8U Program Registration

The 8U Program at LHA serves as the cornerstone of our organization, forming the bedrock from which our travel and house teams thrive. Tailored to players aged 5-8, our program aligns with the USA Hockey Initiation Program. By fostering a non-competitive atmosphere, we prioritize skill development over winning, allowing players to focus on mastering the fundamentals without unnecessary pressure. We believe that nurturing a love for the game and honing core skills are vital for instilling a lifelong passion for hockey.

Before beginning this registration you will need to register with USA Hockey. USA Hockey membership fees are determined by birth year. The fee structure can be found here. There is also a $20 affiliate fee for the Colorado Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA). You will need to enter your player's USA Hockey confirmation number to begin registration for this program.

Team fees are additional monthly charges collected by the designated team treasurer. These fees cover expenses such as tournament entry costs, team supplies, miscellaneous extras, end-of-season gifts, and the team party. Team fees are divided equally among all players and cannot be paid using scholarships.

All of LHA’s payments are processed through Crossbar. Please note that two types of fees are charged:

• A Transaction Fee charged by Crossbar on every transaction, regardless of the payment method used.
• An additional Processing Fee charged by Crossbar 
• CC transactions // 3.99% + $0.99
• ACH/Debit card transactions // 1.99% + $0.99

For the past two years, the LHA Board of Directors has directly subsidized all of the Transaction Fees charged by Crossbar and chose not to pass those costs on to parents. Only the Processing Fee portion was paid by parents at the point of sale. 

For the upcoming 2025-2026 season, Transaction Fees are estimated to be in excess of $50,000 for the association. Unfortunately, with the other increases in program expenses — including increases in ice costs that LHA is now subsidizing to keep registration fees as low as possible — the Board of Directors determined that LHA would be unable to continue to subsidize Transaction Fees. 

As a result, Crossbar is now charging both Transaction Fees and Processing Fees at the point of sale for all teams.

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We understand that unexpected events can occur during the hockey season. To help protect your investment, insurance is being offered at the time of registration.

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Ages:

• We're currently accepting registrations for 8U players born between 2017 and 2021 for the upcoming fall hockey season. Please be aware that registrations for players born in 2021 are subject to final approval by the LHA Hockey Director and the LHA 8U Director.

Dates:

• The 8U season kicks off on the first weekend of October with evaluations. Please note that team rosters will not be finalized until the end of October. The season will wrap up on the second weekend in March.

Location:

• Most practices will take place at The Ice Ranch for the majority of the season. However, there might be a weekend or two where practices will be held at Edge Ice Arena.

Practices:

• Beginner Level: Saturdays and Sundays.
• Intermediate level: Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• Advanced level: Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• Additionally, any player in their final year of 8U has the option for an additional skate on Friday mornings at Edge Ice Arena.

Jamborees and "Friendlies":

• Jamborees will occur at different intervals throughout the season. LHA proudly hosts the Winterfest Jamboree the second weekend in December.
• During these events, Advanced and Intermediate teams engage in half-ice games, while Beginner teams partake in cross-ice games.
• Beyond jamborees, LHA organizes and visits other associations for friendly competitions throughout the season.
• It's important to note that LHA's policy does not allow 8U teams to travel out-of-state.

Additional Costs:

• Travel and Jamboree expenses are not included and are the responsibility of the team parents.