Youth Inc. Recommends: Five Resources to Understand the Levels of Girls’ Hockey from Youth to College

Girls' hockey in the US and Canada is organized into various levels across youth and collegiate categories. Youth hockey organizational structures are complicated, especially for girls’ hockey, where there are typically less clear divisions, and fewer teams around. Among local youth teams, travel teams, prep schools, club teams, and more, there are a variety of competitiveness levels and team structures available to players. In college hockey, it becomes a bit more clear-cut with the NCAA having DIII and DI women’s hockey.

Below are five resources that help break down the different leagues and levels of hockey girls players might encounter.

Age Levels in Youth Hockey (USA and Canada)

What it is: This article gives an overview of how age groups are organized for youth hockey teams and leagues in both the US and Canada. It includes girls-specific breakdowns for US teams, whereas Canadian youth leagues use the same age brackets for boys and girls.

Why we like it: A solid starting point for understanding how players are grouped by age. It also introduces key terms used to classify youth teams and gives a brief look at how skill levels are ranked.

Prep School Hockey is a Feeder for Women’s College Hockey

What it is: For girls high school hockey, many of the best teams are in prep school leagues. This article discusses the New England Prep School Hockey League, but also gives information about prep school hockey in general.

Why we like it: Prep schools can be one of the best choices for advanced high school players, but they can also be intimidating from a money and boarding perspective. This article helps to quell a lot of fears to ensure players end up in the best position possible.

USA Hockey Resources and Contacts for Girls Hockey

What it is: A resource page from USA Hockey itself covering all the resources they have on girls' hockey.

Why we like it: It’s often very hard, if not impossible, to find information about how girls’ hockey operates in the US. If you have a question about how USA Hockey runs their girl’s program, the answer is likely linked to on this page, and if it’s not, it provides contacts to ask.

Levels of College Hockey

What it is: An overview of the different college hockey divisions and the conferences within each. It also dives into recruiting pipelines commonly associated with each division.

Why we like it: If college hockey is the goal, it’s important to know where to play in high school. This article helps parents understand where their kids should aim to play to improve their chances of recruitment.

Team and League Rankings

What it is: A database of teams and leagues in both the US and Canada, offering stats and approximate rankings for girl’s and boy’s teams. Includes all teams affiliated with USA Hockey or Hockey Canada.

Why we like it: While individual team rankings aren’t the most important factor in deciding where to play, this tool helps give a big-picture comparison across leagues. Comparing teams only a few rankings apart may not be the most helpful, but for broader designations of how competitive teams are, it can be a good guide.