Lace up your skates and grab your stick for our intro to hockey program designed for ages 4+ for those with little to no hockey experience! Discover the thrill of the ice with knowledgeable coaches, fun drills, and even more engaging games! We will teach the fundamentals of hockey to help build confidence and create memories to start your hockey journey!
  • Spring Session March 6, 2024 - April 24, 2024
  • Summer I Session May 8, 2024 - June 26, 2024
  • Summer II Session July 31, 2024 - September 18, 2024
  • Fall Session October 2, 2024 - November 20, 2024

Intro to Hockey – Fall

  • Spring Registration Deadline: 02/26/2024
  • Summer I Registration Deadline: 04/29/2024
  • Summer II Registration Deadline: 07/22/2024
  • Fall Registration Deadline: 09/16/2024
Age Ranges: Ages 4-12
Fees

Additional Information

Intro to Hockey is a progressive development system for young athletes who are interested in the sport of hockey. There are three levels within the Intro to Hockey Program: Intro I, II, and III. The primary objective is to allow each athlete to build important fundamental skills throughout each level in order to propel them into the sport of hockey.

Intro to Hockey introduces young players to the basic fundamental skills of hockey including skating, puck control, passing, and everything in between!

All levels incorporate hockey skills with motor, physical, mental and social skills in a positive environment. This program also builds self esteem, confidence, promotes sportsmanship and fair play while instilling a love and passion for the game of hockey.

Features
– 8 on-ice sessions
– Professional instruction
– Low player to instructor ratio
– Proven teaching methods for best results at younger ages, utilizing the ISI and USA Hockey recommendations.
– Receive an Intro to Hockey Jersey

Intro 1
(intended for first-time hockey players who have gone through some skating skills in the past)
*Must be able to fall down and get up on their own
Athletic Skills Development:
Stand up, Fall, March, Glide, Dip, Snowplow Stop, Forward Swizzles, Glide Turns
Puck Skills Development:

Proper Stick Placement
Stationary Puck Handling

Intro II
(intended for players with little experience in hockey)
*Hockey I Prerequisite or being able to skate the width of the rink without problems
Athletic Skills Development:
Forward Swizzles, Forward Hockey Shuffle, Forward Slalom, 1 Foot Glide, Snowplow Stop (both feet), Forward C Cuts, Forward Scooter Pushes, Forward Crossovers, Forward Stride
Puck Skills Development:

Stationary Puck Handling, Open Ice Carry, Forehand Sweep Pass, Receiving a Pass, Forehand Sweep Shot

Intro III
(intended for players who have some general experience in hockey)
* Prerequisite Hockey I & II or forward skating with proficiency
Athletic Skills Development:

Backward Swizzles, Backward Hockey Shuffle, Backward Slalom, Backward 1-foot Glide, Hockey Stop, Backward C Cuts, Backward Alternating C Cuts, Power Turn
Puck Skills Development:

Backhand Sweep Pass, Receiving a Backhand Sweep Pass, Open Ice Carry in a Circle, Backhand Sweep Shot

Full hockey equipment highly recommended (not provided)
– Helmet required with full facemask
– Mouth guard
– Shoulder pads
– Elbow pads
– Hockey gloves or other gloves
– Hockey pants/breezers or long pants
– Shin pads
– Hockey socks or sweat pants to cover shin pads
– Skates
– Hockey stick
– Jersey will be provided for all participants

NSC Event HQ. This system will streamline your enrollment process and give you more access to your customer account. Use this system to register for Intro to Basketball I or II.

If this is your first time using the system, you will need to create a NSC Event HQ Household Account. The account owner must be 18 years of age or older.

After you have created your account, verify your email and set up your password. You can then add your spouse and/or children as “participants”. Click here to get started.

If you already have an account then login here.

Contact the program director with any questions or for further assistance.

Program Fee includes a jersey, 8 practices at the Super Rink, and a fun and inviting atmosphere to learn the sport of hockey.

*Financial scholarships available: please contact the program director for more information and to request the financial scholarship application form.

