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Contrary to popular belief we actually
have a good concentration of ice rink facilities in the
area.
Most people living in Northern Virginia
would be able to find an ice rink within a 30 minute drive. Now
thats great!
The Raiders play out of Skatequest Ice Rink in Reston. This is a
wonderful facility with two fantastic rinks and comfortable
facilities.
The Raiders offer something for every level of youth hockey.
House teams and inititiation programs are organized "in house" so
participants do not have to travel beyond their local rink. Travel
teams are fielded at the AA, A or B level depending on the
judgement of the quality of players at try-outs and pre-season play
and play at the Tier 2 level in the CBHL.
The Raiders have a successful House Mite program that plays in
the highly recommended cross-ice format but they also field a Mite
travel team to suit the more competitive Mite age player.
All House teams particpants may try out for the "Select" program
which gives more competitive participants the chance to play other
clubs and participate in tournaments.
 
The Ice Dogs play predominantly out of Mount Vernon Rec Center
(a Fairfax County Facility). They also use Fort Dupont Ice Arena in
DC and Tucker Road in Ft Washington MD..
The Ice Dogs field AA, A and B travel teams (depending on the
talent and number of players at tryouts) and have house
programs.The travel teams play in the Capital
Beltway Hockey League.
House teams participate in the Capital Area
Recreation League and therefore regularly play other
house teams from other clubs and get to travel to other area rinks.
In essence House players get a similar experience to "travel"
players but the approach is all inclusive - no try
outs!.
The Ice Dogs do not field travel teams for Mites. Mites play in
the highly recommended cross-ice format and in recent years Coach's
have created "Squirt Developemnt" teams which have given the older
and more competitive Mites opportunities for full ice contests and
some tournament play. No "select teams are fielded in other House
age divisions. This is perhaps not felt necessary given the Club's
participation in CARL.
Ice Dogs run accessible low cost initiation programs that have
sessions starting at various points throughout the year.
Club fees are amongst the most reasonable in the area.
Ashburn Ice House runs an excellent in house program for kids
who want to experience hockey without the travel, for recreation
and to have fun. All House team participants may try out for the
"Select" program which gives more competitive participants the
chance to play other clubs and participate in tournaments.
The Ashburn Xtreme Hockey Club which plays
out of Ashburn Ice House is a travel-only program focused on skill
development and high-level competition. The Xtreme have become,
with out debate, the most successful Tier 2 Club in the CBHL as
evidenced by the number of CBHL Championship banners they have been
able to hang in their 5 years of existence. Their approach is
unique in the CBHL area. Their teams practice 3 times per week, two
team practices and one skills sessions. Teams are exclusively
"birth year" teams with the "Minor" age classification playing at
the A level and the Major age classification playing at the
"National Bound" AA level.
Prince WilliamHockey
Club ( The Panthers)
Prince William Panthers skate out of Prince William Skatequest located in Dale City VA.
Also a great modern facility with two rinks and a pro shop.They
have a house program and a travel program!
All House teams particpants may try out for the "Select" program
which gives more competitive participants the chance to play other
clubs and participate in tournaments.
Whilst the club periodically fields Mite travel teams when they
have the interest, they too have embraced the highly recomended
cross-ice format for Mites.
Their mission is to develop and grow youth ice and in-line
hockey programs at all age levels.
The travel teams compete in the Capital Beltway Hockey League
and they too have produced succesful CBHL results in recent
years.
The Panthers pride themselves on their committed coaching group
a their focus on player skill development.
The Virginia Express ( formerly
Fredericksburg Falcons) enter travel hockey teams in the Capital
Beltway Hockey League. The number of teams they enter and the
various level will depend on the itnerest and skill level presented
at annual tryouts.
Their mission is to promote particpation in
youth hockey by qualified players.
The Express skate out of the Fredericksburg
Ice Park. The rink also offers various learn to play hockey and
powerskating classes. The rink is a modern facility, with a cafe
and a full service pro-shop.
The RICHMOND ROYALS (formerly the
Greater Richmond Youth Hockey Association) was formed to provide an
amateur travel ice hockey program in the greater Richmond area.
They field their teams in the Capital Beltway Hockey League (CBHL).
RHI sponsors teams from mites (8 and under) to midgets (18 and
under).
Our objective is to provide a fun, safe and competitive travel ice
hockey program for young men and women who seek a more competitive
level of play than in-house leagues provide.
The Richmond Royals skate out of the Richmond Ice Zone and Richmond SkateNation Plus. Those rinks provide learn to
skate and beginner hockey / house programs. Those rinks field house
teams in the Metro Youth Hockey League.
The Virginia Wild skate out of the Ashburn Ice House and were
formed to fufill a void that existed at that rink. The Ashburn
Xtreme model of birth year teams was working well for the Xtreme
but ironically it could lead to some very good players being denied
the opportunity for the travel hockey experience without moving to
another rink. The "birth year " model could lead to the unusual
situation where a really good "major" year player is not quite good
enough to make the Xtreme AA team or cannot crack the roster, yet
at any other club he could play A class hockey, but he is excluded
from "A" hockey for the Xtreme becuase he is a major age player not
a minor. So in comes the Wild, it gives a home to those players and
others in that area who want to play travel hockey. In its first
year of existance every team was declared at the "B" Level, but
there is no reason why the Wild may not choose A designations for
its teams in the future. Wild players also particpate in the
Ashburn Ice House "in house" program as part of their practice
schedule. Its an unsual model but it seemed to work and the Wild
did very well in its first season in 2005-06.
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