Why Junior Hockey

Why Junior Hockey

In accordance with U.S.A. Hockey, junior hockey is the highest level of competition within the youth hockey advancement ladder. Junior hockey is available to hockey players who are under the age of twenty as of the 31st day in the season of competition. Programs are available to high school age players and graduates who seek to pursue a high level of challenge at the sport. The primary purpose of junior hockey is to develop and prepare players, both on and off the ice, for high levels of the sport which predominantly consist of higher levels of juniors, collegiate, and professional hockey. Junior hockey has become a natural step of progression for all youth, high school and prep school players to advance in higher levels of hockey. In a survey of college coaches and recruiters, it was revealed that most predominantly scouted leagues by collegiate and professional organizations is junior hockey. Junior hockey provides with the arena to showcase individual and team skills. Stable junior hockey organization provide players with additional opportunities and assistance, and community relations and activities that instill core values of leadership, class, and role model expectations as a maturing young student-athlete. Historically, most players that compete at the collegiate and professional levels have played in the junior hockey ranks.

Player Development

A development hockey program is no complete without a significant focus on strength and conditioning training. Each player of the Peoria Mustangs will be challenged to develop both their mind and body. We have a state of the art facility at Owens Center that offers all the equipment required to develop speed, quickness, agility, balance, core strength/stability, cardiovascular capacity, and flexibility. Muscle strength and power are a critical component of these programs. We also will have programs targeted to develop additional speed, agility, and balance.