District 6 associations join forces to create new Tier I program

UPDATE (Jan. 7, 2015): The West Michigan Elite Hockey Association is looking to fill coaching positions. Click this link for more information.

West Michigan Hounds marked
Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey


By @MichaelCaples –

Twelve hockey associations in District 6 have joined forces to bring a new Tier I hockey program to West Michigan.

The new association – named the West Michigan Elite Hockey Association – was granted a Tier I award from the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association at its annual December meeting, and will begin the process of constructing a new AAA organization quickly.

The 12 associations will work together to field high-level teams from pee wees to midgets, with the focus on giving elite youngsters the chance to compete with a program close to home. The participating associations, which will all continue their house and travel (Tier II) programs, are the West Michigan Hounds, Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association, Grand Rapids Amateur Hockey Association, Lansing Hockey Club, Grand Valley, Jackson, HAWK, Rockford, Muskegon Chiefs, Battle Creek, GR Blades, and Kentwood.

“The reason we came together as a group was to give kids in Michigan an opportunity to play Tier I hockey, but our goal is to give kids who live in District 6 and opportunity to stay close to home and play,” said Lansing Hockey Club president Jeff Mitchell. “In doing this, we hope to create unity in all the associations that have come together and continue to grow youth hockey in that area, and also give kids the opportunity to play Tier I hockey. We’ll still pull kids from the Detroit area and everything like that, but this is definitely good for the kids out in D6 and now we can grow our local associations together and give kids more opportunities to move on.

The associations plan to work together over the next few weeks to sort out logistics, programs, coaches and expectations for each age group in the Tier I program.

“This creates an opportunity for our young elite athletes to develop in their home geographic area,” said GRAHA director Jean Laxton. “It is our intention to allow these players to skate and develop within their own associations.”