Where to Play Youth Hockey in the DMV
Lawrence Cutlip-MasonShare
As a youth hockey coach in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia), I’m often asked about the different options for kids to get involved in hockey. Whether your child is just starting out or aiming for higher levels of competition, there’s a program for everyone.
First, I’ll explain the different options, and then I’ll provide a list of teams and leagues. (If you’re already familiar with the options, feel free to skip to the second half.)
Age Groupings
Some people might not know about youth hockey age groups in the U.S. They are organized by birth year to ensure generally fair and safe competition. Here's a simple breakdown:
-
- 6U (Mini-Mites): For players aged 5-6
- 8U (Mites): For players aged 7-8
- 10U (Squirts): For players aged 9-10
- 12U (Peewees): For players aged 11-12
- 14U (Bantams): For players aged 13-14 ; This is the Age group Checking starts for programs that are not House Level.
- 16U (Midgets): For players aged 15-16
- 18U (Midgets): For players aged 17-18
- 6U (Mini-Mites): For players aged 5-6
Different Levels and School Options
House League - (D to C Level)
For players new to hockey or looking for a more casual experience, house leagues can be a great starting point. Some rinks offer house programs, while others do not. Some rinks only participate in the Capital Corridor Hockey League (CCHL), and others may offer both house and CCHL play.
By the 14U level (ages 13-14), most standalone house programs outside of CCHL phase out, though some rinks still offer mixed-age teams like 12U+13U or 14U+16U. Unfortunately, some of these mixed-age house programs do not include full-ice games or consistent practices, which can limit development opportunities.
Some house programs offer "Selects Teams" or "Tournament Teams" during the regular season, these are only for youth hockey players who have been playing for a while and can compete at B Level hockey! These extra programs end after 14U.
You can play in House League, CCHL, and Middle School or Highschool Leagues at the same time.
Capital Corridor Hockey League (CCHL) - (C to B- Level)
Some clubs don't have a "House" League and instead participate in the CCHL, while some have both at different age levels. CCHL starts at 10U. CCHL is still a "House" type of league, but with slightly more structure and competition. Clubs in the CCHL don’t hold tryouts (generally) and don't travel outside of local rinks, making it accessible to players of all skill levels. However, roster spots can be limited.
At the 16U and 18U levels, CCHL becomes a primary option for players who want to stay in the game without committing to the travel schedules of other leagues or who get pushed out due to 16U CBHL having no B level hockey and only one or two18u Travel teams per rink. These age groups are typically combined into one team, ensuring older players have a place to continue playing. This age division can be very competitive.
You can play in CCHL, House League, and Middle School or Highschool Leagues at the same time.
Chesapeake Bay Hockey League (CBHL) - (B to AA Level)
For players ready to push themselves further, the CBHL offers competitive hockey at the B, A, and AA levels. Clubs in this league hold annual tryouts, which are often highly competitive. It’s important for families to plan ahead, as tryouts for most clubs are scheduled at the same time usually in March or April (yes 4-5 months before the season actually starts in August), making it challenging to explore multiple options.
Not all clubs field teams at every level or age group each season—it depends on player turnout and ice time availability. For players in less densely populated areas, some clubs have supplemental tryouts due to lower numbers.
CBHL starts at 10U, there is an 8U group, but it's just House Players playing in Tournaments and Jamboree's in addition to House. At the 16U Age group, there is no B-level hockey anymore and thus all clubs go from having up to 4 teams per age group to 3 teams, which causes kids to start dropping out of hockey at 16U (fewer places to play and don't want to go back to house). At 18u many kids are exiting for senior year in high school and or college so there are even fewer teams to participate (1-2 maybe 3 if the program is big enough).
You can play in CBHL and Middle school or High school Leagues at the same time. You cannot play in CCHL or House and CBHL at the same time.
Triple-A Teams - (AAA)
For the most elite players in the area, there are three AAA programs:
-
-
- Team Maryland (Co-Ed)
- Little Caps (Co-Ed)
- Washington Pride (Girls Only)
- Team Maryland (Co-Ed)
-
These programs demand significant commitment but offer exceptional opportunities for skill development and exposure. Each team might have limits on playing in Middle or Highschool leagues.
Middle School Hockey
Middle school hockey is a recreational league often described as “beer league hockey for kids” (minus the beer, of course). Most teams don’t practice, and those that do might only have a session or two before the season starts. Participation can vary wildly, with some teams existing one year and disappearing the next. To field teams, schools often combine their rosters or recruit kids from schools that don't have a team.
8th graders dominate this group due to size, while 6th graders can struggle due to size unless they are really good players.
High School Hockey
High school hockey offers similar recreational opportunities to middle school but in a slightly more organized format. Players come from various skill backgrounds, ranging from house to AAA travel programs, creating diverse rosters. Some schools have practice and some don't.
Teams are sometimes divided into Junior Varsity (JV) and Varsity levels. Not all schools can field both JV and Varsity teams consistently, as turnout can vary from year to year. Some high school teams are also formed by combining multiple schools.
