Kachinas Elite Program

• Players are to arrive in a timely manner to tryouts
• Bring full equipment
• Check-in with the Kachinas representative located at the front desk
• Players will be assigned a pinny for evaluation purposes
• A players pinny will identify their team for scrimmage day, the tryout process is new so please check-in to all skates for any adjustments
• Request for all players to put number on front side of jersey
• Each skate will be ran by a Kachinas Elite coach from different age groups, the coaches will be on-site evaluating
• The first skate will be a skill evaluation
• The second skate will be a game scenario evaluation
• 14U & 16U players will receive a team color for scrimmage day, the schedule is shown in the schedule
• Incudes 2 45 minute scrimmages
• The final skate will be an invite-only skate
• Parents will receive an email from the Elite Hockey Director with game assignment
• You may receive a request for a single skate or multiple skates
• Kachinas Elite Coaches Evaluation
• Tier I Coaches will evaluate and release team rosters 5/5/2026
• Tier II Coaches will evaluate and release team rosters 5/12/2026
• Non-Tier Coaches will evaluate and release team rosters 5/19/2026



Our Kachinas Elite program is split into 3 groups:

• Tier I/AAA
• Our Nationally Bound Tier I/AAA teams are classified as Green teams at the 14U-19U age groups
• Tier II/AA
• Our Nationally Bound Tier II/AA teams are classified as Red teams at the 14U-19U age groups
• Non-Tier/A
• Our Elite House/Rec teams include 10U-15U options to play at skill appropriate leagues/tournaments, prepping them for the next step into Tier hockey
• 10U Futures is classified as House/Rec competing at A/AA
• 12U Futures is classified as House/Rec competing at A/AA
• 12U Elite is classified as House/Rec competing at AA/AAA
• 15U Futures is classified House/Rec competing at A

If an in individual can not attend tryouts due to a conflict, they must pay in full to try out for a GHA travel team. Players who are unable to attend tryouts for any reason still are responsible for paying the tryout fee and must send a written request via email to be considered at tryouts to the Elite Hockey Director two (2) weeks or more prior to tryouts.



19U/16U Tier I Vertical Integration

• 16U Players have the opportunity to tryout for the 19U Team, 2 options will be approached:
• Full Season Play-Up
• USA Hockey Vertical Integration Opportunities for up to 8 games
• Includes 2 pre-determined tournaments for players to participate with the 19U team
• Vertically integrated players are responsible for tournament and team weekend fee associated with the tournament

Vertical Integration opportunities will be identified at the time of tryouts. Please reference Kachinas Policy 4.11.

• 4.11. GHA may on occasion roster a 16U player at the 19U level in compliance with AAHA and USA Hockey policies. In order for a 16U player to be added to a 19U roster, the following process must be followed:
• 4.11.1. All 16U and 19U players are required to register and tryout at their true birth year age group
• 4.11.2. During but not before tryouts, the 16U players who are determined by the 16U and 19U head coaches at the same level (Tier I or Tier II) and the Elite Hockey Director to have the ability and maturity to be able to play at the 19U level are invited to the remaining days of 19U tryouts.
• 4.11.3. After tryouts are concluded, the 19U head coach and the Elite Hockey Director will determine whether the player would be offered a roster spot on the 19U team
• 4.11.4. The player and her parents will make the final decision if she will play at 19U or 16U. GHA cannot exclusively offer a 16U player a 19U roster spot unless there is no alternative option available for skill level at her age group

As we build for the future and improve the competitiveness of our Tier I and Tier II teams, we have the opportunity to add a few out-of-state players to our roster(s). As AAHA (Arizona Amateur Hockey Association) guidelines limit the number of out-of-state players a team can roster (approximately 25%), we are only looking at 3-5 spots per Tier I team depending on overall roster size. Adding these players not only increases the competitiveness of our Tier I and Tier II teams but also allows us to accurately place players, based on their individual skill sets and developmental needs, on a team supportive of their continued growth and success in hockey and in life. 

Per AAHA Policy:

• 13.2.3 3 Tier I Selection Process
• h. All Tier I teams registered through AAHA shall limit the number of Out-of-State Players (as defined in this Article) to the following:
• (i) 18U (youth); 19U (girls); shall have no more than 25% of the registered player roster with a maximum of one (1) of those players being goalies,
• (ii) 15O and 16U (youth); 16U (girls); shall have no more than 25% of the registered player roster with a maximum of one (1) of those players being goalies.
• (iii) 13O and 14U (youth); 14U (girls); shall have no more than three (3) out of state players and only one (1) of those players may be goalies.
• (iv) For purposes of this Article, an Out-of-State Player is any player who, at the time of roster submission, does not have an immediate family member who is domiciled in Arizona and lists Arizona as their permanent address. An immediate family member is defined as (1) a natural or adoptive Parent or Grandparent, (b) an older sibling or (c) a Guardian appointed due to the death or incapacity of a Parent. In order to demonstrate Arizona residency, two (2) of the documents listed below must be submitted to the AAHA Board of Directors no later than August 15th.

More information on our Billet Program can be found HERE.

Out of State Players (not participating in Billet Program) are subject to Kachinas policy 4.4.2.:

• 4.4.2 Out of state players who choose not to billet will be offered a special price based on the following: Association Fee with a 10% fee added, Tournament Fee for all tournaments, Team Weekend Fee for all team weekends offered during the season. Players will be responsible for paying the special price on the standard 10 month payment schedule.

*Policy 4.4.2 is currently under review by the Kachinas Board of Directors and may have language adjusted prior to tryouts execution*