The Raiders, a non-profit organization, skate out of SkateQuest of Reston. It is a twin-rink facility just off the Dulles Toll Road in Reston, well-positioned to serve the Northern Virginia and metro D.C. area. Read More

Reston Raiders House Program 2021 - 2022 Season

The Reston Raiders Hockey Club provides opportunities for children of all skill levels to play ice hockey, from the beginning player to the highly skilled player. The Raiders seek to instill in every child a love for the game of hockey, with a commitment to fair play and sportsmanship. The Club also is committed to helping each child with the development of personal and social skills. The Raiders want to exemplify the principles and philosophies of USA Hockey and, through coaching excellence, to develop the finest youth hockey players possible. The Club is committed to providing a fun environment for players of all ages and skills, with equal opportunity for all. Our key philosophy is Fun Hockey for Kids.

Reston Raiders 2021-22 House Program Registration opens on Tuesday, June 15, 9:00 AM (open registration for new and returning members)

To register, players will need a 2021-22 USAH Registration Number: (Register for a current USAH # HERE). To be added to a waitlist, a USAH number is not needed.

2021-22 House Season
The House program is offered to children at the 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U and 16U/18U levels. For the 2021-22 season, this includes children born between 2003-2015. The Fall House League season runs from early September to early March.

The 10U through 16U/18U season will culminate in the House playoffs and Championship game (medals will be awarded to the finalists). 8U will not have playoffs; all 8U will receive medals at their last house game.  

Mandatory Evaluation Skates
Mandatory evaluations will take place in early September. Dates to be posted on the website. The House Draft will occur following evaluations. Teams will be drafted for parity. Following the draft, coaches will contact team families and House practices will start mid-September. The Club reserves the right to make trades early in the season to ensure teams are well-balanced. Please note, that there will be no players moved based on parental request, all moves will be made by coaches in the interest of balancing teams. The first official start of house games is scheduled to be in early October.

For questions regarding the house, contact Brendan Ford, Director of House Administration at Housedirector@restonraiders.com.

For questions regarding registration contact the Club Registrar at .

 

2021-22  House Program Divisions and Fees

 

House Program Skill Level Details
Participants in the House program should have graduated from the Raiders Learn to Program LTP), but at a minimum should have prior hockey experience (camps or lessons) and/or should have skating skills as established in the Learn to Skate program at SkateQuest (or equivalent) or the Star 1 / Pre-Alpha Level. Please refer to http://www.skatequest.com/group-lessons/# for the skills chart and conversion sheet. If a parent of a player who is of 8U or 10U age is uncertain of whether they have the requisite skills for the house program or it is unclear to the Raider Registrar whether a player has the requisite skill, an evaluation by the Learn to Play or House Director will be made and the director will determine whether the player is ready for the house program or needs to be placed in the Initiation Program. Last season's LTP players must have been given notice of graduation in order to sign up for the House program. Please contact the Learn to Play Director at ltpdirector@restonraiders.com for questions regarding the requisite skills needed and evaluation requests. 

Players who, in the pre-season evaluation skate, are determined to not have the skill level to participate at the level at which they are trying out, will be provided the option to move to a lower level, to the Learn to Play Program or to withdraw completely from the program. Any monetary balance will be refunded. Please note that participation in the Learn to Play Program is not an option at the 12U, 14U and 16U/18U Levels.

8U House Details
The Raiders expect to field 10 8U House teams in two different divisions during the 2021-22 season. Four teams will participate in the Campbell Division and six in the Patrick Division. The Campbell Division generally will be composed of older, more experienced players, including 8U Blue and 8U Silver travel players, while the Patrick Division will be composed of younger and less experienced players, including players rising from the Club’s Initiation Program. The division in which a player will play during the season will be determined following 8U evaluation practices, which take place at the beginning of the season. During the first few weeks of the season, players may be assigned to different teams and different divisions as coaches attempt to create balanced teams and place players in the division that provides them with the best opportunity to improve their skills.

The coaches and evaluators will recommend a player play in either the Campbell or Patrick Division based on which division would provide that player with the best opportunity to develop his or her skills. The goals are to ensure that players receive the most appropriate age-level and skill-level instruction, to maximize the number of touches on the puck the player will experience in practice and in games and to provide the optimum game and practice environment for that player not only to develop his or her hockey skills, but also to have fun and enjoy the game of hockey.

Practices
Campbell Division teams and Patrick Division teams will share practice ice during the season. Practices generally will be station-based and follow USA Hockey’s American Development Model (ADM), as players will rotate through stations with players of similar skill and experience as well as players on their team. Coaches may structure some practices so that each team on the ice conducts drills, including cross ice games, only with their team.

Practices will take place once a week on Monday evenings and will likely be 50-60 minutes in length.

