Frequently Asked Questions

Richmond Hockey Club will have a formalized tryout using impartial evaluators. Roster determination will follow their tryout guidelines with input from the evaluation panel and hockey staff.

• Register: https://iceboxrva.com/youth-hockey 
• Cost: $80
• Players must sign up for specific tryout slots upon registration. All participants will select their 2 tryout sessions upon registration.
• Players will not be able to attend a tryout session to which they have not been registered for.
• Tryout sessions will be split into groups of 15 to accommodate the smaller sheet of ice.
• League: CBHL
• Age Groups: 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U (Each age group will have 2 teams. Except 18U which will have 1 team)
  
• Level of play will be determined after rosters are finalized.

‍Arrival and Check-In:

• Players should arrive 45 minutes before tryouts where jerseys will be given to ensure a smooth start.     
• Where: Powhatan Ice Den

‍Tryout Format:‍

• Each session will participate in the same drills and gameplay depending on age groups.
• A mix of skating drills, hockey drills and gameplay scenarios will be used to rate players on their skating, hockey skills and effort.

‍Coaches and Evaluators:

• Evaluation will be based on a mix of drills and gameplay.
• After the final tryout session, a team of evaluators and head coach will finalize rosters with final confirmation from the head coach.
• Head coaches will be announced before tryouts. Apply for a head coaching role here: https://iceboxrva.com/coaches 
• Assistant coaches are named after team selection.

‍Final Selection and Next Steps:

• Rosters will be selected by the evaluation committee and finalized in coordination with the head coach.
• Players will have 48 hours to accept their roster offer.
• Offers for upper-level teams will be sent first. Once acceptances are received from that group, notifications for the remaining teams will be sent out until spots are filled on both teams. 
• A deposit will be required to secure your spot on a team. Final amount will be determined with team dues. Payment plans will be available.

Commitment:

Playing travel hockey requires a high level of commitment. It is expected that players attend all practices, games, tournaments, team events, and any off-ice training. While we understand and support our players participating in other sports and activities, we require clear and accurate communication if a player anticipates missing team events prior to accepting a roster spot. A clear commitment to the team ensures fairness, supports a strong team culture, and allows the program to provide a consistent, high-quality development experience for all athletes.

Dues:

Player fees for the 2026-2027 season are being finalized but will remain in line with previous seasons and are comparable to other clubs that compete in the CBHL. Richmond Hockey Club is committed to keeping fees affordable for the Richmond hockey community.

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Will financial aid be available and how will families apply?

Financial aid will continue to be available through the Richmond Hockey Inc. Board. The financial aid application will be available following tryouts for the 2026-2027 season. For now, questions on this can be directed to generalstravelhockey@gmail.com .

We plan to follow the Utah Hockey Club model and operate under Richmond Hockey Club for our first two years then have some community involvement to select a permanent club name and mascot in the third year. The overall color scheme will not change though. The colors scheme is following our established colors used for Ice Den’s Polar Mites and Little Mischief colors. The teal, purple, and ice blue will remain the same. The jerseys are navy and white kits. We are in the process of having jerseys designed. We do expect to use sublimated jersey kits to keep costs down. Once we have a more permanent name we have the option to add stitched kits. 

We will give our teams a year's grace period so they do not have to replace all their gear (helmets, gloves, ect.) right away. The plan is to use navy helmets, shells and gloves to match our home kits. For the 2026–27 season, the plan is to operate as Richmond Hockey Club while allowing current players to retain most of their existing gear. The only anticipated required purchase will be a home and away jersey along with socks. Additional details will be shared as they are finalized.

We’ve heard from a number of concerned players that the original idea of one 6am practice for 16U and 18U would create some challenges especially for potential out of town players. While 6am practices are a standard compromise at many well established programs, especially with limited ice like we will have until phase 2 is open, we understand this can be difficult for some. As a compromise we have reworked the schedule to be creative to be able to make this work. So there will not be any 6am practices for any team.

