Grizzlies AcademyRegistration for 2024-25

Welcome to competitive team assessments!  All of this information (and more) will be covered at the parent meeting following the 2nd assessment. This information is intended to give parents an idea of how the season will run, approximate cost, and available fundraising opportunities. 

 Arctic Lions and Alaska Grizzlies are proud of our 30+ year history supporting competitive hockey players as they decide the path they want to travel. Allowing players the opportunity for development and the support for continued growth is why we have been successfully fielding teams and supporting players from Ice Puppies to the NHL.

The season plans all include several areas of focus aimed at developing the whole athlete. To accomplish this, the team will utilize the coaching staff as well as other experts and resources in the community to provide the highest level of on-ice skill development, off-ice strength, and agility training, sports psychology/mental training, community service activities, and integrity/character building.

16U 

The Arctic Lions 16U team will be led by Coach Jimmy Terry who brings over 10 years of coaching experience to the ice. This is a national bound team that could earn a spot at the USA Hockey National Tournament based on season performance. The season plan will include several areas of focus aimed at developing the whole athlete. To accomplish this, the team will utilize the coaching staff as well as other experts and resources in the community to provide the highest level of on-ice skill development, off-ice strength and agility training, sports psychology/mental training, community service activities and integrity/character building. This team will break for the high school season with practices offered during the time, but game play is scheduled as allowed by the Alaska State Activities Association.

14U 

The Alaska Grizzlies 14U team will be led by Jason Huffaker.  As a Level 4 coach, he brings his experience developing players to the 2023-24 season. 14U can be a national bound team that could earn a spot at the USA Hockey National Tournament based on season performance. Coach Huffaker will announce his assistant coaches and specific details of the season during the first team meeting. The season plan will include several areas of focus aimed at developing the whole athlete. Coach Huffaker is known for his commitment to individual players and the team and has a history of creating high performance teams within their division. The team will utilize the coaching staff as well as other experts and resources in the community to provide the highest level of on-ice skill development, off-ice strength and agility training, sports psychology/mental training, community service activities and integrity/character building.

12U

The Alaska Grizzlies will host a 12U team led by Coach Jason Huffaker.  Coach Huffaker is a Level 4 coach and is ready to start his 9^th year of coaching with the Grizzlies. Coach Huffaker is known for his commitment to players and teams and has a history of developing teams who perform well at their State competitions and tournaments each year. This year, 12U coaches will further start to add attention to the athlete’s mental mindset, body awareness and hockey sense. Coach Huffaker is great at getting extra games and utilizing his practices well so players will see a considerable amount of ice team leading to development. The 12U team will be assessed as major or minor team based on the NEW seeding tournament required by the Alaska State Hockey Association. The final determination of team placement will be based on the seeding tournament assessment of skill.

10U 

This is a competitive travel and development hockey team led by Coach Eric Johnson and will include players of advanced skill levels who wish to be placed on a team that employs the fundamental curriculum of USA Hockey’s American Development Model (ADM) with added AKG Enhancements. Coach Johnson is starting his fifth season with the Grizzlies and has a history of developing young players on and off the ice while creating a fun and engaging environment. Ice sheets at the 10U level consist of full ice, half ice, and additional shared ice for 60 minutes. Game formats will focus on full ice with half ice and offered in compliance with ASHA rules. At the 10U level, players will begin to transfer skills and concepts from practices to games. Group interaction, team building, and social activities are also emphasized. A balance of practice and games will promote the continued development and mastery of key hockey skills. The 10U team will be assessed as major or minor team based on the NEW seeding tournament required by the Alaska State Hockey Association. The final determination of team placement will be based on the seeding tournament assessment of skill.

Parent Meeting

Held after the second tryout assessment upstairs near the concessions at the Patty Ice Arena. Please watch your email for adjustments to date/time of team meetings. The first team meeting will be announced after the announcement of the selected players.

TEAM BUDGET

Budgets are an estimate of the team expenses expected for a season. After the scheduling meeting in Anchorage, the Association Treasurer, Coach, Manager, and Finance Manager will develop a final budget to be presented to parents. Fundraising is a large part of the budget considerations and many opportunities are provided to help offset the cost of the season and make it more manageable for parents. Some families pay for their entire season, including approved travel costs with fundraising activities.

PLAYER CODE OF CONDUCT AND CONTRACTS

There will be no exceptions to player and parent code of conduct requirements. Players, parents/guardians, and coaches will be required to sign a Code of Conduct and Player Contract. Arctic Lions and Alaska Grizzlies expect each player and their parent/guardian to review the information and understand the expectations of the Code of Conduct. Players may be removed from a team for violations of the Code of Conduct by the player or parent/guardian.

FUNDRAISING

Many opportunities for fundraising are available so keep your eyes out in the near future as more information is distributed. It will also be available on our website. This is a great opportunity to reduce the out-of-pocket cost.  Please see the Association Guidelines for additional information on fundraising and how you can access these opportunities to pay for your player's hockey season. Many families fundraise their entire season!

Individual Player

• Individual Sponsors
• AL/AK Grizzlies Concessions
• Ice Dogs Beer Booth/Concessions
• Raffle Ticket Sales
• Scorekeepers for Games

Team

• Hoodie Fundraiser
• Team Sponsors
• Team Fundraisers
• Association Sponsored Fundraising

We are looking forward to a great year of hockey. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

arcticlions@fairbankshockey.org