Welcome to the MGHA preseason primer. Here, we’ll take you through all of the things you need to know and do to prepare for the 2024-2025 season.
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Throughout this document, you’ll see these hidden details sections. Expand them for more information!
New to MGHA? Click here learn some of the terminology!
This section is designed to help those unfamiliar with the MGHA get familiar with some of our terms.
Off-Ice Orientation: Those who are new to the MGHA must attend one of these sessions. We cover the expectations of being a player in the MGHA.
Clinics: These learning opportunities focus on skills and drills and are usually led by a volunteer coach.
Scrimmages: Consider these games without keeping score and (usually) without a referee. Teams are split and there are no set positions. As a player comes off the ice, they shout the position they’re playing and the next person on the bench fills that spot.
Skill Evaluations: In order to make fair and balanced teams, we need to know the skill levels of all players. These ARE NOT tryouts. Everyone will be on a team. These are used by hockey operations to assign everyone a skill level and those are used during team creation.
IMPORTANT: Click here to learn about evaluation changes for the 24-25 season.
Based on feedback from last year, evaluations are no longer mandatory for some returning players. If you do not believe your skill has changed from last season and if you do not fall into one of the required groups, you are not required to be evaluated, though you may attend and be re-evaluated if you wish.
Evaluations are mandatory for the following groups:
- New MGHA players
- Players moving from a lower league to a higher league (ex: L1 to L2)
- Players who feel they have gotten better or worse since last season’s evaluations
- Players returning to the MGHA after more than a year away from the league
- Goalies
Please use your best judgement. If you believe your skill has changed, please plan to attend the evaluation session. Remember, accurate evaluations help us create balanced teams.
This season, we’re taking a slightly different approach to evaluations, as well.
- L1 prospective skaters will be evaluated using stations, similar to last season.
- ACTION: Sign up for skills stations on Sept. 29 or Oct. 6
- L2 prospective skaters will be evaluated using a mix of stations and observed scrimmages.
- ACTION: Sign up for skills stations AND an evaluation scrimmage on Sept. 29 or Oct. 6
- L3 prospective skaters will be evaluated within a scrimmage.
- ACTION: Sign up for an evaluation scrimmage on Sept. 22 or Sept. 29
Schedules will be outlined below. If you fall into one of the required groups, please plan to attend ONE OF the evaluation nights for the league you’re planning to skate in.
Action Items (Do These Now!)
The following items must be completed in order to play in the MGHA. Please go through each of the ACTION items in red below and confirm that you’ve completed them as soon as possible.
USA Hockey Registration
Before you can set foot, err… skate on the ice for the upcoming season, you’ll need to be registered with USA Hockey. We do this for liability reasons to protect those in our league. Signing up is easy and can be done online.
✅ ACTION: Follow this link to sign up for USA Hockey… https://www.madisongayhockey.org/usa-hockey-registration/
Player Account and League Logistics
For planning purposes, we need some information from you. Please head into your player profile’s logistics page on the website and fill in the following required fields:
- Preferred league (L1, L2, L3, or some combination of preference)
- You can change this field up until early October. Stay tuned for an exact date.
- T-Shirt size
- Hockey jersey size
- Emergency contact
- Play-with and do-not-play-with requests (due by Oct. 1)
All of this is now handled on the logistics page of your player account on the website. Note that you must be logged in to see this page.
Click here for more details on play-with / not-play-with requests
If you have someone who you’ve discussed ridesharing with or you feel that being on a team or in a locker room with another player would negatively affect your safety, this is how you let us know. We’ll do our best to honor these requests during the team creation process. There are three options: must play with, would like to play with, and would not feel safe playing with. Play-with fields are optional.
While you’re there, consider filling out the rest, such as your bio, pronouns, hometown and a photo. There’s also a field for hockey operations volunteer role preference. Read more about that here.
✅ ACTION: Follow this link to adjust your account… https://www.madisongayhockey.org/account/logistics
League Fees
Fees are $365 this year: a $100 deposit earlier this summer plus the remainder of $265 to be paid before taking the ice, both are noted in your personal website Player Account page when you’re signed in.
The MGHA is committed to making hockey accessible to all members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and funds are available to provide financial assistance to players in need. Need help… please complete our financial assistance form. If you have any questions, please contact Gene, our treasurer, via email: treasurer@madisongayhockey.org.
✅ ACTION: Pay your league fees at the link… https://www.madisongayhockey.org/product/2024-2025-league-fees/
Preseason Schedule
The preseason schedule is outlined below. Use this as a jumping-off point to sign up for a session each week. You’ll find more details and instructions on each page.
September 8:
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Orientation
If you’re new to the MGHA, you must attend one of our off-ice orientation sessions.
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: New-to-Skating / New-to-Hockey
This session is for those who are brand new to our league who have never played hockey before. We’ll have coaches and helpers to make sure you succeed. I promise… we’ve got you!
✅ ACTION: Sign up for sessions here: https://www.madisongayhockey.org/2024-preseason-september-8th-sign-up/.
September 15:
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: L2 Player Scrimmage
This is a scrimmage for L2 players.
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: New-to-Skating / New-to-Hockey
We continue our session for new MGHAers who have never played hockey before. Similar to the first week, we’ll help you through the basics.
5:40 PM – 6:40 PM: L2 Player Scrimmage
This is a scrimmage for L2 players.
6:10 PM – 7:10 PM: Orientation (Off-Ice)
If you’re new to the MGHA, you must attend one of our off-ice orientation sessions.
6:10 PM – 7:10 PM: L2-L3 Small Space Drills
Join us for some skills and drills that’ll be designed and led by L3 skaters.
6:50 PM – 7:50 PM: L1 Player Scrimmage
This is a scrimmage for L1 players.
7:20 PM – 8:20 PM: L3 Player Scrimmage
This is a scrimmage for L3 players.
✅ ACTION: Sign up for sessions here… https://www.madisongayhockey.org/2024-preseason-september-15th-sign-ups/
September 22:
L3 evaluations and goalie evaluations will take place. Remember, goalies, new MGHA players, and those moving up a league must attend evaluations. Read the note at the top of this post for more. Other players will have clinics or scrimmages. Choose the one that best suits your skill level.
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: L3 Evaluation Scrimmage
L3 evaluations this year will be in scrimmage form as we have so few new players. Remember, new MGHA players, those moving up a league, and those whose feel their skills have improved or gotten worse are required to attend. We will also need other L3 players to round out the evaluation scrimmage.
5:10 PM – 6:10 PM: New-to-Hockey Clinic
This session will be for our skaters who are new to skating or new to hockey. It will be led by experienced coaches. And if you’re still struggling to skate or pass or whatever, don’t worry! Learning a new sport as an adult takes time and you’ve got this!
6:10 PM – 7:40 PM: Goalie Evaluations
Goalies are required to be evaluated. Please plan to attend this session. Specific times will be assigned.
6:20 PM – 7:20 PM: L2 Clinic
This clinic will be geared towards L2 players and will be led by experienced coaches.
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM: L1/L2 Clinic
This clinic will be geared towards upper L1 players and lower L2 players and will be led by experienced coaches.
7:50 PM – 8:50 PM: L2/L3 Scrimmage
Spend some time with friends across leagues in this L2/L3 scrimmage. Expect the pace to be fast. Please only sign up for this if you feel comfortable skating safely at a higher speed.
8:40 PM – 9:40 PM: L1 Clinic
This clinic is geared towards those in L1. We’ll cover hockey fundamentals. This session will be led by experienced coaches.
✅ ACTION: Sign up for sessions here… https://www.madisongayhockey.org/2024-preseason-september-22nd-sign-ups/
September 29:
This week will again focus on evaluations. For those who have already been evaluated or do not need evaluations this year, we’ll have opportunities for scrimmage play. Remember, new MGHA players and those moving up a league must attend evaluations. There will be an additional L1 scrimmage slot for those who do not need to be evaluated this year.
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: L3 Evaluation Scrimmage
L3 evaluations this year will be in scrimmage form as we have so few new players. Remember, new MGHA players, those moving up a league, and those whose feel their skills have improved or gotten worse are required to attend. We will also need other L3 players to round out the evaluation scrimmage.
5:40 PM – 6:10 PM: L2 Skill Station Evaluations
For those being evaluated to play in L2, please plan to attend this session AND the accompanying scrimmage.
6:10 PM – 7:10 PM: L1 Skill Station Evaluations
L1 evaluations will use skill stations, similar to last season. Please plan to attend on either September 29th or October 6th.
6:20 PM – 7:20 PM: L2 Scrimmage Evaluations
After attending the skill station evaluations, players will move to the other rink for a scrimmage evaluation. Please plan to attend this session AND the accompanying skills stations for L2 evaluations.
7:30 PM – 8:40 PM: L1 Scrimmage (Not Evaluations)
For those L1 players who do not need to be evaluated this year, we’re offering the opportunity to skate in a scrimmage.
✅ ACTION: Sign up for sessions here… https://www.madisongayhockey.org/2024-preseason-september-29th-sign-ups/
October 6:
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: L1/L2 Skill Station Evaluations
For those being evaluated to play in L2, please plan to attend this session AND the accompanying scrimmage. L1 skaters need only attend the skill station evaluations.
5:10 PM – 6:10 PM: L3 Scrimmage
A scrimmage session for L3 skaters. Please skate in control.
6:10 PM – 7:10 PM: New-to-Hockey Scrimmage
For those who are new to hockey, we’re playing a game! We’ll bring out a referee and we’ll be with you every step of the way. We’ll walk you through how to change lines and where to be on the ice. Have no fear, because this is such a fun week!
6:20 PM – 7:20 PM: L2 Scrimmage Evaluations
For those being evaluated to play in L2, please plan to attend this session AND the accompanying skills stations session.
7:20 PM – 8:20 PM: L1/L2 Scrimmage
Spend some time with friends across leagues in this L1/L2 scrimmage. Pace will be faster than typical L1, but play will be inclusive. This should be reminiscent of the play from the early years of the MGHA where there was only one league instead of three.
✅ ACTION: Sign up for sessions here… https://www.madisongayhockey.org/2024-preseason-october-6th-sign-ups/
October 13:
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: L3 Scrimmage
This is a scrimmage for L3 players.
5:10 PM – 6:10 PM: L2 Scrimmage
This is a scrimmage for L2 players.
6:10 PM – 7:10 PM: L2/L3 Scrimmage
Spend some time with friends across leagues in this L2/L3 scrimmage. Expect the pace to be fast. Please skate in control.
6:20 PM – 7:20 PM: L1 Scrimmage (includes all L1 skaters, new and returning)
Our new-to-hockey sessions are over and we’re combining all of our L1 players into a single bucket now. Sign up for either session. Usual scrimmage rules apply.
7:20 PM – 8:20 PM: L1 Scrimmage (includes all L1 skaters, new and returning)
Our new-to-hockey sessions are over and we’re combining all of our L1 players into a single bucket now. Sign up for either session. Usual scrimmage rules apply.
✅ ACTION: Sign up for sessions here… https://www.madisongayhockey.org/2024-preseason-october-13th-sign-ups/
October 20:
It’s team reveal night! We’ll have some on-ice activities throughout the night and at 7:30 PM, we’ll reveal this year’s MGHA teams! Please plan to attend and be on time! Teams will be posted on the website following these events.
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: L1 Scrimmage (includes all L1 skaters, new and returning)
Our new-to-hockey sessions are over and we’re combining all of our L1 players into a single bucket now. Sign up for either session. Usual scrimmage rules apply.
5:10 PM – 6:10 PM: L2 Scrimmage
It’s a scrimmage for those who consider themselves L2 skaters.
5:40 PM – 6:40 PM: L1 Scrimmage (includes all L1 skaters, new and returning)
Our new-to-hockey sessions are over and we’re combining all of our L1 players into a single bucket now. Sign up for either session. Usual scrimmage rules apply.
6:20 PM – 7:20 PM: L3 Scrimmage
This is a scrimmage for L3. Please skate safely and in control.
7:30 PM – 8:15 PM: Team Reveal (Off-Ice on Rink A Bleachers)
It’s time! Let’s find out our teams for the season!
8:30 PM – 9:30 PM: L2/L3 Scrimmage
Spend some time with friends across leagues in this L2/L3 scrimmage. Expect the pace to be fast. Please skate in control.
Grab some pizza and snag a spot on the bleachers to bond with new teammates and cheer for players on the ice after team reveal!
✅ ACTION: Sign up for sessions here… https://www.madisongayhockey.org/2024-team-reveal-october-20th-sign-up/
October 27:
After team reveal, we’ll use the next two weeks to get your team prepared for the season. We’ll also have some other fun on the ice. We’ll outline the schedule in the weeks to come.
November 3:
After team reveal, we’ll use the next two weeks to get your team prepared for the season. We’ll also have some other fun on the ice. We’ll outline the schedule in the weeks to come.
November 10:
It’s game time, baby! Regular season games start! The schedule will be revealed during the preseason. Keep an eye on the schedules page of the website.
That’s it! Please be sure that you’ve completed all of the action items above. Once you’ve done that, you can add them to your calendar and show up for preseason festivities! We can’t wait to see you on the ice!
Need help? If anything is missing or confusing on this post, please notify hops@madisongayhockey.org and we’ll help you out.