Player Progression

A perfect introduction to the sport of ice hockey, THFF is a 1-day event welcoming all boys and girls ages 4-11 years old.  NO prior hockey experience or equipment needed!!  We will provide ALL hockey equipment and on-ice guidance/instruction for a fun day on the ice!

Our L2P program is a natural progression from both THFF and Lil’ Preds introductory programs. L2P is geared towards developing excited young players who want to continue their hockey experience by concentrating on fundamentals such as skating skills, stick handling, moving the puck, and game awareness. On-ice instruction is led by USA Hockey certified coaches. Session dates and durations vary throughout the year.

The 8U Mites Program is the next step after completion of Learn-to-Play sessions and discussion with your player's coach. A player needs to have their own equipment. It is targeted at further developing the skills of the beginner to the intermediate player to both enjoy the game and eventually progress to the more competitive levels. Practices consist of hockey drills interspersed with fun games utilizing the skills they are taught in accordance with the USA Hockey ADM (American Development Model). Some intrasquad games are organized by the coaching staff during the season to introduce players to the cross-ice play that is recommended for this age group. More advanced players will have the opportunity to form travel teams to compete at tournaments and jamborees.

Intermediate to advanced players can try out for Louisville Ice Cardinals travel teams within each age group. Travel teams typically play in the Buckeye Travel Hockey League (BTHL) and play competitive league and non-league games and tournaments throughout the mid-west and southern regions. Practices are typically twice per week for 1.5 hours and seasons run from mid-August through mid-March.

Near the conclusion of each regular hockey season, each age group will hold open tryouts for the next upcoming hockey season. The tryouts are generally scheduled in late April to mid-May. The tryouts are generally held over 2 dates. Please check back on the home page of this website for more information on travel team tryouts. 

Coaching staff for each age group are certified by USA Hockey and have passed a background check. Coaches typically advance from one age group classification to the next as the players advance every two years. The head coach's contact information for the upcoming hockey season is located on the team's page. 

The team will play in the Kentucky High School Hockey League (KHSHL) and is for 9th-12th graders located in the Louisville Metro area who do not attend St. X and Trinity High Schools. The league holds an end-of-season tournament and the champion has the opportunity to compete in the USA Hockey Youth National High School Division II tournament.