Winter League

AHA Hockey offers Minnesota's premier adult recreational hockey experience. The AHA Winter League is designed for players of all abilities - from Beginners to Advanced, men and women. Below is information on the Program and how to get registered.

2023-24 Winter Playoff Information

Program Features:

• Multiple skill levels of play, parity enforced at each level
• 90 minute ice times; Three 17-minute, stop-time periods
• No checking, safe and competitive environment
• Two USA Hockey certified referees at every game
• Scorekeeper, online stats, and box scores
• 20 Regular Season games
• Regular Season runs late October through March
• Playoffs for qualifying teams at each tier; no extra fees for playoffs
• Includes post-season tournament berth for tier winner
• Games played at convenient rinks and start times in the Twin Cities area


Registration Details:

• Register individually or as part of a team
• Individual Fee: $570 (If registered on or before Sept 27, 2023; $595 after Sept 27, 2023)
• Team Fee: Visit Team Pay page for details
• Players must be registered with USA Hockey
• All new players to AHA league play must attend an evaluation session

Register:

Winter League: Individual

Free Agent Registration

Team Pay Registration

2023-24 Sub Goalie Registration

Check out the past Winter League Champions:
2018-19 Winter League Champions
2017-18 Winter League Champions
2016-17 Winter League Champions
2015-16 Winter League Champions

FAQs:

Can I register individually?
Absolutely! Teams in all levels are looking for players every year. First, you will need to attend an evaluation session so that we can determine the most appropriate tier for you to play in. Once you have attended an evaluation session, you can register as a Free Agent and be available to teams to draft for the upcoming season.

If I sign up individually, am I guaranteed to get on a team?
While we can't guarantee anything, it is very rare for us not to find a team for a new player, particularly skaters. With over 150 Winter teams, there are always teams in need of players every year.

Can I sign up with friends/co-workers/relatives?
Absolutely! You can register with people you know and we will do our best to find a team for you to play together, assuming relatively similar skill level.

What equipment is required for the Winter League?
Required equipment is: helmet with shield (full cage/shield is recommended, but half shield is allowed), breezers, shins, elbows, gloves, skates, and stick. Shoulder pads are optional. If you are new to the AHA and are not on a team yet, we recommend you wait to purchase breezers and helmet until you determine which team you will play on.

What are the uniform requirements?
All teams must have matching uniforms, including jerseys, socks, helmets and breezers. (Helmets/breezers need to match in color, not make.) Teams have home and away "game weight" jerseys with number and name on back. Refer to the AHA Rules Addendum for complete information.

What nights are games played?
Game days/times are not dependent on tier. Games are held on any night of the week, but the majority of games are on Sunday and Saturday nights. Start times range from afternoon until 9:45PM. Weeknight games will not start before 6:15PM. We avoid holidays and events such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve, and Super Bowl Sunday. Your schedule will consist of roughly one game per week from late October to late March.

Is fighting/rough play allowed in AHA?
AHA is a non-checking league. Fighting is strictly prohibited. AHA promotes a safe environment for adults to play hockey and does not condone rough play. Players that fight or get excessive penalty minutes are suspended. Refer to the AHA Rules Addendum for more information.

When will the 2022-23 Winter season begin?
Games are tentatively scheduled to begin October 29, 2022.

When will I find out my Winter schedule?
The schedule is released approximately two weeks before the start of the season. The complete Winter schedule is released before the start of the season.

Where can I read more about the rules?
AHA games are played following the USA Hockey Rule Book. Players should be familiar with the rules as well as the AHA Rules Addendum.

Can I play on more than one team?
Players may be rostered on more than one team, provided they are approved to play at the particular level by the AHA. Players can always play above the level at which they evaluated at, but not below. Players cannot play on more than one team in any division. (For example, a player may play on a team in the C2 East division and C2 West division, but not two teams in C2 East.) For tiers with only one division, players cannot play on multiple teams.

Can I sign up to be a sub goalie?
Yes. You must first attend an evaluation session so that we know which level(s) to list you at on the sub goalie list. Captains have access to the list and contact the goalies listed when they are in need of a goaltender for an upcoming game.
Goalies that are rostered on a winter team can be listed on the sub goalie list by contacting registration@ahahockey.com.

What are the roster limits?
For teams that do individual registration: must have 17 registered players, including one goaltender, and a maximum of 20 players (including goalie.) A team may buy out remaining spots if they wish to roster fewer than 17 players. For teams that do team pay: must have a minimum of 14 registered players, including one goaltender, and a maximum of 20 players (including goalie.)


For more information contact the Registration Coordinator.