To kick off the season, the Carolina Hurricanes are hosting a Youth Hockey Night Oct 6th when they face the Tampa Bay Lightning. They are offering us a promo to 'Buy 1 Get 1 for $10' for that game!! We'd love to help fill the PNC with kids in their youth jerseys. So, come on out and be sure to wear your jersey (we'll have them by then!)

See ticket options and purchase the promo at www.canesgroups.com/YouthNight

Key Dates & Information

• 8/5/19 - 9/1/19:  Registration Open for Fall 2019-20 Season
• 9/9/19:  Evaluations & Practice start for 10U through 18U
• 9/23/19:  First practice for Mites / 8U
• 9/28/19 - 9/29/19:  First PHHL Games (10U - 18U)
• 11/25/19 - 12/1/19:  Thanksgiving Break (no practice or games)
• 12/23/19 - 1/3/20:  Holiday Break (no practice or games)
• 2/22/20 - 2/23/20: Last PHHL Regular Season Games (10U - 18U)
• 2/28/20 - 3/8/20:  PHHL Tournament (10U - 18U)
• Early March:  Mites (8U) season ends
• All practices and home games are at the Orange County Sportsplex

Tentative Practice Schedule (9/9/19 – 3/5/20)

To be finalized week of 9/9, when we confirm the number of teams at each level

• Mites / 8U:  Mondays, 5:45pm and potentially some weekend practice sessions if numbers dictate the need
• Squirts / 10U:  Tuesdays, 5:45pm and Thursdays, 5:45pm
• Peewees / 12U:  Tuesdays, 6:45pm and Thursdays, 6:45pm
• Bantams / 15U:  Mondays, 6:45pm and Wednesdays 6:30pm or 7:30pm (may vary week to week)
• Midget / 18U:  Wednesdays, 7:30pm
• Tournament Teams (10U, 12U, 14U, and potentially 16U):  Extra games (& potentially a few practices) will be on weekends only.

Mites / 8U

• Open to 2011 birth year and younger
• First practice is Monday, 9/23 at 5:45pm.  20 one-hour shared ice ADM practices on Mondays (with the potential for some weekend practice sessions if overall Mite numbers are higher than expected) 
• Games are half-ice, Exhibition and Jamborees with other associations Home and Away, Saturdays or Sundays.
• Program cost $650

Squirts / 10U

• Open to birth years 2009 and 2010 
• Evaluation sessions for purposes of team assignment will be the week of 9/9.  There will be two sessions and each player should attend at least one of the sessions or both if possible. Session days and times:
  • Tuesday, 9/10, 5:45pm
  • Thursday, 9/12, 5:45pm
• Regular practice starts on Tuesday, 9/17.  44 hours of shared weeknight practice on Tuesdays (5:45pm) and Thursdays (5:45pm)
• Games: 18 full ice, 1 hour session games on Sundays and end of season tournament in the Polar Hurricanes League
• Team size 14-17 players.  We are planning on fielding one advanced team and one regular division team.
• Cost $1200

PeeWees / 12U

• Open to birth years 2007 and 2008
• Evaluation sessions for purposes of team assignment will be the week of 9/9.  There will be two sessions and each player should attend at least one of the sessions or both if possible. Session days and times:
  • Tuesday, 9/10, 6:45pm
  • Thursday, 9/12, 6:45pm
• Regular practice starts on Tuesday, 9/17.  44 hours of shared weeknight practice on Tuesdays (6:45pm) and Thursdays (6:45pm).
• Games:  18 full ice 1.25 hour session games on Saturdays and end of season tournament in Polar Hurricanes League.
• Team size 14-17 players. We are planning on fielding one advanced team and one regular division team.
• Cost $1400

Bantams / 15U

• Open to birth years 2004, 2005, 2006
• Evaluation sessions for purposes of team assignment will be the week of 9/9.  There will be three sessions and each player should attend two of the sessions if possible (or at least one). Session days and times:
  • Monday, 9/9, 5:45pm
  • Monday, 9/9, 6:45pm
  • Wednesday, 9/11, 6:30pm
• Regular practice starts on Monday, 9/16.  30 hours of shared weeknight practice on some Mondays (6:45pm) and every Wednesday (6:30pm or 7:30pm). 
• Games:  18 full ice 1.25 hour session games on Sundays and end of season tournament in Polar Hurricanes League.
• Team size 12-15 players. We are planning on fielding three teams, including at least one advanced team and at least one regular division team.
• Checking will not be permitted in the PHHL. This does not exclude "Body Contact" or "Body Position"
• Cost $1300

Midgets / 18U

• Open to birth years 2001, 2002, 2003
• Practice starts on Wednesday, 9/11.   22 hours of shared weeknight practice on Wednesdays (7:30pm)
• Games:  18 full ice 1.25 session games on Saturdays and end of season tournament in Polar Hurricanes League.
• Team size 11-14 players
• Checking will not be permitted in the PHHL. This does not exclude "Body Contact" or "Body Position"
• Cost $1050