It is not uncommon for teams at the same age group to share ice time to make the price more affordable, increase puck touches, and build a better culture. Smaller spaces increase puck touches, force quicker decision making, and increase repetitions for better perfection of skills. Combined practices also helps build a better club culture and reduces the stigma of segregation over skill. With shared ice we will also be able to provide more opportunity and serve more players. Lastly, one of the biggest complaints in youth hockey is cost. Higher cost reduced accessibility and sustainable growth. Having a single shared practice per week also helps keep costs down.

RHC’s 10U Model - Will just be a house league?

Labeling development-focused hockey as “just house” misses the point and undervalues the role that proper skill progression, confidence building, and age-appropriate competition play in long-term success. Our goal is not to chase travel volumes but rather to develop better players, reduce burnout, and prepare athletes to succeed at 12U and beyond. That is exactly what this model is designed to do. Please read through the full reasoning of WHY on our website. 

But to further explain our format, players train in skill-based practice groups (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) to ensure appropriate challenge and growth. Coaches will tailor drills to different skill groups on the same sheet. Use small-ice and station-based practices to maximize repetitions and decision-making.

Participation in 4 tournaments will be offered to each practice group for extra competition. This provides competitive experiences without the burnout of a full travel schedule. These events deliver high-quality games and a chance to compete while keeping the overall schedule development-focused and manageable for families.

We know there is concern about this model but we used evidence based research to make the decision to use this model. This will build a stronger skating, puck skills, and hockey IQ, reduce early burnout and over-specialization, keeps all players excited, confident, and improving, and prepares athletes to be more successful at 12U. Programs using similar models are seeing better retention and stronger older age-group teams as a result. We also spent time talking to these clubs before making this decision and believe that the success they have seen with retention and skill growth can be accomplished in Richmond.

Coaching for Richmond Hockey Club

At Richmond Hockey Club, everything we do starts with one simple goal: creating a positive, consistent, and development-focused experience for every player. 

Our Approach to Development

All teams will follow a shared club framework built around age-appropriate training, skill progression, and positive coaching. No matter a player’s team or level, families can expect:

• Thoughtful, structured practices that grow their player’s skills
• Standardized expectations of all coaches across the Club
• A strong focus on effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship

Great coaching is about more than systems and scores. We look for coaches who communicate well, lead with integrity, and genuinely care about player development. In our model, coaches are expected to:

• Focus on long-term growth instead of short-term results
• Create a respectful, encouraging environment for players and families
• Challenge each athlete at the right level for their development
• Continue learning and improving throughout the season

A Collaborative Culture with a Shared Vision

We are intentionally building a staff of collaborative coaches who believe in a shared vision for the Club. A coach’s previous experience with a team will be considered, but assignments will be made based on what’s best for the program overall. We value coaches who:

• Work well with fellow coaches and Club leadership
• Believe in long-term player development across all teams
• Are open to feedback, growth, and shared accountability

Our goal is to partner with coaches by offering resources, guidance, and feedback to help everyone continue growing alongside our players

Hiring Process

All coaching assignments will follow a process that includes open applications, interviews, and careful review. Selections will be based on each candidate’s ability to positively impact players and contribute to the broader Club environment. This includes their ability to teach age-appropriate skills in a clear and encouraging way; their leadership on the bench, in practices, and in interactions with families; and their communication style, including how they handle feedback, adversity, and collaboration with other coaches and staff. Just as importantly, we look for an overall fit with our development philosophy with a commitment to long-term player growth, teamwork, and sportsmanship. 

We also want to address an important question about parent coaches: Both parent and non-parent coaches are encouraged to apply. Parent status is not a deciding factor rather finding the right coach for players is. We value and respect all parent coaches and know that they are vital to this youth hockey. 

Compensation

We recognize that coaching demands a lot of time, preparation, and care throughout the season. Each head coach will receive a paid stipend, along with dues credit if they have a child participating in the program. Stipends will be distributed every other week and will reflect the team events attended during that period. In addition, coaches will be eligible for a supplemental travel stipend provided as a grant to help offset team-related travel.

This comp structure is designed to recognize the dedication and effort our coaches give each season while reinforcing accountability, dedication, and a supportive environment for players and families.

Overall Goal

Our vision is simple: a strong, positive hockey community where players have clear development pathways, families understand the process, and coaches work together toward the same goals.

