Sabres Youth Travel Hockey
The goal of the Sabres Youth Hockey Program is to promote the development and competitiveness of hockey players by providing the most possible ice touches and highest quality of instruction available. The Sabres will field teams for all age groups depending on the number of players and skill levels available. A determination will be made after player evaluations (tryouts). It is very important that the player and parent understand and accept the time commitment of the travel program, and that they are expected to make the travel team a priority. Parents and players should be prepared to accept this level of commitment.
Ages
This program is for players who were born between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2016. For more information on 8U "Mite" hockey, please click on the Programs tab above and go to Sabres 6U/8U Hockey.
USA HOCKEY 2025-2026 AGE GROUPS:
10U: 2015 - 2016
12U: 2013- 2014
14U: 2011-2012
16U: 2009 - 2010
18U: 2007- 2008
When
Tryouts are held in March and April. 10U and 12U age groups are in March, while 14U, 16U, and 18U are in April. Practices begin in August. The season runs until the end of February, with playoffs typically ending in mid-March. Games typically start in late August or early September and the league season ends with the playoffs in late February/early March.
Specialized Training
Goalies: Goalies will receive bi-weekly instruction during practice from a specialized goalie instructor.
Training Room: Sabres will have access to our off-ice training room, during scheduled off-ice sessions with their team.
Off-Ice Study: Gold and Black travel teams will have off-ice classroom sessions with coaches for film study/review, systems study, etc.
Practices
Practices will vary depending on age group.
10U, 12, and 14U will practice 3 times per week, with one of those practices being a Skills session focused on skating and skill development with Sabres Skills instructors.
16U will practice 2 times per week.
18U will practice 1 time per week.
Lady Sabres will practice 1 time per week. Please see the Girls Sabres Hockey section under the Programs tab, for more information on the Lady Sabres.
Games
10U through 16U Gold and Black teams will play approximately 16 CBHL league games, and 16 AHF league games. 18U will play in the CBHL only.
AHF games are in a Showcase weekend format (two totaling 8 games), plus for all teams 8 head-to-head games with selected opponents - for a total of 16 AHF games. Families should expect overnight travel for showcase events and possibly the head-to-head games.
The typical Sabres season will consist of a total of between 40 - 50 games for the season.
Additional Costs
SABRES YOUTH HOCKEY 2025-2026
sabres coed 10u, 12u, 14u & 16u gold and Black teams will play in the Chesapeake Bay Hockey League (CBHL), AS WELL AS THE ATLANTIC HOCKEY FEDERATION (AHF).
18u coed will play in the cbhl only.
If there are not enough participants to field both a Gold and Black team in any age bracket, those participants who are not selected for the Gold team will be placed on the Red team AS LONG AS THERE ARE ENOUGH PLAYERS TO FORM A RED TEAM FOR THAT AGE GROUP.
Red team(s) will LIKELY PLAY IN THE CAPITAL CORRIDOR HOCKEY LEAGUE (CCHL).
Gold and Black teams will play approximately 16 CBHL league games, and 16 AHF games, as well as non-league games (as scheduling allows).
sabres Registration fees include the cost for cbhl and ahf participation for gold and black teams, as well as cchl participation for the red teams, and cbhl participation for the lady sabres.
Sabres 2025/2026 pricing:
Prices shown are Pay in Full or Payment Plan
10U CCHL: $1,450 or $1,525
10U CBHL/AHF: $2,350 or $2,500
12U CCHL: $1,450 or $1,525
12U CBHL/AHF: $2,625 or $2,775
14U CBHL/AHF: $2,745 or $2,895
16U CBHL/AHF: $2,800 or $2,950
18U CBHL: $1,800 or $1,950
The payment process this year will be AS FOLLOWS:
1) NO CHECKS OR CASH this year.
2) NO TAKING PAYMENTS AT THE FRONT DESK-- ALL PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE ONLINE.
3) Families can still avoid credit card fees by using ACH option when they register.
4) There will still be a pay in full discount available as well.
5) For those who choose to make monthly payments, there will be a $500 deposit due at the time of registration. After that, 5 equal payments will be made starting in May for 10U & 12U, and in june for 14/16/18U.
Practices will vary depending on age group. 10U, 12U, and 14U will practice 3 times per week, with one of those practices being a skills development focus with the Sabres Skills Instructors. 16U will practice 2 times per week. 18U will practice 1 time per week.
all teams may also opt to participate in tournaments at the team’s discretion. Tournament fees are NOT included in registration fees. Players will be responsible to pay the additional cost to cover any tournament fees. Teams may fund-raise to defer some or all of the costs associated with tournaments. tournaments and fundraisers must be approved by the sabres board of directors.
Questions regarding the Sabres Youth Hockey program can be directed to the sabres Hockey Director, scott kelly: hockeydirector@somdsabres.org