Southern Aroostook Minor Hockey Association

We hadf asked some parents if a swap of times for Mites and LTS on Monday and Tuesday would cause any issues.  The Board met and resolved the issue WITHOUT making any changes so everything will continue as originally scheduled.

Barry Lorom will be puting a MIddle School team together for the season.  Middle School is for grades 6, 7, 8 and play on Sundays in the Bangor/Orono area and do not generally have practices.  If you are interested, please contact Barry Lorom.  This program is not affiliated with SAMHA.  See tab at left for additional contact info.

All practice schedules are now on the webiste.  Click on Calendar and then look for "show tags" and select all and all levels should appear.

See our School Flyer below for fees and REGISTRATION DATES.  September 20 & 27th from 6-8 at the rink.  FIRST TIME PLAYERS will get 25% OFF the posted fee and SCHOLARSHIPS are available if necessary.

We are very fortunate to be kicking off our season with a visit from Barrett Heisten.  Barrett is from Alaska and played at U Maine before being signed by the NHL's NY Rangers.  Barrett will work with the kids and coaches during their first week back on this ice.  This will excite the kids and coaches will have the opportunity to get some tips as well so they can continue with some of the skill drills and ideas that Barrett;s expeprience bring to our program.

This will be the third time Heisten has visited our organization but this time his clinic is being offered to all participants at no extra cost to our families. 

If you were a coach last year and want to continue this year, please email Kinny Corthell with your intentions.  We will use last years application unless you want to submit a new one.  All new coaches should email an application ASAP.  The BOD may fill some levels Sept 12th.

All levels of coaching clinics will be available in Presque Isle this year.  Mark your calenders now

We are planning to practice October 1st.  Look for details coming home from school or on this site very soon.  We need your child registered and your coaches application so we can launch the 2012-13 season.

COACHES and REFEREEs are needed!!  Please get involved with these kids, no experience necessary.  We need help at all levels, Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Skill Station coaches, team managers, tournament organizers, website technicians, etc.  You have some time, we have the need.

SAMHA’s season generally begins in October.   Regular season play generally begins the last weekend in October or first weekend in November and ends in February/March with end-of-season tournaments. Teams will often participate in a tournament or two at the discretion of the coach and team parents.

Learn-to-Play/Skate Program:   This is SAMHA’s entry-level hockey program for children with little or no prior hockey experience. Learn to Play coaches work with children to develop the basics of hockey skating technique. As the season progresses and skaters become more adept, they are introduced to the basics of puck control, passing, and shooting. During the final few sessions of the season, players will have the opportunity to play non-competitive 3-on-3 cross-ice games against other children of similar size and skill-level. We will also have coaches available to work with those children that need additional skating skills.

Skaters must be registered with USA Hockey and with SAMHA prior to taking the ice.

Mites (8 and under):  The Mite program is for 8 year-olds and under who have developed at least basic skating skills. Mites have roughly a 2:1 ratio of practices/skills clinics to games and play cross-ice games against other Mite teams from Bangor and surrounding areas.

Mighty Mites(Later in the year if there are enough registered players)   The supplemental Mighty Mites program is intended for 7 and 8 year-olds with greater skill and interest who desire to skate at a more competitive level. Players are selected for the team based on skill level, however some preference is given to eight year olds. Mighty Mites play other equivalent teams from around Maine. Some travel is involved. Mighty Mites games are full-ice.

SAMHA offers a Tier IV (house) program for Squirts, Pee Wees and Bantams. The goal of house level hockey is to provide players with an opportunity to develop skills and play games at a recreational level. SAMHA schedules games against other area teams of comparable skill and ability. Most regular season house games are played in Houlton, Orono, Bangor or Brewer. Because House level hockey is intended to be recreational in nature, SAMHA has a "fair" play policy. Players can expect that, with limited exceptions, he/she will play as often as his/her teammates and coaches are not permitted to regularly allow certain players a disproportionate amount of ice time during games. Coaches are given the discretion to make exceptions to the “fair” play policy during the final two minutes of games. Squirt, Pee Wee & Bantam House players are typically exposed to roughly 30-40 practices/skills clinics and 14-16 games, excluding tournament play.  Games are typically on the weekend with practices twice during the week.

Squirts (10 and under; birth year 2002-2003)

Pee Wees (12 and under; birth years 2000 and 2001)

Bantams (age 14 and under; birth years 1998 and 1999) 

Winter Midgets (Birth years 1997 and older and still in high school): SAMHA is trying to offer a Winter Midgets program for those players who have aged out of Bantam hockey and may or may not be on a local high school team. The season will not begin until after November 15th and will go through February.   This program will be dependent upon the number of registered players and the number of teams in the MEAHA Zone.

Girls Program:  SAMHA would like to offers girls the opportunity to play on an all-girls team and compete against other all-girl teams around the state.   SAMHA did not have an all-girls program last year but hopes to rebuild.  Many girls played on both a coed team and the all girls team.  SAMHA would try to field one all girls team at the appropriate age level U12, U14, or U16/18.  In the past it has been difficult to plan and predict the number of players so PLEASE register your child if she is interested in an all-girl team so that proper planning can take place.  With this program you will not be required to pay in advance since the program is in dependent upon how much interest there is.