Games
Campbell Division (Upper):  The Campbell Division teams will play 3vs3 or 4vs4 half-ice or cross-ice games on Saturday or Sunday mornings, including some games at Reston Town Center’s outdoor rink. During games, coaches will attempt to match lines so that players of similar experience and skill play against each other. Coaches may swap players from their teams in order to help ensure a competitive environment that optimizes skill development. Coaches also may swap players to create even numbered teams in case one team is missing several of its players.

Patrick Division (Lower): The Patrick Division teams will play 3vs3 or 4vs4 cross-ice games on Saturday or Sunday mornings, including some games at Reston Town Center’s outdoor rink. During games, coaches will attempt to match lines so that players of similar experience and skill play against each other. Coaches may swap players from their teams to help ensure a competitive environment that optimizes skill development. Coaches also may swap players to create even numbered teams in case one team is missing several of its players.

Practice for House Program
Below are the anticipated days and practice times for each level in the 2021-22 House Program. Days and times may change depending on numbers at registration. Notwithstanding, House league practices are once a week at the same day/time each week.

8U: Mondays at 6:00 PM-7:20 PM OR Fridays at 4:35-6:00 PM 

10U: Wednesdays 5:40-7:00 PM OR 7:10-8:30 PM 

12U will practice Wednesdays at 6:10-7:30 PM OR 7:40-9:00 PM OR Fridays at 6:00-7:20 PM 

14U: Mondays 6:10-7:50 PM OR 7:10-9:00 PM (there may be a combined portion of the practice with all four teams from 7:10-7:50 PM)

16U/18U: approximately 4 practices throughout the season.

Games for the House Program
8U, 10U, and 12U House games are scheduled Saturday mornings anytime between 6:00 AM-12:40 PM depending on the weekend.
14U and 16U/18U House games are scheduled Sunday evening, but will occasionally have 6:00 AM Sunday games. 

There is not a fixed time for any of a team's games and game times change from weekend to weekend. However, our goal is to minimize the number of 6:00 AM games and ensure that every team will play an equal number of early games. 

Special Note to Inline Skaters
We have found that experienced inline skaters make a smooth transition to ice hockey. If your child does well in inline hockey, they will likely do well in ice hockey. The House evaluation process in September places each skater in the appropriate program based on age, size, and skill level, and may include the recommendation that the skater play up/down from their age category or participate in the Initiation Program. Players must register for the House level appropriate to their birth year. For more information, contact the Raiders by email at  info@restonraiders.com or

Discount Information
Sibling Discount: 1st sibling $100 discount, 2nd sibling $150 discount, 3rd sibling $200 discount. Sibling discounts will automatically be applied if a sibling is participating in any other Raider program during the same season. Due to the discounted fee of the Learn to Play Program, the discount will not apply for siblings in Learn to Play. The sibling discount will automatically apply to families provided they use the same email address/account to register all players.

Goalie Discount & Goalie Program
RRHC is offering a $500 goalie discount (credited at the end of the season) to players that play in goal for at least half the season. Additionally, all House Teams at the 10U - 16U/18U level will have a Professional Goalie Coach from the Goalie Academy on the ice for all team practices. The Raiders are the ONLY Program in the area that provides this type of instruction for our House Goalies. The coaches will be there to work with the Goalies on Goalie specific drills and instruction. The club will also be offering monthly House Goalie Clinics at Loudoun Ice Centre to give our goalies an additional opportunity to work on their goalie skills.

Reston Raiders 2021-22 

“Future Caps” & “Raiders Learn to Play” Fall Registration 

Date Alert – June 15th @ 9:00am

 

 

 

 

 

JUNE 15th  @ 9:00am – PUBLIC REGISTRATION OPENS

 

Registration will open to the general public on Tuesday June 15th @ 9:00am

 

• To register, players will need a 2021-22 USAH Registration Number (Register for a current USAH # HERE). To be added to a waitlist, a USAH number is not needed.

 

• Historically the “Future Caps” and  “Raiders Learn to Play Program” have been very popular and sell out very quickly – if you would like to enroll, please don’t delay your registration. 

 

• This information has only been sent to current Raider members – it will be posted to the Raiders website soon.  If you are a returning member and know others who are interested in playing next year, please share these dates.  

 

About the “Raiders Learn to Play” & “Future Caps” Programs

• “Future Caps” is a program sponsored by the NHL and the Washington Capitals that provides equipment and eight on ice training sessions for those children that have never participated in a “new to hockey” program previously.  This program requires that you register with the Raiders and USA Hockey as well as with the NHL/Capitals. The cost, "Future Caps" program - $299, are paid when registering with the NHL/Capitals. More information will follow regarding the NHL/Capitals registration portion.  

 

• “Raiders Learn to Play” is the Reston Raiders Hockey Club’s long running development program, which is considered one of the best, if not the best, “Learn to Play” program in the DMV. This program is the foundation to our mission of providing a fun place to play hockey for kids. Our focus is developing the love of the game and teaching the fundamental skills necessary for a lifetime playing hockey. The cost for the program is as follows, for "Raiders Learn to Play 1" Fall session - $175 and for "Raiders Learn to Play 2" Fall session - $299. Fees are paid at time of registration to the Raiders.

