2025-2026 Lancaster Firebirds

Registration Information

Player Development Program

Weekly Professional Coaching

The Lancaster Firebirds Hockey Director and Pro Coach, Chris Campanale will be on ice with each team on a weekly basis. He will work directly with coaches to determine the best drills and systems for each practice. Chris specializes in skill development focusing on skating, puck handling, and transition play. Our director will have one skill development practice with each team every week.

Goaltending Development

In season, there will be twelve (12) one (1) hour goaltender training sessions throughout the 2025-2026 season strategically chosen by our goalie coach to insure goaltending development throughout the entire season and playoffs. The sessions will be under the direction of a professional goaltending coach Garret Baldacci and the Goalie Doctor.

Team Development Packages:

*** Tri-Weekly practices are based on amount of ice time slots allocated for Firebird teams. If the number of teams are over the maximum amount, then Bi-weekly practices will be put in place for all teams. ***

*****Season Cost includes AHF player registration fee*****

TYKE-6U (Birth Year 2019 or later)

24 Bi-weekly 60-minute skill-development practices

Independent Schedule (opponents tbd)

16 games

8 total home game slots

No Charge Public Skate Sessions

MITE-8U - Half Ice (Birth Year 2017/2018)

24 Bi-weekly 60-minute skill-development practices

Full AHF Schedule

24 games - including one showcase

10 total home game slots

No Charge Public Skate Sessions

MITE-8U - Full Ice (Birth Year 2017/2018)

24 Bi-weekly 60-minute skill-development practices

Pre-season Weekend Training Camp (3 hours on-ice) under direction of team coaching staff

Full AHF Schedule

36 games - including 3 showcases

12 total home game slots

No Charge Public Skate Sessions

SQUIRT- 10U (Birth Year 2015/2016)

28 Tri-weekly 60-minute skill-development practices

Pre-season Weekend Training Camp (3 hours on-ice) under direction of team coaching staff

Full AHF Schedule 36 games - including 2 showcases

14 total home game slots

No Charge Public Skate Sessions

PEEWEE – 12U (Birth Year 2013/2014)

28 Tri-weekly 60-minute skill-development practices

Pre-season Weekend Training Camp (3 hours on-ice) under direction of team coaching staff

Full AHF Schedule 36 games - including two showcases (3 showcases at AA level)

14 total home game slots

No Charge Public Skate Sessions

BANTAM- 14U (Birth Year 2011/2012)

28 Tri-weekly 60-minute skill-development practices

Pre-season Weekend Training Camp (3 hours on-ice) under direction of team coaching staff

Full AHF Schedule 36 games - including two showcases (3 showcases at AA level)

14 total home game slots

No Charge Public Skate Session.

***** Teams will practice THE week before the AHF Parity event. 9U-12U Parity eventS Are April 4-5 th, 2025. Parity Events for 13U-18U are  May 3-4,2025 ****

MIDGET Minor- 16U (Birth Year 2009/2010)

Tri-weekly 60-minute skill-development practices (August-October). Bi-weekly practices (November-February)

Pre-season Weekend Training Camp (3 hours on-ice) under direction of team coaching staff

Full AHF Schedule 36 games - including two showcases (3 showcases at AA level)

14 total home game slots

No Charge Public Skate Sessions

MIDGET Major- 18U (Birth Year 2007/2008)

28 Bi-weekly 60-minute skill-development practices (August-October)

Weekly 60-minute skill/team development practices (November-February)

Pre-season Weekend Training Camp (3 hours on-ice) under direction of team coaching staff

Full AHF Schedule 36 games - including two showcases.

14 total home game slots

No Charge Public Skate Sessions

***If there is an 18-AA Team, the development package and cost will be the same as 16U***

Tryout Dates 2025-2026

Registration, Evaluation, and Team Selection

Registration

Players must register on-line at www.lancastericerink.org prior to the first evaluation session. As part of that process players will require a valid USA Hockey registration number. Players who have not registered with the Lancaster Firebirds will not be allowed on the ice for evaluations. There is no cost for try-outs.

Player Selection Process

Selections shall be based on activities at official LCYAHL evaluation sessions. Practices arranged and/or conducted by LCYAHL appointed coaches, assistant coaches, or other personnel prior to official LCYAHL evaluations will have no bearing on the outcome of evaluations. Each player will be evaluated during evaluations while performing basic and/or advanced hockey skills and/or scrimmages against their peers. Previous season’s coaches from each level should be available to assist in the evaluation process by running on ice drills and scrimmages. A committee comprised of the LCYAHL Hockey Director and at least one nonparent evaluator will determine which players will make which team. Sensitivity, respect and consideration to the self-image of the players should be foremost. During evaluations, no players are to be waived or released on the ice surface, under any circumstance, in any division, except where the safety of the player is compromised, or disciplinary conditions exists. Player selection and assignments shall be done with the utmost dispatch. No current or former member of the LCYAHL are permitted to make promises with players/parents/guardians in order to secure their commitment to a LCYAHL team.

Selection Standards

Selection to a LCYAHL team is a privilege, not a right, and will be based upon skill, experience, attitude and conduct. Skaters will be evaluated on all four blade edges, their forward stride, backward stride, transition skating, puck handling, passing and receiving, shooting and scoring ability, aggressiveness, team play and physical play. Goalies will be evaluated on their balance and movement, agility and quickness, angles and positions, save selection, anticipation, aggressiveness, concentration, athleticism and resiliency. No player is guaranteed a position on a team because he/she played on a LCYAHL team during a prior season. Prior participation on a LCYAHL team may be considered when other evaluative factors are equal. Player or parental conduct inconsistent with the LCYAHL Policies and Procedures during a past season may be taken into consideration in making player selections. The committee will make player selections for the best interest of the team. Evaluation sessions will be held for each age level according to the schedule on page five. If additional evaluation sessions are needed, they will be announced at the last scheduled evaluation and posted on the Lancaster Firebirds website. Players will be told if they need to participate in the extra evaluation session. There is no evaluation fee, any player is FREE to tryout.

