The youngest division at LYHA. Children learn the game, learn to wear the jersey, and learn to play for the kid next to them.
Locker rooms, huddles, and a lot of smiling through face cages. These are real photos from a real Mites season. Click any photo to see it up close.
Three quick checks. If you can answer yes to all three, Mites is the right starting line.
Mites covers ages six through eight at the start of the season. If your child is older, look at Squirts.
Your child needs to be able to move on the ice without holding the wall. They don't need to be polished. They need to be on their feet.
If they're brand new to skating, we recommend Learn to Play first. It teaches the fundamentals before Mites picks up the puck.
A few children come in with rec skating experience. The rest start with Learn to Play and graduate into Mites the following season.
Mites is a development division. No regular game schedule. A short jamboree calendar. Practice-heavy by design.
A jamboree is a half-day of hockey games at another rink. Typically 9 AM to 1 PM, at rinks one to three hours from Lynchburg. Mites do about three of these a season. They're the closest thing to "games" in this division, and they're the most travel a Mites family is asked to take on.
Gear is the biggest first-time cost in hockey. Here's how most LYHA families handle it.
We have used equipment available to borrow. Skates, helmets, pads. Enough to get a child through a first season without buying anything. Ask at registration.
The Roanoke store often has good prices on used youth hockey gear, including skates and pads.
The closest brand-new hockey store. Located in Morrisville, just outside Raleigh. Worth the drive when your child has aged into proper-fitting gear.
Current Mites season pricing is published with the registration link below. Tuition covers ice time, coaching, and USA Hockey and PVAHA registration. Jamboree fees are paid by families as the schedule firms up. We offer financial aid for families who need it. Ask any board member.
Mites are coached by experienced LYHA staff and Liberty University players who volunteer their time. For 2026-27, the 8U Mites team is led by Head Coach John Anderson, with assistant coaches Kyle Unruh, Kyle Lessard, Ryan Stephens, and David Semenyna.
Coach Anderson put together a season info sheet covering team philosophy, cost, practice schedule, jamborees, jerseys, and more. Read it below, or open it in a new tab.
Mites is open enrollment. No tryouts. We send the registration link directly. Here's how it works.
Email us or use the contact form. Tell us your child's age. We'll confirm Mites is the right fit.
We'll send you the current SportsEngine link for this season. Create a family account and fill out the player form. Questions? Reply to our email.
September at LaHaye. We'll send a welcome note with the schedule, gear list, and loaner pickup details.
Specific to this division. The general FAQ covers broader hockey questions.
Start with Learn to Play. Mites assumes children can already skate unassisted. Learn to Play is one season focused on building those fundamentals. Most LYHA players take that path before joining Mites.
Not for a first season. We have loaner gear available to borrow. When your child is ready for their own, Play It Again Sports in Roanoke is good for used gear and Pure Hockey in Morrisville (just outside Raleigh) is the closest place for brand-new equipment.
A half-day of hockey games hosted at another rink. Typically 9 AM to 1 PM. Mites travel to rinks one to three hours from Lynchburg, about three times per season. They're the closest thing to a "game day" in this division.
No. Mites is open enrollment with a development focus. Every child who registers gets a spot.
Not regular ones. Mites focuses on practice and skill development. Jamborees are the only competitive play, and the format is friendly. The goal is learning, not winning.
If you're on the fence about whether Mites is the right starting point for your child, send a note. We'll talk it through.