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Peewee.
Where travel begins.

Peewee is the first travel division at LYHA. Real games against other clubs, an away schedule, and a season that tests what your child has built. This is the step up from house hockey.

Ages
11 to 12 years
Season
September to March
Practices
2 per week
Games
Set each season
Travel
Regional, overnight possible

Is this right for my child?

Three things to think through before reaching out about Peewee.

Age

11 to 12 years old

Peewee covers ages eleven and twelve at the start of the season. Age eligibility follows USA Hockey birth-year classifications. If you're unsure whether your child qualifies for this season, ask us and we'll confirm.

Ages 9 to 10 belong in Squirts. Ages 13 to 14 belong in Bantams.

Tryouts

There is a tryout

Peewee is not open enrollment. There is a tryout process before the season starts. We hold tryouts in mid-late April. Contact us in the spring and we'll put you on the list for dates and details.

Your child does not need to have played Squirts at LYHA to try out. Kids coming from other clubs or house programs are welcome.

Commitment

Travel games, tournaments, and away weekends

Peewee plays a full schedule of games each season, including tournament weekends, against clubs in the PVAHA region, across Virginia and into neighboring states. Most games are day trips. Some weekends require an overnight stay.

Two practices a week at LaHaye, plus away game weekends. Plan for about six months of scheduling from September through March.

What's the commitment?

Travel hockey is a bigger ask than house hockey. Here are the numbers so you can plan around them.

Season
September through March
Practices
2 per week at LaHaye
Games
Set each season
Travel
Regional, day trips + overnight
Tryouts
Mid-late April

Most away games are Saturday or Sunday and come back the same day. A handful each season involve an overnight at a hotel. We publish the full schedule before the season begins so families can plan. Tournament weekends, if the team qualifies, can mean two nights away. None of this is guaranteed every season. The game schedule firms up in late summer.

Where to get gear.

Gear is the biggest first-time cost in hockey. Here's how most LYHA families handle it.

First Choice

LYHA loaner gear

We have used equipment available to borrow for new players. Ask when you reach out about tryouts. Availability is limited, so it helps to ask early.

Free · First come, first served
Used Gear

Play It Again Sports

The Roanoke store carries used youth hockey gear including skates, pads, and sticks. By Peewee, most kids have outgrown hand-me-down equipment and need gear that fits.

playitagainsports.com

~ 1 hour from Lynchburg
New Gear

Pure Hockey

The closest store for brand-new hockey equipment. Staff there know youth sizing well. Worth the drive if your child needs properly fitted gear for the long run.

purehockey.com

~ 3 hours from Lynchburg

What it costs.

Cost should not be the reason a Lynchburg kid can't play.

Peewee tuition covers ice time, coaching, and USA Hockey and PVAHA registration. Travel game costs, including transportation and hotel for overnight trips, are handled separately by families. Current season pricing is included in the registration link we send you after tryouts. We offer financial aid. Ask any board member.

Who's coaching.

Meet the 2026-27 Peewee coaching staff.

Jason Todd
Scott Bloomfield
Tim Jackman

How to get started.

Peewee has tryouts. The process is straightforward. Here's how it works.

01

Contact us

Email us early in the year. Tell us your child's age and experience. We'll add you to the tryout list and send dates when they're confirmed.

Spring
02

Tryout

Held at LaHaye Ice Center in mid-late April. Coaches evaluate skating, puck handling, and hockey sense. We let families know placement decisions quickly.

Mid-late April
03

Complete registration

Once placed on the team, we send you the SportsEngine link for this season. Fill out the player form and you're in. First practice is September at LaHaye.

August / September

Peewee questions.

Specific to this division. The general FAQ covers broader hockey questions.

How do tryouts work?

Tryouts are held at LaHaye Ice Center in mid-late April, typically over one or two sessions. Coaches look at skating skill, puck control, hockey awareness, and attitude. We try to keep it low-pressure. Kids wear a number and skate through drills. No parents on the ice. We send placement decisions within a few days.

What if my child doesn't make the team?

We'll tell you honestly and point you toward the right next step. If your child is close but needs more time at a development level, Squirts is a good fit. If it's a skill gap we can name, we'll tell you what to work on before the next season. We don't leave families without a path.

My child never played at LYHA before. Can they try out?

Yes. We don't require Squirts history at LYHA. Kids coming from other programs, rec leagues, or house teams in other cities are welcome to try out. Bring their USA Hockey registration number if they have one.

How many overnight trips are there?

It varies by season. A typical Peewee season has one to three overnight trips, depending on the schedule and whether the team qualifies for tournaments. We publish the schedule before the season starts so you know what you're signing up for.

Are games on weekends or weeknights?

Away games are almost always on weekends. Practices are weeknight evenings at LaHaye. The exact schedule is set each season, but the pattern holds year to year.

The Path Forward

After Peewee comes Bantams.

Bantams is more travel, more games, and a longer season. See what that commitment looks like for ages 13 and 14.

See the Bantams Program

The fastest way to get an answer is to ask.

If you're thinking about Peewee for your child, reach out. We'll tell you what to expect and whether the timing is right.