CHEYENNE CAPITALS CO-ED HOCKEY

CHEYENNE CAPITALS CO-ED HOCKEY

The Cheyenne Capitals Youth Hockey Association registers players based on birth year (age as of December 31, 2026). Find your player's age group below, then read on for what to expect at each level.

• Mites - birth year 2018 and younger
• Squirts - birth years 2016 and 2017
• Peewee - birth years 2014 and 2015
• Bantam - birth years 2012 and 2013
• High School - birth years 2008 through 2011

Mites (Ages 5-8)

The Mite program is where hockey players are made. Players sharpen their edges, learn to skate with the puck, work on passing, and discover what each position demands including goalie, which every Mite is encouraged to try.

Two practices per week build the fundamentals, and in-house games on Saturday mornings start early in the season so players get real, competitive reps from day one. Goalie rotations happen in both practices and games, because kids should experience the full sport before deciding what they love.

Mites don't compete in a formal league, but optional jamborees and tournaments across Wyoming and Colorado give families who want more ice time the chance to travel and compete.



Squirts (Ages 9-10)

Squirts is where the full game opens up. Players move to full-ice hockey and start learning the details that make it a true team sport real rules, positional play, game plans, patterns, and systems. Individual skill development remains the priority, because players at this age progress fast and our coaching staff is built to match that pace.

Three practices per week sharpen skills and install systems, with games usually on weekends and occasional weeknight matchups. This is also where travel league play begins, with competitive games against other programs throughout the region.

Players who want to play goalie still skate out when they're not in net. That keeps their skating fundamentals sharp and ensures every Squirt understands the full game from every position on the ice.



Peewees (Ages 11-12)

By Peewees, players know the game. Full ice, rules, positions, and fundamentals are all locked in so we shift the focus to the details that separate good players from great ones: lateral skating, power skating, fakes and dekes, shooting, and the finer points of puck control.

The game gets bigger here too. Every player owns a specific role, with real responsibility for the outcome and the healthy pressure that comes with it. Players learn from wins, learn from losses, and grow inside a positive, demanding environment built for development.

Peewees practice three times per week with travel games on weekends. The goalie position also solidifies at this level players who identify as goalies now practice and play full-time in net.



Bantams (Ages 13-14)

Bantams is the gateway to high school hockey and beyond. The biggest shift at this level is the introduction of hitting players are taught how to deliver a legal check and, just as importantly, how to absorb one safely. Body contact becomes part of the game, and our coaches make sure every player is prepared.

Skill development continues alongside a deeper investment in hockey IQ. Players learn team systems, set plays, power plays, and penalty kills the strategic layer that defines competitive hockey from this level forward. We push players to think about the game outside the rink too, building habits around preparation, fitness, and team-first mentality that carry into high school and adult life.

Bantams practice three times per week with travel games on weekends.



High School (Ages 15-18)

At the high school level, the basics are behind them. Skating, passing, and shooting are ingrained, so coaches shift focus to the systems of the game how players move, how the puck moves, and how to read the ice in real time. Players are given room to be creative and trusted to make decisions at game speed.

The Capitals high school program competes at the state level, traveling across Wyoming to face the top youth hockey programs in the state and battle for a state championship. Players experience real, high-stakes competition that prepares them for junior hockey, college club programs, and beyond.

This is also where the game becomes a teacher of character. Players learn to win with grace and lose with grace, and to carry themselves with integrity on and off the ice. On the verge of adulthood, these athletes are being shaped into good teammates, good competitors, and good people.



What time of the year does this program run?

Our season begins late September and runs through the end of February for most teams.

Does my player need his or her own equipment?

Players generally provide their own helmet, stick, skates, and protective equipment. The Cheyenne Capitals Youth Hockey Association rents chest protectors, elbow pads, shin pads, and breezers for younger players (Mites and Squirts), with other gear sometimes available as well. A refundable equipment deposit can be selected during registration if you'd like to rent.

Are jerseys provided or are they purchased separately?

Players can either purchase a jersey or rent a jersey for the season if a refundable deposit is paid. You will select which option you want during the registration process. Mites do not need to purchase or rent a jersey, one will be provided when needed.

Where are practices and games typically held?

Practices and home games are held at the Cheyenne Ice and Events Center. Squirts and up travel for games either throughout Wyoming or throughout Southeastern Wyoming and Northern Colorado depending on team placement.