   

• Both programs are based on the USA Hockey American Development Model, focusing on small area games and skill development, to teach the fundamental skills necessary to play ice hockey in a fun and supportive environment.  

 

• No skating or hockey experience is required for the “Future Caps '' nor the “Raiders Learn to Play 1'' programs.  Both programs are designed to teach young children to skate at the same time as they learn important hockey skills. All abilities are encouraged to enroll, a desire to play is the only thing required.

 

• The combined programs are building blocks for children who have little to no experience skating or playing ice hockey, and teach them the skating and hockey skills necessary to join our Raiders House league recreational hockey program and our Raiders Travel Program.

 

• The Fall session will begin in Late September and runs until the beginning of December.  Upon completing the Fall session, the players will progress to our Winter session that runs from December until the end of February and finally our Spring session that runs from March until the beginning of June. 

 

• The combined programs are for players born between 2011 and 2017.  

  • Players born earlier than 2011 with no organized hockey experience should plan to enroll in the House program and be evaluated by the House Director

 

• Age Enrollment Guidelines – the following levels are recommendations for each age based upon a recommended transition path to organized Recreational/Travel hockey. We understand schedules may only allow certain options for your child, so these are recommendations only unless stated otherwise 

 

• Both “Future Caps” & “Raiders Learn to Play 1” (LTP1) are intended for younger children (4 – 7 years old) with no hockey experience.  

  • The LTP1 group will practice one time per week on Sunday afternoons.  

  • Younger players (e.g. 4 and 5-years of age) may repeat LTP1 and do not need to move on to LTP2.  All players born in 2016 and new players born in 2017 should register for “Future Caps” or LTP1. 

 

• “Raiders Learn to Play 2’ (LTP2) is intended for older children (6 – 10 years old) or those that have completed LTP1. 

  • The LTP2 group will practice two times per week.  Saturday morning games/scrimmages and Sunday afternoon practices.

  • Older players (born in 2011 – 2013) with no (or limited) skating/playing experience may also enroll in LTP2.

 

 

If you have any questions, you may email the Learn to Play Director – Nick Durso  –

Congratulations to Maddie Wojciak for being selected for USA Hockey's 2021 Girls Player Development National Camp!!!  Maddie, was one of several local Girls players who attended the Southeastern District Camp in Nashville, TN in May and tried out the National Camp.

Maddie was selected out of the tryout in Nashville and will be representing USA Hockey's Southeastern District at the Girls 15 (2006 birth year) National Player Development Camp at St. Cloud University in Minnesota, July 10th - 15th.

Maddie is a long-time Reston Raiders player and played on our Raiders 14U Silver (co-ed) team last season, as well as our Raiders 16U Silver Spring Selects team, this spring. Next year Maddie will be moving on to player Girls Tier I Hockey with the Washington Pride!!

Congratulations Maddie and best of luck at the National Camp next month!!

Thank you to all the players who participated in tryouts this week!!

The Reston Raiders would like to congratulate the following players for being selected to travel teams for the 2021-2022 Season:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All players listed on the roster must click on the “Register Online” button and register for the 2021-2022 Travel Season and make their first payment no later than May 31st.  The registration link is now available.

 

Congratulations again to all players selected!!

This past weekend (April 17th & 18th), our USA Hockey Affiliate, Potomac Valley Amatuer Hockey Associate (PVAHA) held tryouts to select players who will be invited to attend USA Hockey Player Development Camps this Sunday.  

We had a number of Reston Raiders trying out for Girls and Boys (co-ed) teams and we're proud to announce that three of our players were selected at their age levels.  

Congratulations to Natalie Chappell, Maya Dutton and Matthew Reinke on their selections!!!

Natalie Chappell (2010) and Maya Dutton (2008)

Natalie & Maya were selected along with other local players to represent the PVAHA & Southeastern District at the USA Hockey Multi-District Camp to be held at Bowling Green University later this summer. Natalie & Maya were part of a group of over 120 players at the 2010 - 2007 birth years who attended the affilate tryouts.

Natalie played on our 10U 2010 Blue team last season and Maya played on our Raiders Girls 14U team.

Congratulations Natalie & Maya!!!  Best of luck at the Camp!!

 

Matthew Reinke (2005)

Matthew was one of several Raiders players from last season who attended the PVAHA Boys (co-ed) Tryouts last weekend and was the lone Raiders selection chosen to move on to the next step in the process to potentially be selected to attend the USA Hockey National Player Development Camps. Matthew will now move-on to attend the USA Hockey Southeastern District Camp in Charlotte, NC next month.  Players selected out of the SE District Camp will move on to the National Camp later in the summer.

Matthew was a member of our Raiders 16U Blue team last season.

Congratulations Matt!!  Best of luck at the SE District Camp!!!