Eligibility

Player eligibility guidelines

Grade-level requirements

• Varsity Players:
  • Must be enrolled in grades 9–12 for the entire season.
  • Eligible for up to 4 years from the time they enter 9th grade.
• Junior Varsity (JV) Players:
  • Must be enrolled in grades 9–11 for the entire season.
  • Eligible for up to 4 years from the time they enter 9th grade.
• Freshman Players:
  • Must be at least 12 years old to be rostered and eligible to play.
  • If a player turns 12 after the season starts, they become eligible on their 12th birthday.
  • Players cannot turn 16 before or during the USA Hockey season (Sept 1 – Aug 31).

Age restrictions

• Players may not be 19 years old prior to September 1 of the current playing season.

SafeSport requirement: 2026–27

USA Hockey requires players born in 2009 or earlier to complete the applicable SafeSport Core Training or Refresher Course before participation in the 2026–27 season. Current USA Hockey training requirements.

Team placement and participation

• Players must try out for the school they attend, if it has a team.
• Players cannot be rostered on more than one Varsity team during the season.