Note: registering may be easier on a computer. If you're using a phone, you'll find the registration links at the bottom of the page.

10U Squirt hockey is considered a developmental level (as opposed to competitive, like Bantams), focusing heavily on individual skill development while introducing some structured team play. USA Hockey recommends maintaining a practice-heavy environment where players receive frequent repetitions and meaningful instruction before increasing competition. Our program balances skill development with growing teamwork, hockey IQ, and game experience.

Birth Years: 2016 & 2017

Skill Level: inexperienced skaters welcome; 6U Termite, 8U Mite, Jumpstart!, or other introductory experience recommended

Season Fee: $1400; payment plan available; includes 3 tournament registrations

CARDS Camp: optional 3-week tune-up; begins September 8th; $100

Jerseys: all Squirts must purchase new game jerseys (pair), game socks, and a reversible practice jersey this year ($170).

First Official Practices: September 29th

Playing with confidence, making simple hockey decisions, working on skating, resilience, lots of practices, and becoming a great teammate.

The 10U Squirt winter season is $1400 total and includes three tournament fees. MYH offers a payment plan during registration.

CARDS Camp, an optional 3-week tune-up opportunity that practices 3 times per week before the season, is an additional $100 during registration. It can't be prorated for attendance/schedule conflicts.

All Squirts must purchase new game jerseys (pair), game socks, and a reversible practice jersey this year ($170). Please include this from the "Add-Ons" section during registration so our volunteers don't need to chase you down.

Please email gear@middletonyouthhockey.com with any questions.

1) Register your player with USA Hockey. This is required annually.

2) Log in to (or create) your family MYH CrossBar account.

3) Register your player for the season with MYH in CrossBar.

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According to USA Hockey, squirt players should spend significantly more time (3:1) practicing than competing. At 10U, players improve fastest by touching the puck often, making decisions in game-like situations, playing in small-area environments, and building strong skating habits—not by simply playing more games.

The more you know...🌠

Led by USA Hockey's ADM & LTAD, our 10U program emphasizes:

A 3:1 practice-to-game ratio, approximately four on-ice sessions (2-3 practices and 1 game), and two off-ice sessions per week. Practices are prioritized over games when necessary.

100 ice sessions total (practices & games) per 10U season, which means approximately 75-80 quality practices and ~25 games (not including tournaments).

All coaches coaching all kids, so we delay team formation & follow USA Hockey's recommendation for 3-4 teams per practice.

Early in the season, we assess each player as a skater (not as a goaltender). We want to encourage all kids to develop solid foundational skating skills through 10U, before specializing at the goalie position. Each team will be tasked with maintaining a "platoon" of several goalies who share the game load equally.

Squirt goalies develop athletic movement fundamentals, foundational positioning, puck tracking, and save technique while building confidence, competitiveness, and a love for playing the position.

Player development assessments are conducted each season. Our coaches want to understand each player's current abilities to place them on a team at the correct level of challenge (A, B, C, etc) for the season.

Three tournament fees are included in your 10U registration fee. Families are also responsible for any hotel & transportation fees.

At the Squirt level, Middleton Youth Hockey provides girls the choice to play co-ed hockey with MYH or join an official co-op with Verona (as the Mavericks).

For more information, please email our Squirt-level Director at squirts@middletonyouthhockey.com.

Middleton Youth Hockey only functions due to the hard work and energy of our volunteers. Our parents, coaches, managers, board members, and other unpaid volunteers are what keep quality ice hockey happening for Middleton kids.

To keep our club, hockey games, and teams functioning and our fees to play hockey as low as we can, each family (at the 8U level and above) is required to volunteer 7 hours for a single-skater family or 12 hours for a multi-skater family. The volunteer deposit is $200 for one skater and $400 total for two or more skaters. If you meet the required hours, your deposit is fully returned at the end of the season. If you DO NOT meet the volunteering requirements for the season, the club will keep your volunteering buyout money to improve the club, pay for ice time, replace rental gear, etc.

1. Praise effort, attitude, and improvement.
2. Encourage independence and responsibility.
3. Trust the coaches and the development plan.
4. Support every player and every teammate.
5. Help your child embrace challenges and mistakes.
6. Keep hockey fun and in perspective.
7. Coach or volunteer!

Each of our hockey age levels has a volunteer director. To contact the Squirts Age Level Director (ALD), please email: squirts@middletonyouthhockey.com

For rental equipment or jersey questions, please email: gear@middletonyouthhockey.com

For any other assistance, please email: info@middletonyouthhockey.com

Do new 10U players need to know how to skate already?

By this age, they probably need to have some hockey experience. If your 9- or 10-year-old is new to hockey, please check out our Jumpstart! program for novice 7-12-year-old skaters.

Can my 10U player specialize in goaltending?

At the 10U level, we prioritize developing well-rounded hockey players over early position specialization. All players interested in playing goalie are assessed as skaters at the start of the season, with each team carrying a small group of goalies who share time in net. This approach helps players build strong skating, puck-handling, and hockey IQ while giving them opportunities to explore the goalie position without committing to it too early. This prevents narrowing the MYH goalie development pipeline unnecessarily early and prevents a shortage of goalies.

My 10U player is really good. Can she/he bump up to 12U Peewees?

Generally, we do not bump players up. We want kids to build confidence - not raise the bar as soon as they're getting somewhere. Skaters must register for their designated age level. In limited, exceptional circumstances, families may request that a skater be considered for placement in a higher age level. Please see the MYH application for details.

Why do players practice so much in 10U?

Research consistently shows that players develop faster through quality practice than by simply playing more games. Practices provide hundreds of puck touches, skating repetitions, and decision-making opportunities that aren't possible during games alone. The stronger a player's fundamentals become now, the more successful they'll be in future seasons.

How are teams formed?

Teams are created through a player development process designed to place players in an environment where they can develop, contribute, and enjoy the game. We strive to create competitive teams while ensuring every player has opportunities to grow and be challenged throughout the season.

Our assessment sessions help coaches understand where each player is right now so we can place them in an environment where they'll be challenged, develop confidence & skill, and continue improving.

Will every player receive equal playing time?

At the 10U level, player development remains our highest priority. Coaches work to provide meaningful playing opportunities for every player while teaching teamwork, sportsmanship, and game awareness. As players progress to Peewees and Bantams, competitive situations naturally become a larger part of the experience.

Is winning a focus at 10U?

It shouldn't be. While players naturally enjoy competing, our primary focus is long-term development. We emphasize skill development, effort, teamwork, sportsmanship, and helping every player gain confidence and enjoy the game. We want our teams to be competitive, but we'll take long-term gains over short-term wins.

How can families best support their player?

The most important things families can do are encourage effort, celebrate improvement, and help make hockey fun. Focus conversations on what your player learned, how hard they worked, and what they enjoyed—not just the final score. Positive support from home helps players build confidence and develop a lifelong love of the game.

How can I help make 10U hockey awesome?

MYH is entirely volunteer-run. Every coach, every administrator, everything. We need lots of help every year to make this work and keep our registration prices as low as possible. Learn about volunteering!