AAA hockey and off-season hockey can be confusing, and it's not always clear what they mean for youth hockey in the Twin Cities metro. That confusion is understandable—hockey culture can carry a sense of exclusivity and an "insider vs. outsider" mentality. We've put this together to help families navigate the space and make informed decisions about how they register and spend on their player's hockey.
FAQs
What is AAA hockey?
Search the term and you'll find any number of answers. True "AAA hockey" is probably best defined as something close to "the highest, most competitive level of amateur youth hockey in North America." Hockey like that does exist—it groups uniquely gifted players who are positioned to train, develop, and fast-track toward major junior, college, or even professional hockey. But that isn't what most AAA hockey actually is.
At the younger levels especially (mites, squirts, peewees), "AAA" is largely a misnomer. Programs naturally want to be successful and attract the best players, but few pretend they're training 7-year-olds for the NHL. If you assumed that's what every AAA program was doing, you'd be missing the point.
At the youth level, AAA hockey is fundamentally about off-season development. That's it. It doesn't need to be intimidating, and involvement shouldn't inflate anyone's ego. Plain and simple, these are youth sports programs.
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Great Gray Hockey was built to emphasize several aspects of strong hockey development. First and foremost, our approach puts kids at the center of the training. We tailor our program, drills, and game play to the specific age group we're working with. At the lower levels, that means more gamified drills, high repetition with little time standing in line, and corrective coaching that helps kids develop the balance, coordination, and low-load, high-control movements that build body awareness and fluid agility.
People often ask about skills versus systems for younger players. At GGH, we work on both. We recognize the limitations young players have and use targeted drills and practice to refine specific skills. Our "systems" work builds a basic understanding of positioning while encouraging maximum creativity. We want players to become better reactors and thinkers within a game—something we believe is key to becoming a top performer, on and off the ice. Even at the youngest ages, we teach through this lens.
If you’re looking to build individual skills for your hockey player, and to make sure you’re in a program that is going to embed that individual skill development in situational practice, complete with simulated or real opposition and pressure, then we think Great Gray will be an excellent fit.
If Great Gray Hockey is just off-season hockey development, is the training any good?
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Is this just for “elite” hockey players?
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No. Youth hockey players aren't finished products, so we're not in the business of deciding that one player is elite and another isn't. Frankly, for young kids, the whole notion seems foolish.
We do hold competitive tryouts and field teams accordingly. Not everyone who tries out is guaranteed a spot, but we encourage anyone interested to come out. If your kid loves hockey and wants more ice time, they're invited to try out for GGH.
What is the commitment?
The season is split into two halves. During the first half from late March to late May expect 2 practices per week, 8 non-tournament games and 2 tournaments. For the second half from later July to mid/late August, expect 2 practices per week and 1 or 2 tournaments. Out of town tournaments (requiring a hotel stay) can be a great way for kids to bond with their teammates and build a team culture. While such tournaments are not guaranteed, they will be limited to one per team per season and will be within reasonable driving distance (no out of town tournaments requiring flights).
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Can we play other sports?
The season is organized to allow and even encourage young athletes to play other sports, go to cabins, attend camps and just be a kid in summertime. Peer-reviewed academic literature on the subject is crystal clear of the benefits for young athletes to play multiple sports and enjoy a diversity of activities for both optimal physical development but also to avoid “burnout.”