Beyond these levels, there are Prep School leagues and Girls Leagues. Often these players will play on multiple teams (ex. Highschool and Girls team), each club and league has different rules on this dual rostering.
Girls-Only Programs
As a coach, it’s exciting to see the growth of girls’ hockey in the area. Girls now have access to CBHL travel teams and high school girls’ leagues, though the number of teams depends on turnout each season. Generally speaking Dual rostering is allowed, so players can participate in both girls-only and co-ed programs if they wish.
Where to Play?
House Programs
| Virginia (as of 2024/2025) | Maryland (as of 2024/2025) |
|
|
CCHL List (as of 2024/2025):
|
Bowie Bruins Baltimore Stars D.C. Titans Easton Ice Hawks Frederick Victory Hagerstown Hammerheads Howard Huskies Junior Black Bears |
Northern Virginia Ice Dogs |
|
Special Exceptions:
|
Special Exceptions:
|
CBHL List (as of 2024/2025):
Middle School List (as of 2024/2025):
All teams play in Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League (NVSHL). If your school doesn’t have a team, you can join any Fairfax team. Arlington does not have individual school teams; instead, two organizations manage combined teams.
Ice Hockey is not an official school sport in Virginia, they are clubs run outside the school as such finding contacts can be difficult.
| Alexandria Titans Arlington Admirals Arlington Knights Battlefield Brambleton Briar Woods/Riverside Broad Run/Dulles South Colgan Fauquier Bulldogs Gainesville/Patriot Herndon/Reston Lake Braddock |
Leesburg |
High School
Virginia (as of 2024/2025):
Many high schools combine with other schools to form teams, and these combinations can change from year to year depending on the league. Ice Hockey is not an official school sport in Virginia, they are clubs run outside the school as such finding contacts can be difficult.
In Virginia, there are two main leagues:
-
Capitol Scholastic Hockey League (CSHL): This league features Varsity 1 teams, and some programs also field an exhibition-level Varsity 2 team.
- Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League (NVSHL): This league includes both Varsity and Junior Varsity divisions.
| CSHL Varsity | NVSHL Varsity | NVSHL Junior Varsity |
|
Alexandria City Bishop Ireton Hayfield WT Woodson/Robinson Washington-Liberty West Potomac Colgan FP Hockey Club Lake Braddock/Centreville/Fair West Springfield Woodbridge |
Chantilly/McLean Herndon/South Lakes Langley Madison Oakton Briar Woods Broad Run Dominion/Potomac Falls Independence Riverside Stone Bridge Battlefield Fauquier/Patriot Gainesville John Champe/Lightridge Kettle Run Flint Hill Heritage/Rock Ridge Loudoun Valley/Woodgrove Tuscarora/Loudoun Yorktown |
Battlefield JV Bishop O'Connell JV Independence JV Langley JV Madison JV Yorktown JV |
Maryland (as of 2024/2025):
Many Maryland high schools combine with other schools to form teams, and these combinations can change from year to year.
There are three main leagues in the DMV area:
-
Maryland Student Hockey League (MSHL): General league for high school teams containing a Varsity and Junior Varsity division. Baltimore Schools are in the MIAA.
-
Maryland Student Hockey League Girls (MSHL Girls): Dedicated league for girls' high school teams.
- Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA): A separate league for schools in the Baltimore area. (See the other league list for details.)
| MSHL Varsity | MSHL Junior Varsity | MSHL Girls |
| Arundel/Annapolis/Chessie Broadneck Crofton Dulaney Easton HarCo Kent Island Queen Anne's County Severna Park South River St. Mary's Annapolis Glenelg Howard HS Marriotts Ridge Mt. Hebron River Hill Royals Wolves Carroll County Frederick County Middletown Oakdale Urbana Washington County Bethesda/Chevy Chase DC Stars Montgomery Blair NWQO Richard Montgomery Rockville/Magruder Sherwood Upper Montgomery Walt Whitman Walter Johnson Winston Churchill Varsity Wootton Central MD Charles County Huntingtown La Plata Leonardtown Northern St. Mary's Ryken |
ANA/ARU/CHE Broadneck Harco KI Severna Park South River Glenelg Hammers River Hill BCC Blair DC Stars NWQOSHER RAM RM UML WJ Whitman Churchill Wootton |
Eastern Howard Monocacy Valley Montgomery North Eastern Southern |
Other Leagues:
There are additional leagues for girls' hockey, prep hockey, Catholic hockey, and more throughout the area. The following list provides links to their respective leagues, so you can explore and find more information. Many players participate in these leagues alongside other programs.
-
Mid-Atlantic Girls Hockey League (MAGHL)
- Girls League for the DMV area, not all schools have a team.
-
Mid-Atlantic Prep Hockey League (MAPHL)
- As the name applies it's for the Prep Schools of the area.
-
Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA)
- This is for the Baltimore Area High Schools that split off from the rest of the MSHL.
- Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC)
Last Update: 01/17/2025