Princeton Youth Hockey Association believes that our youngest players are best served by developing their skills from learn to skate to ultimately participating in cross ice games.  Based on this philosophy, PYHA proudly offers our Tiger Cub program to enable each young player to reach their highest potential in a fun and high energy environment. This program is open to players born between the years 2010 and 2017 that have at least minimal skating skills.

Our Tiger Cubs typically skate on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons at Baker Rink starting after the NJ Devils Learn to Play Program, or mid-November with  holiday weekends  and Christmas break off, and the season ending the first weekend in March. This year, however, is a little different due to rink restrictions due to COVID-19. Sessions will meet at IceLand Rink in Hamilton on Saturday mornings. All players will receive skating instruction with our power skating coach, and will learn stick work and positional play with our volunteer coaches.   The schedule for Tiger Cub is posted on our website under team schedules.  

Smaller teams and more practice sessions allow players more time with the puck alongside skaters of a similar caliber.   The USA Hockey American Development Model (ADM) mandates that all players under the age of 8 years old only play on smaller game surfaces, either half ice or cross ice so that they can develop better decision making skills with the puck. This approach is meant to foster better skills and more fun for the player and less burnout for the player and their family. To find out more about USA Hockey and the ADM, please go to www.admkids.com.

Exclusive to our Tiger Cubs is the power skating instruction included at each practice session.   This skating instruction will enable all those to work on their skating skills to they develop to their highest potential.

The fee for Tiger Cubs is $450 this season. 

Please click the REGISTER ONLINE button which can be found on the right side menu of our website homepage and follow the prompts. We hope you will join us for some fun hockey this season!


REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:
All players need to be in full hockey equipment.  We have arranged for special package pricing at Pro Shop in the rink at ProSkate in Monmouth Junction.

Helmet & full-face shield - The helmet must be approved by the Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC) and must be accompanied by a full-face shield that provides full facial protection, and any chin protection that accompanies the full-face shield.

Internal mouthpiece (optional, but highly recommend) - A colored (non-clear) internal mouthpiece must cover all teeth of one jaw, customarily the upper.

Shoulder pads - The cap of the shoulder pad should cover the shoulder. Straps under the arms should attach securely. The front flap should come down far enough to cover the collarbone.

Elbow pads - Straps should remain tight, providing a snug fit over the elbow. Elbow pads should extend down the forearm to the top of the glove.

Shin pads - Shin pads should cover the leg from the top of the skates to above the knees, overlapping a few inches above the bottom of the hip pads or hockey pants. The knee is a primary area of concern for protection. The pad should cover the knee when the leg is straight and when it is bent at the knee. Pads should bend just below the knee in order to conform to the bent leg.

Supporter and cup - This is essential protective equipment for boys and girls; check for proper fit.

Gloves - Gloves should have ample room for the fingers and thumb and must not be too snug in the wrist area. The cuff of the glove should come up far enough to adequately cover the wrist area, extending up to the bottom of the elbow pads.

Hockey Pants - Pants sizes are usually six sizes larger than the normal waist size. Hockey suspenders are recommended to keep the pants in place. The top padded portion of the pants should cover the hips, lower ribs and kidneys. The bottom of the pants legs should be an inch or two above the knees, overlapping with the top of the shin pads. The area above the knee is often hit by the puck, so make sure there is no gap between the pants and the knee pad. Pants must be held up by suspenders which can be purchased at sporting goods stores.

Jersey and socks - Jerseys should be large enough so that movement is not restricted. Socks should be held up by a garter belt which can be purchased at the pro shop or sporting goods stores.

NOTE: All Tiger Cubs players will receive a Princeton Tigers jersey.