DYHA House Hockey

Why DYHA? Some programs believe House hockey is where kids just learn the basics. DYHA believes that kids should learn not only to play the game well but also develop a passion for the game. We believe passion for the game is built on obtaining solid fundamentals but also through being part of a team and experiencing the fun and unique camaraderie of the sport. House Hockey is more than learning the basics, it's about becoming immersed in the greatest game! 

The DYHA House League is different than most Hockey programs because we offer intra-league competition at every level, winter tournaments, and season ending playoff competition culminating in a Super Saturday in early March where all our division Champions are crowned. At DYHA, we teach the game and ignite the passion within each player! 

Registration for Returning Players who want to participate in our House program varies depending on the division. Please see the specific program dates below.

Players new to DYHA will need to join the waitlist before registering for the House Program (Link to Join Waitlist). Waitlisted players will receive an invitation to register after our returning House player registration is complete.

Key Dates for the 2024-2025 Season

• March 15th: All 2018 birth year and all 2019 birth year players will be welcome to register for Mighty Mites and Mini Mites, respectively. Prospective Mighty-Mite and Mini-Mite players do not need to join the waitlist before registering.
• April 1st: Returning Player registration for House Opens
• May 1st: Returning Player registration ends (Waitlist Application becomes necessary)
• May 15th: New Player registration invitations sent to Waitlist Applicants (dependent on capacity)
• June 1st: Deadline for all Financial Aid Applications

There are no tryouts for DYHA House programs. There are Evaluation sessions to ensure even teams for the season within each age group. Those take place right before the season starts, roughly early to mid-October.

PLEASE NOTE!! DYHA does not permit players rostered on other travel teams to play in the house league.

Mini Mites: Station-based clinic-style sessions are held on Saturdays and Sundays. Players can choose to attend one or both each weekend. Times are typically 10am or 11am.

Mighty Mites: Station-based practices focusing on skill development with more advanced skating and stick instruction provided in USA Hockey ADM (Advanced Development Model). Typically practice Friday afternoons (conducted by DYHA professional coaches) and have games on Saturdays typically at 7:30 or 8:30am with the bench run by parent coaches.

Mites: TEAM-based skill development model with an increased focus on more advanced skills and an understanding of full ice hockey concepts. Typically they will practice Friday evenings (conducted by DYHA professional coaches) and will have games on Saturdays, typically 6:30 or 7am with the bench run by parent coaches.

CLICK BELOW FOR OUR MITE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Squirts: TEAM-based skill development model with increasing levels of skill development, focus on full-ice offensive and defensive concepts, and the first full-ice games with full-ice rules fully enforced. Typically they will have practice Friday evenings (conducted by DYHA professional coaches) and will have games on Sundays, typically 6:30 or 7am with the bench run by parent coaches. Squirt House may also participate in the WestConn Hockey League, a "travel light" experience with several games throughout the season scheduled against other local programs.

Senior Minors: TEAM-based skill development model with the goal of continuing skill development but also allowing older players to continue to have fun playing the greatest game in a low-stress environment. Senior Minor, like all of our DYHA House programs, is open to both boys and girls. Typically they will have practice Friday evenings (conducted by DYHA professional coaches) and will have games Saturdays, typically 3 or 4pm with the bench run by parent coaches. Senior Minors also participate in the WestConn Hockey League, a "travel light" experience with several games throughout the season scheduled against other local programs.

*PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL DAYS AND TIMES ARE ESTIMATES BASED ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S SCHEDULE AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. SCHEDULES ARE USUALLY SET IN SEPTEMBER OF THE CURRENT SEASON.*

Players must provide their own equipment and sticks (DYHA does provide goalie equipment). Club jerseys and socks are provided by DYHA.

Q: The program is called the DARIEN Youth Hockey Association. Do I have to live in Darien to play?

 A: No! DYHA is open to players from all towns. Both of our local rinks are privately owned as opposed to municipal owned rinks such as Stamford - Terry Connors that have residency requirements.