Refund Policy
– 30-10 days prior to start of class – 75% refund
– 9 days prior – 50% refund
– After session begins: In house Credit (dependent on # of sessions attended)
– Injuries = full refund with medical note (dependent on # of sessions attended)

Program Cancelation Policy
The following policy will be enacted IF a program hosted by the National Sports Center MUST be canceled by the directives of the State of Minnesota or the Minnesota Department of Health. Please know that our top priority on making decisions moving forward will be the safety and health of our participants, coaches, employees, and spectators.

Participants will receive a refund for your program entry. Participant registration refunds will be processed at 100% of the registration total.

*Please note that if a participant elects to drop prior to the program, the above voucher policy will be in effect. This includes participants making their own decision to withdraw prior to the potential cancellation.

If a customer (club, *team, individual) is required to quarantine due to illness or exposure to the COVID-19 virus, and are unable to participate for this reason, a refund will be not be issued unless done within the parameters of the existing policy. The event director will reschedule, if possible. Reschedules are not guaranteed to be on the same day or time as originally scheduled.

*Roster adjustments may be allowed per event directors discretion.

Surcharge Fee
The National Sports Center has instituted a 2% surcharge on all submitted card payments to help cover a portion of the processing fees assessed to the NSC by the card processing companies. Customers can avoid the fee by registering online and paying with an e-check.

How do I register?
– Registration for all Intro Programs is through our NSC Event HQ website.
– For information on how to register, please visit your specific intro program website, and find the step by step process under the Registration System tab.

When will I receive session updates?
Participants will receive an email one week prior to the first day of the program with all the information needed. If you have any questions prior to then, please feel free to reach out to the specific program director.

Do I need to bring equipment?
– For Intro to Hockey, we have a list of required equipment on the main website found HERE under the equipment tab.
– All other Intro Programs DO NOT require equipment.

Are there pre-requisites for each level?
– Intro to Hockey pre-requisites can be found on the main webpage HERE under the curriculum tab.
– All other Intro Programs are designed based on age level.
– For any questions regarding which level to register for, please feel free to reach out the to specific program director.

Can parents participate in class / be on the field or court?
Our intro to sport programs are led by our experienced and knowledgeable coaching staff. We ask that parents do not participate on the field/court with the participants during class (warming up before class is fine is space is available). IF your child requires extra assistance during class, please contact the program director prior to the class starting to work out a plan with the coaching staff.

Will I be notified for weather cancellations?
– Indoor Sports/Practices: Indoor Practices will not be cancelled due to inclement weather.
– Outdoor Practices: Participants will be notified 2-3 hours prior to the start of practice if inclement weather cancels practice for that day.

Event Contacts

  • Ellen Jones
    Program Director & Registrar
    Phone: 763-785-5634

Fees

  • Spring Session
    03/06/2024 - 04/24/2024


    $230

    Per Participant

    For Intro I

    Wednesdays 5:40-6:10PM

    NSC Super Rink

  • Summer I Session
    05/08/2024 - 06/26/2024


    $230

    Per Participant

    For Intro I

    Wednesdays 5:40-6:10PM

    NSC Super Rink

  • Summer II Session
    07/31/2024 - 09/18/2024


    $230

    Per Participant

    For Intro I

    Wednesdays 5:40-6:10PM

    NSC Super Rink

  • Fall Session
    10/02/2024 - 11/20/2024


    $230

    Per Participant

    For Intro I

    Wednesdays 5:40-6:10PM

    NSC Super Rink

  • Spring Session
    03/06/2024 - 04/24/2024


    $330

    Per Participant

    For Intro II & III

    Wednesdays 5:40-6:40PM

    NSC Super Rink

  • Summer I Session
    05/08/2024 - 06/26/2025


    $330

    Per Participant

    For Intro II & III

    Wednesdays 5:40-6:40PM

    NSC Super Rink

  • Summer II Session
    07/31/2024 - 09/18/2024


    $330

    Per Participant

    For Intro II & III

    Wednesdays 5:40-6:40PM

    NSC Super Rink

  • Fall Session
    10/02/2024 - 11/20/2024


    $330

    Per Participant

    For Intro II & III

    Wednesdays 5:40-6:40PM

    NSC Super Rink