PLEASE NOTE - 6U/8U/10U/12U

Once your player steps on the ice for their first evaluation session they are agreeing to play exclusively for the Lancaster Firebirds (LCYAHL) for the 2025-26 season in accordance with AAHA Rules and Regulations. Should the LCYAHL not place your player on a team, a release will be granted.

14U/16U/18U Player Contract Process

In order for any player within these ages to be eligible for evaluation they must complete an online registration form. Upon completion of each evaluation session, contracts to appropriate teams will be offered based on performances at each of the evaluation sessions. Upon the completion of the final evaluation session, all contracts available will be offered to those players who are placed on each team. The contract link will also include how to pay your player’s tuition or set up a payment plan.

Evaluation Fee

FREE

Apparel

All Lancaster Firebirds players are required to have the following apparel which is NOT included in the player tuition fee. Apparel samples for sizing and ordering instructions will be available at evaluations. The Firebirds dress code will be determined on a team-by-team basis.

• 2 Game Jerseys (Home/Away) $65 dollars per jersey

• Black Hockey Pants

• Black Helmets

• Practice Jersey- $40 dollars

• Hockey Socks - Home/Away/Practice ($30 dollars for per set for game socks)

***** Player jersey/socks sizing for 12U and younger will be at evaluations and 14U and older sizing will be at practices after tryouts, before parity games. ******

Payment Options

Pay in Full

Full tuition payment is due immediately following your player’s first evaluation session (6U/8U/10U/12U). For 14U/16U/18U the first payment is due within 24 hours of acceptance of team placement. A link will be sent out for you to pay tuition via Sports Engine.

Payment Plan

The first of six equal payments (amount outlined in table below) is due immediately following your player’s first evaluation session (6U/8U/10U/12U). For 14U/16U/18U the first payment is due within 24 hours of acceptance of team placement. The remaining five payments will be debited on a monthly basis following the first payment on the 30th of each month. A link will be sent with the contract offer for you to set up tuition payments via Sports Engine.

Release/Refund Policy

Releases are considered by the hockey director only in cases where the player’s entire tuition fee (NOT including discounts) has been paid in full. Refunds of player tuition are not granted for any reason. Releases will automatically be denied and referred to AAHA to determine outcome.

No Pay - No Play Policy

All accounts must be current for players to participate in the Lancaster Firebirds travel hockey program. Players with accounts in arrears may be subject to suspension at the discretion of the LCYAHL Board of Directors. Delinquent accounts at the end of the season will be referred to the AHF and AAHA which may result in the player being placed on the USA Hockey “Player Debt List” which may preclude the player from participating in any AAHA sanctioned hockey program, including scholastic hockey during the following year.

Financial Hardship Assistance - Chad Neiss II Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Chad Neiss II Memorial Scholarship Fund has been set up to honor Chad Neiss II "Bomber"; Neiss had played hockey for the Lancaster Firebirds from 1999 through 2013. The fund provides financial assistance to children in need, so they can play youth hockey for the Firebirds and enjoy the game that Chad loved so much. To be considered for financial assistance or a change in payment terms, you must complete and submit an application by March 17th, 2025. Scholarships will be awarded by March 22th, 2025. 

Discounts Full Pay

A full pay discount of 2% is applied to the Tuition Fee when the balance due is paid at registration (the actual charge to credit card occurs on the day after the first evaluation).

Family Discount (two players or more)

A 10% discount will be applied to the Tuition Fee of each player. The discount amount will be refunded automatically.

Goalie

A 20% discount will be applied to the Tuition Fee. Other discounts DO NOT apply to goalies. Goalie discount is available for full-time goalies ONLY. The goalie discount is available to goalies at the Peewee (12U) level and older. Potential goalie discounts at the Squirt (10) level will be considered on an individual basis and must be discussed with the Hockey Director. All Squirt (10U) goalies must register as skaters. Any goalie discount at the Squirt (10U) level will be applied after team selection.

Coaching

We appreciate our volunteers as our organization could not exist without them. The Firebirds will give a discount to head coaches only; the discount will be determined by their coaching experience. Non-parent paid coaches will be considered on a limited capacity. 

General Information

Lancaster County Youth Amateur Hockey League (LCYAHL)

The Lancaster Firebirds and Lancaster Ice Rink are owned and operated by the Lancaster County Youth Amateur Hockey League (LCYAHL) which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The LCYAHL mission is to “…provide a safe and challenging environment that promotes skill enhancement, teamwork, and sportsmanship for competitive youth hockey.” Formed in 1971, the LCYAHL is one of only a handful of non-profit organizations in the entire country that owns and operates both an ice rink and youth hockey club for the sole benefit of the local community.

USA Hockey

USA Hockey is the national governing body for ice hockey in the United States. The Lancaster Firebirds are a member of USA Hockey through its affiliate the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association (AAHA). The club adheres to all USA Hockey regulations, policies, and procedures. The Lancaster Firebirds player development program follows USA Hockey’s American Development Model (ADM) guidelines.

Atlantic Hockey Federation

The Atlantic Hockey Federation (“AHF”) is a USA Hockey Sanctioned Elite Tier-II Youth Hockey League that facilitates games throughout the Mid-Atlantic while trying to lower costs for its club members and families. The AHF has over 250 teams in the league providing high quality competition at every age group and level.