subject to change).

Goalie sessions are included for all goalies and are included in the Spring Program’s Registration Fees.