When coaching is consistent, collaborative, and centered on development, every player has the opportunity to thrive and that is what matters most.

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To Apply: 

Coaches can apply via the Richmond Ice Box website: www.iceboxrva.com/coaches

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Requirements to Coach

USA Hockey Requirements (Must be completed before participating in any team activities)

• Register as a member of USA Hockey.  Click here for more information.
• Complete the background screening. Click here.
• Complete the USA Hockey Safe Sport Training. (Required every year and cannot be added to a roster until completed). Click here for more information.
• Complete the online age-specific module(s) for the age level of play you are coaching.
• Find, register and attend the required certification clinic. You can only attend one clinic per season and all coaches must enter USA Hockey's Coaching Education Program at the 6U/8U clinic if coaching at the Learn To Play/Learn-to-Skate/6U/8U classification or Level 1 if they are coaching 10U classification and above.
• We also recommend Goalie Bronze certification for all coaches.

As shared in our initial press release, all hockey operations including team structure, programming decisions, coach selection, and player placement are being managed by Richmond Hockey Club and its ownership group. We recognize that changes like this can create concerns about the future and about who is making decisions. Every step we are taking right now is focused on building a strong foundation and staff for next season.Today, we would like to address common questions and misunderstandings surrounding youth hockey tier levels, the travel leagues in our region, and what these new opportunities mean for our community.

Tier Levels & CBHL

USA Hockey defines its youth tier system as follows: “AAA is Tier I youth, and B through AA are Tier II youth.”

Richmond Hockey Club will place teams in The Chesapeake Bay Hockey League (CBHL). The CBHL is the primary USA Hockey affiliated competitive youth ice hockey league in our region, providing organized league play for Tier II level teams under the oversight of the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association (PVAHA). The CBHL offers structured regular-season competition against similarly skilled programs while operating under USA Hockey rules and regulations. Member teams are located throughout the Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. area, making the CBHL the primary Tier II league serving our region. League play remains within this geographic footprint, with longer-distance travel occurring only for tournaments approved by each team’s coaching staff and club leadership.

While other youth leagues exist in the region—some affiliated with PVAHA and others operating independently—we plan to remain aligned with the USA Hockey–sanctioned CBHL for the foreseeable future.

Richmond Hockey Club & Richmond Generals Tier II

Beginning with the 2026–27 season, the Richmond Generals Tier II organization will transition all hockey operations to Richmond Hockey Club. This change creates an immediate opportunity for regional players while positioning RHC for direct participation in the CBHL. The existing "Tier II Board" assist in a period of operation transition. These areas include: assisting with language for players contract, information guides, and process plans; assisting in the transition of some administrative functions; reviewing some public communications/releases to offer feedback about potential questions/concerns; and serve as a sounding board for travel program operations prior to Richmond Hockey Club's to but will not have a role in coach selections, tryout evaluations, or team composition.

As part of this transition, the current Tier II board will reorganize into an independent hockey foundation dedicated solely to expanding access to the game for players of all backgrounds. This foundation will no longer oversee or manage hockey operations. Richmond Hockey Club will assume full operational leadership, including coach selection, tryouts and team formation, club management, and all required organizational responsibilities—working in partnership with RHC’s Advisory Committee as referenced in the prior announcement.

What This Means for Richmond Hockey Families

This transition is designed with families and players at the center. By establishing a single, unified operational structure, the Richmond hockey community will benefit from a clearer development pathway, reduced confusion between programs, and stronger long-term support for every athlete and not only those at the highest competitive levels. More players will gain access to appropriate competitive placement, supported by club leadership that is fully integrated with rink operations and focused on guiding development at every stage.

Equally important, this approach strengthens the long-term future of hockey in Richmond by building a more connected and sustainable program—one that supports players from their very first steps in the game through higher levels of competition.

Our youth Learn-to-Play (LTP) programs are offered in Level 1 and Level 2. We are partnered with the Washington Caps LTP to get players ages 5-9 into the game. All other ages and those looking to continue LTP should participate in Level 2.

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More info will be coming soon.

Yes! Richmond Hockey Club will be launching in the 2026-2027 season. The most up to date info can be found on our Youth Hockey page.