Balance, edge work, self-confidence and FUN are stressed in each class. Hockey Helmet with Facemask, and Hockey Gloves are required by the 3rd week of classes. Skating skills include; stopping, falling and getting up, marching, gliding, swizzles, and backward skating.

Pre Requisite: Intro to Hockey

Balance, edge work, self-confidence and FUN are stressed in each class. Hockey Helmet with Facemask, and Hockey Gloves are required. Skating skills covered include; stopping, backward skating, and forward right and left crossovers.

Pre-Hockey is designed for boys and girls interested in learning the skating skills required to advance onto the Cross-Ice Hockey Program and organized team play. Prospective skaters must be able to skate across the ice on their own prior to enrollment. Forward and backward stride, hockey stops on both feet, transitions, and right and left backward crossovers are emphasized each week.

Pre Requisite: Pre Hockey

Development Program is the bridge program between hockey learn to skate and the Midwest Blackbirds youth hockey teams. Cross Ice Hockey is a 2 day a week program and is based on the USA Hockey Development Model of practicing and playing games across the width of the ice rather than full ice.

By reducing the playing area, the cross ice model allows players to increase the number of times they touch the puck, increase puck possession times, and increase speed in playing situations, all of which translates into faster development of the individual skills necessary to keep our young players excited and motivated. Cross Ice classes are divided by age and/or skill. USA Hockey registration and full hockey equipment are required.