Important Update: Future of 16U Tier II & High School Hockey

We want to share an important update regarding the future of our high school-aged athletes.

After thoughtful evaluation of participation trends, development goals, and long-term sustainability, we have made the decision to transition away from offering a full season 16U Tier II and instead move forward with a strengthened focus on high school hockey programming. We will, however, offer a hybrid 16U Tier II team made of those players in the Gators Hockey Program. This is a move many programs are making across the front range. 

Why this change?

Our goal is to provide the best possible experience for our players, both from a development and community standpoint. We believe that aligning our older age groups with a high school hockey model offers several key benefits:

  • Enhanced player experience through school-based competition and team identity
  • Stronger community connection representing local schools and peers, fostering school pride and identity as players compete alongside classmates, represent their community in front of familiar faces, and build lasting relationships with peers, families, and faculty.
  • Balanced schedules that better support academics, athletics, and other activities
  • Sustainable roster sizes to ensure competitive and consistent team environments
  • Cost Assessments aligned with creating a financially sustainable model that minimizes participant expenses while maximizing value through shared resources, efficient scheduling, and reduced travel demands

What this means moving forward:

  • Players who would traditionally roster on 18U Tier II team would continue to roster on the Gators Varsity 5A hockey team. For the CPHL season they will compete in the CPHL Varsity T1 MacKinnon Division, which is nationally bound.
  • Players who would traditionally roster on a 16U Tier II team will instead participate in high school JV hockey programming and a hybrid 16U Tier II team. For the CPHL season this team will compete in the CPHL Varsity T2 MacKinnon and have additional games against CAHA 16U Tier II registered teams.
    • Players selected for the 16U Tier II team will play under the Jaguar name. The team will have additional travel and association fees associated with participating on the team.
  • Our association will work collaboratively with local high schools within Jefferson County and Adams 12 to ensure a smooth transition and continued development opportunities for our athletes.
  • We will continue to provide guidance and communication around tryouts, timelines, and expectations as more details become available.

Our commitment to you:

We understand that this represents a shift, and with any change comes questions. Our priority is to communicate clearly, support our families through the transition, and ensure every player has a positive and competitive place to play.

We will be sharing additional details in the coming weeks, including informational meetings and FAQs to help guide you through this process.

If you have any immediate questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our program.

Sincerely,

J.R. Mills, HHHA Executive Director

Brian TenEyck, HHHA Hockey Director