Junior Gold Hockey is an association based hockey program for boys ages 15 – 18.   Junior Gold hockey is for boys who love to play hockey and want to continue to play during their High School years. 

As compared with high school hockey you will have more games and tournaments in Junior Gold Hockey.  Many players indicate that their Junior Gold hockey years were the best of their careers – even better than the years they played on the High School JV team. 

It is an opportunity to play a game you love with your friends.  There are three levels of play – A, B, and U16.  We are very fortunate in White Bear to have a strong tradition of Junior Gold hockey.  WBL JG hockey has consistently sent teams to the state tournament and has hung a banner as state champions. 

Our coaches have a significant amount of experience in youth hockey coaching and junior gold hockey in particular.   

A special note to players who are trying out for the high school hockey team.  I understand completely the desire to play for the high school team  and wish you GOOD LUCK IN TRYOUTS!

If you are selected for the high school team congratulations!  I wish you all the best.  If it turns out that you are not selected for the high school team, I want you to consider playing Junior Gold hockey. 

Although you are disappointed in not making the HS team – do not let this disappointment cause you to miss out the opportunity to play the game you love with  your friends.  You will likely not get the chance to play hockey with your friends from WBL in an organized league once you have left high school. 

The quality of Junior Gold hockey play is very high – especially at the A level.  There are many communities with strong hockey traditions such as WBL, Edina, Wayzata, Minnetonka, and Eden Prairie that simply do not have enough spots on the high school team for all of the talented hockey players in their associations.  This means that the Junior Gold teams from these associations play at a very high level with many players who could play high school hockey in smaller communities. 

Interested – or even curious??  Then I encourage you to attend the mandatory Junior Gold Player – Parent meeting on Thursday, November 17, at 7 PM at South Campus Theater. 

You will sign up for tryouts at this meeting(there is no fee for this – included in your registration fee), meet the coaches,  and receive information about the Junior Gold Hockey Program.  Tryouts begin on Friday November 18th.  You must be registered with USA hockey and the WBLAHA to participate in tryouts.  Details on tryouts can be found on the WBLAHA website.  www.wblhockey.com.

If you have questions please call me at 651 285-5239.

Wishing you success in your hockey career wherever this may lead you.

Regards,

Tim Fletcher
WBLAHA Junior Gold Coordinator