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Center State Youth Hockey is a registered Tier II member of USA Hockey and NYS Hockey and abides by all of the regulations governing amateur hockey in the United States and in New York State. CSYH also belongs to the Snowbelt Youth Hockey League.

Participants are placed in one of six age groups. Groups are determined based on the participant’s age as of January 1. Age group names and classifications are as follows:

  • Learn to Play
  • Program 4-11 years old
  • Mite 8 years and under
  • Squirt 10 years and under
  • Pee Wee 12 years and under
  • Bantam 14 years and under
  • Midget 17 years and under

It is the philosophy of CSYH that all players should be playing at their age appropriate level. In rare occasions, the CSYH Board of Directors may, at its discretion, move players upward in age classifications in order to achieve a balanced team population. Such board decisions will be made in conjunction with and on the recommendation of coaches, and then only with the parents’ approval.

If a non-Mite eligible player desires to try out for an older age group, the player’s family must submit a written request to the CSYH Board of Directors (starting in September 2012, NYS Hockey prohibits Mite-eligible players (ages 8 and under) from moving up to Squirts). The Director receiving such notification will then promptly notify the affected coaches and bring the request to the Board of Directors, who will make the decision based upon team populations. In order to be considered for a move upward in age, any player wishing to play at a higher age level must place as one of the top five players in the entire higher age level group. An exception to this rule is goalie movement, which will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors based upon enrollment numbers.