Registration for the 2023-2024 season will open in August!

8U pre-season clinics will likely begin in late September and are typically held on both Saturdays and Sundays. Sessions will be run by Storm coaches and include a mix of drills and scrimmage time to help players get their hockey legs back after the off-season. 

Teams will be formed at the end of the October and the regular season begins in early November.

We will update this page with the pre-season schedule once it's finalized.

If you're new to hockey, we're glad to have you considering joining us! Please contact our Girls Coordinator Anne Beschnett with questions!

As you prepare to register for the season, you may be deciding between the 6U/Mighty Mite and 8U programs. Please see the following to help inform your decision. 

The Minneapolis Storm Association follows the USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey age-level guidelines: 

8U: 6/1/14 - 5/31/16
6U (6U girls/Mighty Mites): Born on or after 06/01/2016**

8U Girls Program Format: 

• Weekend practices, Saturday & Sunday
• Mid-week skating/training opportunities (typically bi-weekly)
• Cross-ice play, practices are largely on the large rinks
• Scrimmage/tournament opportunities
• Goalie rotation
• Evaluation process for team placement to best balance teams for development and to account for the broad level of age and experience
• Registration fee increase
• Volunteer requirement 

**Depending on your child's experience, personality, etc., there is some flexibility between the 8U/6U levels, and recommendations are as follows: 

3rd grader: Register for 8U

2nd grader: Register for 8U

1st grader: Choose either 6U/Mighty Mite or 8U 

Note: If your child plays 8U as a first grader, she may skate for three 8U seasons as the age level guidelines for the transition to 10U is not flexible)

Kindergartner: Register for 6U/Mighty Mites

Pre-school: Register for 6U/Mighty Mites

To promote the best environment for skill development and fun for a wide variety of ability levels and abilities, 8U players are grouped on teams by ability.

Grouping players with other players of similar ability ensures that all skaters will get to touch the puck, shoot, and score, rather than having a few of the strongest players dominate puck possession. It also equips the coaches to better tailor instruction to each child's individual development needs. Those players who are in their first or second year of hockey and need more training on the fundamentals will have that opportunity, and the players in their fourth or fifth year of hockey and are ready for more advanced skills will get that too. This approach is supported by the Minneapolis Hockey Board and Hockey Committee and is endorsed by both Minnesota Hockey and USA Hockey. 

Players will be assessed by our great group of coaches, through both observation and objective skill measurements in forward skating, backward skating, crossovers, stopping, stick-handling and scrimmaging. The sessions are meant to be low-pressure and encouraging, and the goal is to place skaters in the best place to grow their skill and love of the game.

Preseason clinics are open to skaters registered for the 2023-24season. The sessions are optional and structured,  run by Storm coaches. The schedule will be announced in September.

We encourage participation in these sessions, as they're a great opportunity to warm up for the season and make sure gear fits.