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, 2008 and December 31, 2017. For more information on 8U "Mite" hockey, please click on the Programs tab above and go to Sabres 6U/8U Hockey.

USA HOCKEY 2026-2027 AGE GROUPS:

10U: 2016 - 2017

12U: 2014 - 2015

14U: 2012 - 2013

16U: 2010 - 2011

18U: 2008 - 2009

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

Additional Costs include jerseys, tournament fees and miscellaneous costs based on schedule. Teams will make every attempt to fundraise for these additional team costs.

2026-2027 SEASON: 10U - 18U TRYOUTS

As we hit the home stretch of this current season, we are already looking ahead to next season! All 10U – 18U players interested in playing for any Sabres team for the 2026-2027 season shall attend tryouts. You can register for tryouts here:

https://www.somdsabres.org/registration/60525

Once you complete the registration on this Sabres website, you will receive a confirmation email. In order to complete your registration for tryouts, you must click on the payment link in your confirmation email and use it to pay for tryouts. If you do not complete this payment portion of the registration process, you will not be able to attend tryouts.

Once tryouts are complete, players will be notified via email which team they have made. Each player will then have 24 hours to accept that roster spot. If a player does not accept their roster spot, the Hockey Director will communicate with the Head Coach of that team to decide whether or not the open spot will be filled with another player.

It is assumed any player attending tryouts is trying to make the best team that their abilities can earn them.

We continue to be proud of the tremendous growth of our Lady Sabres program! We encourage girls of all age groups from 10U through 18U to register for tryouts. We will put as many teams on the ice as we can, based on registration numbers. If you tryout for a coed team and also play on a Lady Sabres team, you do not need to pay for the girls team tryouts.

Tryout cost:

- 10U thru 16U: $85 ($65 if you register before March 1st, 2026). After March 1st, cost is $85.

- 18U: $45 ($35 if you register before March 1st, 2026). After March 1st, cost is $45.

- Lady Sabres: $45 ($35 if you register before March 1st, 2026). After March 1st, cost is $45. Lady Sabres tryouts are FREE if you have already paid for a coed tryout.

10U/12U Coed Tryout Schedule:

Friday March 20, 2026:

- 12U group 1: 6:20pm-7:20pm

- 12U group 2: 7:30pm-8:30pm

 Saturday March 21, 2026:

- 10U group 1: 7:00am-8:00am

- 10U group 2: 8:10am-9:10am

- 12U group 1: 9:20am-10:20am

- 12U group 2: 10:30am-11:30am

 Sunday March 22, 2026:

- 10U group 1: 7:00am-8:00am

- 10U group 2: 8:10am-9:10am

The 12U groups for Friday and the 10U groups for Saturday will be sent out 1 week prior to tryouts.

The 12U groups for Saturday will be sent out on Friday evening, no later than 10:30pm.

The 10U groups for Sunday will be sent no later than 5pm on Saturday.

Lady sabres, 14U, 16u, and 18U Tryouts:

Saturday April 18, 2026:

- 14U: 7:00am-8:10am

- 16U: 8:20am-9:30am

- 18U: 9:40am-10:50am

Sunday April 19, 2026:

- 14U: 7:00am-8:10am

- 16U: 8:20am-9:30am

- ALL Lady Sabres: 9:40am-10:50am

Please reach out with any questions.

Scott Kelly

Hockey Director

SABRES YOUTH HOCKEY 2026-2027

Sabres coed 10U, 12U, 14U, and 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.

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 2026/2027 pricing:

Prices shown are Payment Plan OR Pay in Full

• 10U RED: $1,625 or $1,475

• 10U GOLD & BLACK: $2,675 or $2,525

• 12U RED: $1,625 or $1,475

• 12U GOLD & BLACK: $2,950 or $2,800

• 14U GOLD & BLACK: $3,075 or $2,925

• 16U GOLD & BLACK: $3,150 or $3,000

• 18U GOLD & BLACK: $2,250 or $2,100

The payment process this year will be AS FOLLOWS:

• NO CHECKS OR CASH this year.

• NO TAKING PAYMENTS AT THE FRONT DESK-- ALL PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE ONLINE.

• Families can still avoid credit card fees by using ACH option when they register.

• 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 on the 15th of each month immediately following registration.

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 session, with Sabres Skills Instructors and coaches.

• 16U will practice 2 times per week.

• 18U will practice 1 time per week.

Other Info:

• Teams may also opt to participate in tournaments at the team’s discretion.

• Tournament fees are NOT included in registration fees. Families 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 tournament registration.

• 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

240-375-1877

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For Team Managers