Article Contributed on: 4/24/2009 2:43:03 PM
A newly formed youth hockey association aims to give skilled players an opportunity to develop and showcase their talent on a national level.
The Colorado Tier Hockey Association, which was officially formed April 22, will begin building the foundation of a new Tier I hockey program. The association is a collaborative effort of the Arvada Hockey Association, Boulder Hockey Club, Hyland Hills Hockey Association and Northern Colorado Youth Hockey.
Tier I hockey programs, launched in 2002 by USA Hockey and the United States Hockey League, offer advanced players an opportunity to further hone and develop their skills. Tier I hockey is considered a steppingstone for players interested in moving on to collegiate and semi-professional levels.
Colorado Tier Hockey Association (CTHA) will give local players an alternative to the Colorado Thunderbirds, another Tier I hockey club that plays at Big Bear Ice Arena in Denver, said
Randy Kanai, president of CHTA.
One of the goals of the league is to help retain local hockey players, Kanai said. Top-flight skaters in the north metro area are increasingly leaving their local hockey programs to play with the Thunderbirds, he said.
"We felt if we could pull these four associations together that we can offer a very competitive alternative to the Thunderbirds," Kanai said.
It also will give players an opportunity to play closer to home, he said. The association, which will include four teams, will be based out of the Broomfield Event Center, 11450 Broomfield Lane.
"We are thrilled to welcome the CTHA in the coming months and for the opportunity to serve the local youth hockey community," said
Gene Felling, CEO of Broomfield Sports and Entertainment and general manager of the Broomfield Event Center.
The CTHA is the first youth sports program to call the Broomfield Event Center home, Felling said. The new league will host games, practices and clinics at the 180,000 square-foot facility on a regular basis from September through March, he said.
Felling said the CTHA signed a lease to play at the Broomfield Event Center next season with options for additional seasons.
"It's a win-win for everybody," Felling said. "The league will use the time when the ice is basically sitting empty."
Local city officials also welcomed the announcement.
"Youth hockey is an exciting sport and Broomfield is always pleased to help youth sports succeed," said Broomfield mayor
Patrick Quinn. "We are very pleased at this development. Broomfield hockey enthusiasts will be able to skate in their own town."
Though the league will give youth hockey players an opportunity to garner national exposure at so-called "showcase" tournaments, it will come at a price. League officials estimate each player will be required to cover annual expenses of $5,000 to $6,000, not including travel costs. Players will travel out of state about seven to ten times per year, Kanai said.
The CTHA will have an annual budget of close to $1 million, Kanai said, and currently is looking for a title sponsor to help cover some of the expenses. Other Tier I hockey associations around the country, such as the PF Changs, Team Comcast and the Little Caesars, are backed by corporate sponsors.
Announcements will be made soon regarding a team name, mascot and logo as well as a hockey director, team declarations, coaching staff, summer training programs and tryout information. Additional information regarding the CTHA will be released on the CTHA Web site at
www.cthahockey.com and the founding member Web sites as it becomes available.
AT A GLACE
The four teams in the Colorado Tier Hockey Association will include U18, U16, U15 and U14. CTHA will field these four teams beginning in the fall of 2009. CTHA is a collaborative effort by Arvada Hockey Association, Boulder Hockey Club, Hyland Hills Junior Hockey Association and Northern Colorado Youth Hockey to mutually develop, support and promote a premier Tier I hockey program in the state of Colorado. The Colorado Amateur Hockey Association approved the formation of the CTHA on April 22. The CTHA board of directors is made up of two representatives from each member association.