OPTIONAL / INCREMENTAL SELECT TOURNAMENT TEAM PROGRAM

• TYHNC will be offering an optional tournament team program opportunity for those interested.
• Tournament teams will be fielded at the 10U, 12U, 14U levels
• If there is sufficient interest, TYHNC will field a 16U tournament team as well.
• Tournament team rosters will be selected by the coaching staffs and ratified by the TYHNC board based on the pool of players at each age level that are both willing and able to compete at a tournament (travel) level
• The tournament program package includes participation in two travel level tournaments and 3-6 incremental sessions (either games against other travel teams in the area, or extra practice sessions). 
• Tentative Tournament Dates:  Weekends of 12/6/19 and 2/14/19
• Tentative / Example Tournament Sites:  Charlotte NC, Washington DC, Charleston SC, etc.
• Program Cost:  $300 (does not include travel costs)
• 18U players (& 16U players if TYHNC does not offer a tournament team) are invited to try out for the Polar Select tournament teams. 

TYHNC and the Carolina Hurricanes are proud to announce an exciting, fun change that demonstrates the strength of a great, and growing, partnership between the two organizations.  Effective today, the “Hillsborough Sharks” will become the “Hillsborough Hogs!”   The new mascot and logo will come with a color scheme and uniform change that should look very familiar to Canes fans.      

Why the change?  The Hurricanes,  who have always been significant contributors to TYHNC through annual grants and other donations of funds and resources,  approached TYHNC last spring and inquired if we would be interested in “wearing their colors” to further solidify the relationship between the two hockey clubs, as well as “match” the new color scheme of our home rink (i.e., the Sportsplex, which is now decked out in black, red, and white).  The TYHNC board members were honored and grateful for this offer from an NHL franchise.  Both the Canes and TYHNC agreed it was important for us to maintain a unique brand and logo that would set us apart from other youth hockey organizations in the area.  With the decision to look at options, the Canes design department went to work, and the Hogs name and logo was chosen as a tie-in to both the Canes (Stormy, Caroline, Hamilton) as well as a nod to the proud history of the hog within and around the Hillsborough area (local farming, the Hog Days Festival, James Hogg, etc.).  The decision was finalized with the results from a small focus group:  Kids love pigs! 

What’s not changing?  Other than the usual ongoing continuous improvement “tweaks” to make the program better for all members, nothing else about TYHNC is changing.  We are still an independent, USA Hockey sanctioned, non-profit youth hockey organization managed and coached by volunteers, serving the needs of the local youth hockey community. 

The TYHNC Board recognizes change can be difficult.  There was a well-earned, proud history associated with the Sharks brand, and giving that up is tough.  However, when weighing all of the pros and cons of changing, the Board voted unanimously to make the change.   For those with reservations about the change, we ask that you give it some time.  As a side benefit, we’ll now be able to wear our jerseys & apparel to a Canes game without looking like a Philly or San Jose fan! 

What’s next:

• No action is required at this point from any parent or player. 
• New jerseys and socks will be included in the 2019-20 registration fees (and yes, all players will get a home (black) and away (white) jersey this season, and all players will get a new pair of socks!). 
• We’re in the process of updating the website and executing other brand related tasks. 
• Look for new Hogs apparel, gear, etc. options for players and fans coming soon. 
• Otherwise, it’s business as usual:  The 2019-20 season overview information for each division, including practice schedules, pricing, etc. will be published shortly.  Registration for the fall season should be up on the website in August.   

Stay tuned for more information and GO HOGS!

Please go here to register your player(s) for the 2019-20 Fall Season. 

If you cannot register by 9/1/19 but plan on playing with the Hogs this season, please let Don Clough know (dhclough53@yahoo.com).

Financial Aid info and form can be found HERE.   Applications for the 2019-20 season are due 9/9/19.

Please contact Kirsten Crapnell, Treasurer, with any questions. 

kirstencrapnell@gmail.com

All clear. Schedule is normal.

TYHNC weather policy 

Level 1 Seminars Still Available for the 2019-2020 Season

Want to start a career officiating hockey games? Interested in earning money from refereeing hockey? Carolina Amateur Hockey Association is looking for players age 14 and up and adults that may have an interest in learning to become a referee.  There are still seats available in Level 1 Officiating Seminars – the entry Level for new referees.  For new referee information and seminar dates, please visit: https://southeastrefs.org

Big thanks to the Carolina Hurricanes for their ongoing support of the TYHNC Sharks!  On Sunday, February 3rd, the Canes presented their annual grant to the Sharks.  Pictured below is Hurricane's Forward Sebastian Aho and TYHNC President Garry Howlett.