BUCKEYE TRAVEL HOCKEY LEAGUE

In the 10U age division, you can still expect to see a variety of skill levels among the children as some have skated for several years, while others are new to the sport. 10U continues to place an emphasis on the basics of skating and hockey, while development exercises and on-ice games become more challenging to reflect the increasing abilities of the youth players, while still emphasizing fun.

In the 12U age division, skill levels between players begin to narrow, but there are players on the ice who are new to the sport. As they mature, an increasing emphasis on athleticism is introduced on the ice, while maintaining a focus on sportsmanship, skill development, and on-ice games. Players begin to develop a more thorough understanding of how to play various positions during games and play with competitive contact.

In the 14U age division, the emphasis is for players to put together their skills and hockey knowldge together on the ice. Players continue to develop the understanding of how to play their positions on the ice, and checking is introduced. Players in this age division who are both 14-years old and 9th graders may have the opportunity to play on the High School team.

Practices and home games are held at Ohio University's Bird Ice Arena in Athens, Ohio. Away games may be at various rinks in Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Cleveland, Charleston (WV), and other venues in Kentucky and/or Indiana.

Travel teams practice twice a week on weeknights. Practices are typically in the early evening with the 10U team usually getting on and off the ice the earliest, and 14U the latest.

During a typical season, teams participating in the BTHL may play between 16 and 20 league games on weekend, plus an end-of-season BTHL tournament. The travel teams also routinely schedule non-league home and away games throughout the season as well as participate in non-league tournaments to increase their competitive level.

All players on each travel team must purchase a home and away jersey through the AYHA, and the AYHA generally takes orders before the beginning of the season. Players may select their own number, as long as no other player within a four-year span of age, older or younger, already has that number. Numbers may be kept by each player from 10U all the way through High School. Order a jersey using the link below.