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Aspen Leafs Programming

ASPEN LEAFS HOCKEY: LEADERS IN PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." -john wooden

Founded by John McBride in 1972, Aspen Junior Hockey (AJH) is an affiliate member of the Colorado Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) and USA Hockey.  Known as the Aspen Leafs, AJH is a highly structured 501 (c) non-profit organization that serves close to 300 youth hockey players in the Roaring Fork Valley. AJH provides developmental competitive and recreational opportunities for girls and boys starting at age 4 and continuing through the ages of 19 (girls) and 18 (boys). The Aspen Leafs compete in the Western Colorado Hockey League (WCHL), and Colorado Girls Hockey League (CGHL). Leafs athletes have the opportunity to try out for  Mountain Select Tier ll Hockey which offers both Boys and Girls Tier-2 Hockey.

2023-24 AJH SEASON INFO

ASPEN LEAFS 6U MITES 

AJH offers a comprehensive 6U Mites (2017 & younger) program from October through the end of February. Practices are weekly, led by AJH Executive Director Harlan Pratt (and other qualified coaches). The 6U Mite program provides boys' and girls' age-appropriate training, emphasizing physical literacy. The program aims to successfully teach on-ice balance, coordination, and the development of a passion for hockey in all children. 6U Mites practice twice per week with no formal competition. Activity games and small area games are incorporated into every session.  

ASPEN LEAFS 8U MITES

For seven and eight-year-old players (2015-2016), AJH offers a comprehensive 8U Mites program running unofficially from Mid-September, and officially from October through the end of February. Practices are twice per week, led by AJH Executive Director Harlan Pratt (and other qualified coaches). The objective of the 8U Mite program is to develop on-ice balance, coordination, agility, and speed. Lessons are varied and exciting; the overriding goal is that all participants leave the ice with a smile, emphasizing the foundation of skating, speed, power, and endurance. AJH plans to use activity-based, small-area, and cross-ice games. Introducing players to controlled competition during several Jamboree style games runs throughout the season (minimal travel for these events). During Jamborees, Aspen 8U players (8U Mites and 8U Girls)  compete against other mountain programs in cross-ice games.  

ASPEN LEAFS COMPETITIVE HOCKEY

Available for boys and girls ages 9 - 19, Aspen Leafs competitive teams play games in the Western Colorado Hockey League (WCHL) and Colorado Girls Hockey League (CGHL). Both leagues are structured and organized in a responsible geographic footprint west of the Continental Divide. Teams typically compete against other CAHA  programs east of the Continental Divide (and out-of-state teams) during in-state tournaments and the CAHA state playoffs. 

AJH is committed to maintaining and promoting a structured long-term athletic development model. Age-appropriate training and competition are the foundation of AJH programming, and all teams are organized based on the age divisions established by USA Hockey. When there are multiple teams in their age divisions, players will be placed at the most appropriate competitive level to maximize their development (both physical and emotional). The Executive Director is responsible for all final team placements.  

To ensure players maximize the benefits of playing competitive hockey, the expectations of committing to all team functions, including practices, league games, and playoffs. Making this commitment allows the magic of developing team camaraderie, trust,  and accountability, which creates a culture that maximizes skill improvement AND  character development (the mission of AJH).  

ASPEN LEAFS HOUSE HOCKEY

AJH provides athletes interested in participating in multiple winter sports an opportunity to continue to develop hockey skills without the "team" commitment. For players ages 9-12, participants are differentiated into two groups (based on ability) for two weekly on-ice practices. Game opportunities are limited to in-house competition and pending other regions' programs. In the past two years, AJH has led the creation and operation of the HHP, which brings together different House programs throughout mountain communities for a half-day of friendly competition. We will sort out our Jamboree weekends throughout the season, as our athletes have multiple options(pending player commitment). There is no commitment to attending HHP jamborees, as all participants are mixed and divided equally based on age and ability. The objectives of HHP events are celebrating hockey, making new friends, and having fun.

TO REGISTER: All participants must register directly with AJH by contacting Jackie Ayers:  jackieayers@aspenjuniorhockey.com or (970) 920-7081. Requirements include registering with USA Hockey, signing consent to treat forms, and parent and player code of conduct forms (AJH).  

 

 

The Aspen Development Model

Using the American Development Model (ADM), Aspen Junior Hockey believes in a designed system of coaching that focuses on age appropriate long term athletic development.

Below are the principles of the model, which are used to promote age-appropriate athlete development, health and safety, and sustained physical activity throughout life.

  1. Excellence takes time – develop age-appropriate facets of hockey performance — technical, tactical, physical and mental — while understanding these factors are deeply interdependent.
  2. Physical literacy and fundamentals – develop confidence and skills in a fun, engaging and progressively challenging atmosphere.
  3. Build athleticism – provide all youth with a range of training modes to enhance both health and related components of fitness to reduce the risk of injury.
  4. Specialization and early sampling – encourage an early sampling approach for youth that promotes and enhances a broad range of experiences in sports and physical activity.
  5. Growth and individualization – normal growth, maturation and development is critical to delivering a quality sport program.
  6. Periodization – allow for effective and efficient plans for a single practice or training session, as well as weekly, seasonal and yearly plans.
  7. Mental, cognitive and emotional development – engage in programs that promote both physical fitness and psychosocial well being.
  8. Quality coaching – the consistent application of integrated, inter- personal and intrapersonal knowledge to improve athletes’ competence, confidence, connection and character in specific coaching contexts.
  9. System alignment and integration – collaborate, align, and integrate in delivering the very best athlete development programs possible.
  10. Continuous improvement – seek continuous improvement by implementing new findings, innovations, and best practices from sports science, education and coaching.

PROGRAMMING DETAILS

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING AJH PROGRAMMING, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING HEADINGS: