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Learn To Play a/k/a "Little Knights"


Little Knights Learn to Play

Does your son/daughter wants to play ice hockey? Learning the proper way to ice skate is the first step for your beginning player. St. Jude Hockey Club's Little Knights Program embraces the American Development Model (ADM) for teaching boys and girls how to play hockey. We're proud to continue our 60 plus year tradition of developing young players by offering 2 convenient sessions during the 2023-2024 hockey season, along with a spring and summer session.

The session cost is $1230. The full schedule is below.

Sessions:

In Learn to Play (Little Knights) is the first introduction at St. Jude to play with a stick and puck.  

  • Little Knights: Designed for players in 2013 or younger who have basic skating experience.  ADM (American Development Model) skill and techniques integrated into the program.  All players must have full hockey gear.
  • All skating sessions will be held at Southwest Ice Arena

2023-2024 Session Dates

Session 1 -  9/8-12/17

Session 2 - 1/5-3/30

Spring Session - TBD

Summer Session -  TBD

 


Ready to Join St. Jude's Little Knights program?

Click the word 'Register' below to being the registration process.  At the bottom of the first information page, you will be given the opportunity to either login, if you already have an NGIN account, or create a new account.

During the Fall session we will be skating three times a week.

Friday nights, which will be dedicated to game play where the ice will be divided in half and the kids will utilize the entire time to scrimmage each other.

Saturday mornings, which will be dedicated strictly to skating and in the mind of our Pre-Hockey Director is the most important session to attend!

Sunday mornings, the ice will be split into quadrants and the kids will be divided into small groups. In each quadrant different skill development drills will take place and the kids will rotate every 8 to 10 minutes to different quadrants. These small groups and different skill development drills allow for less standing in line and more puck touches.

LEARN TO PLAY SESSION 1 (FALL 2023)

Date Skate Time Event Rink Date Skate Time Event Rink
Friday, Sept 8th 6:00-7:10 PM Game Night SIA Friday, Oct 27th 6:00-7:10 PM Game Night SIA
Saturday, Sept 9th 9:10-10:10 AM Power Skate SIA Saturday, Oct 28th 9:10-10:10 AM Power Skate SIA
Sunday, Sept 10th 9:20-10:20 AM Skills Day SIA Sunday, Oct 29th 9:20-10:20 AM Skills Day SIA
Friday, Sept 15th 6:00-7:10 PM Game Night SIA Friday, Nov 3rd NO ICE CCM Tournament SIA
Saturday, Sept 16th 9:10-10:10 AM Power Skate SIA Saturday, Nov 4th NO ICE CCM Tournament SIA
Sunday, Sept 17th 9:20-10:20 AM Skills Day SIA Sunday, Nov 5th NO ICE CCM Tournament SIA
Friday, Sept 22nd 6:00-7:10 PM Game Night SIA Friday, Nov 10th 6:00-7:10 PM Game Night SIA
Saturday, Sept 23rd 9:10-10:10 AM Power Skate SIA Saturday, Nov 11th 9:10-10:10 AM Power Skate SIA
Sunday, Sept 24th 9:20-10:20 AM Skills Day SIA Sunday, Nov 12th NO ICE SnowFlake Classic SIA
Friday, Sept 29th 6:00-7:10 PM Game Night SIA Friday, Nov 17th 6:00-7:10 PM Game Night SIA
Saturday, Sept 30th 9:10-10:10 AM Power Skate SIA Saturday, Nov 18th 9:10-10:10 AM Power Skate SIA
Sunday, Oct 1st 9:20-10:20 AM Skills Day SIA Sunday, Nov 19th 9:20-10:20 AM Skills Day SIA
Friday, Oct 6th 6:00-7:10 PM Game Night SIA Friday, Nov 24th 6:00-7:10 PM Game Night SIA
Saturday, Oct 7th 9:10-10:10 AM Power Skate SIA Saturday, Nov 25th 9:10-10:10 AM Power Skate SIA
Sunday, Oct 8th 9:20-10:20 AM Skills Day SIA Sunday, Nov 26th 9:20-10:20 AM Skills Day SIA
Friday, Oct 13th 6:00-7:10 PM Game Night SIA Friday, Dec 1st 6:00-7:10 PM Game Night SIA
Saturday, Oct 14th 9:10-10:10 AM Power Skate SIA Saturday, Dec 2nd 9:10-10:10 AM Power Skate SIA
Sunday, Oct 15h 9:20-10:20 AM Skills Day SIA Sunday, Dec 3rd 9:20-10:20 AM Skills Day SIA
Friday, Oct 20th 6:00-7:10 PM Game Night SIA Friday, Dec 8th 6:00-7:10 PM Game Night SIA
Saturday, Oct 21st 9:10-10:10 AM Power Skate SIA Saturday, Dec 9th 9:10-10:10 AM Power Skate SIA
Sunday, Oct 22nd 9:20-10:20 AM Skills Day SIA Sunday, Dec 10th 9:20-10:20 AM Skills Day SIA
Friday, Dec 15th 6:00-7:10 PM Game Night SIA
Saturday, Dec 16th 9:10-10:10 AM Power Skate SIA
Sunday, Dec 17th 9:20-10:20 AM Skills Day SIA

Try Hockey for Free - Sunday, August 20th

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The flowchart below shows player progression for learning to skate to playing recreational/competitive hockey as part of a team.

FAQ's

How do I register my player for a session? Registration is done via our website at www.stjudehockey.org.  If you have any questions about the program or need help registering, please contact Darcy Folliard.  Please note your child must have 2023-2024 USA Hockey Insurance to participate, please click here to register with USA Hockey.

Where are the classes and how much ice time is there per session? The schedule for all sessions is listed above.  All ice sessions are at Southwest Ice Arena (SIA) in Crestwood, IL.  Session times/dates are subject to change due to ice availability.

What equipment will my player need to participate in the Little Knights Learn to Play program?   All Little Knights players must have full hockey equipment including: helmet, neck guard, shoulder/chest protector, elbow pads, hockey pants, shin guards, sweater socks, gloves and, of course, hockey skates.  Players will not be allowed on the ice if they do not have a neck guard.  Additionally, many players like to have a mouth guard secured to their helmet so it does not fall out on the ice if they spit it out.  If you unfamiliar with any of the equipment, please contact Darcy Folliard and he will help direct you to a good source for it.  Equipment (excluding skates and neck guard) is available to rent, but limited to very small sizes.  Please contact Tony Dinnocenzo for more information on rentals.  All players will be required to purchase a reversible St. Jude jersey for $50.  One jersey will last each player all the 2023 - 2024 sessions.  If your player has a  reversible jersey from last season that still fits, they do not need to purchase another.

Who may participate? The St. Jude Little Knights Learn to Play program is open to boys and girls born in 2019 through 2012 who have successfully completed a Learn to Skate program.

What are you teaching? The Knights Coaching Staff subscribes to the American Development Model of instruction based on the foundation of play, love, and excel. Learn the basics in their simplest form- fun. If they’re having the fun, the excelling part is easy.

I am not familiar with the USA Hockey ADM model.  Where can I learn more?  Additional information on the USA Hockey American Development Model (ADM) can be found at www.ADMKids.com .  The St. Jude organization won 2011 Program of the Year from the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI).

 

A VIDEO ON HOW TO PUT ON HOCKEY EQUIPMENT

A GREAT VIDEO TO SHOW HOW YOUR CHILD SHOULD PUT ON HOCKEY EQUIPMENT.

Need More Info?

For more information on the Little Knights Learn to Play program, please contact Tony Dinnocenzo or Darcy Folliard.

Tony Dinnocenzo

Pre-Hockey Director

Darcy Folliard

Pre-Hockey Coordinator

Chris Cimoch Sr.

Pre-Hockey Instructor