Welcome Junior Gold! This page is intended to provide information for Junior Gold Players and their families. Please refer back to this page often for new information.

Check out the Junior Gold High School League scores and standings at www.jghsl.org



Registration questions? Please contact Sarah Cook, WYHA Registrar.

What is Junior Gold? Junior Gold (aka “Midgets” in the broad context of USA Hockey) is the highest age classification for boys in Minnesota Hockey and in the Wayzata Youth Hockey Association. After completing Bantams, some players make the jump to Wayzata High School or other local varsity or junior varsity high school teams; however, Jr. Gold is the alternative for the majority who do not. In large associations like Wayzata’s, Jr. Gold dually serves in providing continued developmental opportunities for those hopeful of progressing to their high school teams in subsequent seasons, and in functioning as a landing point for those who aren’t capable or interested in making it to that next level, yet who desire continued participation in a fully-sanctioned, structured, and competitive hockey environment. Jr. Gold is an age classification within Minnesota Hockey the same as other youth levels such as Bantams, Peewees, and Squirts. The only significant difference is that many associations, including the vast majority outside the metro area, don’t carry Jr. Gold programs since their numbers don’t warrant the need for one.

Is Junior Gold “travel hockey”? Yes, Jr. Gold is travel hockey. Cost and time requirements reflect that designation. (See the time and cost topics addressed later in this document).

What are the ages and levels of Junior Gold? The term “Junior Gold” in a general sense refers to the broad four-year age classification of 15-18 year olds (typically grades 10-12). However, specifically within Jr. Gold, there are two age classifications and three levels of play.

Junior Gold 16: The youngest age classification is “Junior Gold 16” or “16U” (i.e. “16 & Under”). The age cutoff is 17 years, meaning that players cannot have turned 17 prior to the preceding July 1st. Similar to how Bantams are 14U teams, generally comprised of 8th and 9th graders and the occasional “young sophomore”, Jr. Gold 16 (16U) is the next two-year age class, with rosters comprised of sophomores, juniors, and possibly “young seniors”.

Junior Gold A & B: “Junior Gold A” and “Junior Gold B” classifications are both 18U. All players playing under the umbrella of Jr. Gold are eligible to make the JGA or JGB teams. Thus, those rosters can be comprised of players from across all three years of high school - sophomore, junior, and senior.

Jr. Gold A is a higher level of play than B, and B a higher level than JG16. League policies stipulate that teams should be sourced talent-wise in that order and that associations with multiple Jr. Gold B and/or JG16 teams strive to balance those teams within the given levels. WYHA follows these league polices when drafting/selecting its Jr. Gold teams.

Can players specify to play at the lower age level if desired? At the tryout on-site sign-in, players with JG16 age-eligibility are given the opportunity to “self-select” to JG16 if they desire. The purpose for this is that Jr. Gold hockey represents the first instance where players can potentially be grouped into a broader age band (up to three or even four years) than the more limited two-year windows which they’ve typically experienced in Squirts, Peewees, and Bantams. While, the desire of the Jr. Gold program is to have players, independent of age, playing at the highest level they are capable, be it A, B, or JG16, those who have JG16 eligibility and want to stay in that age-bracket will be given that option and will generally not be considered for selection by the A or B teams.

Does everyone make a team? Are players who are no longer Junior Gold 16-eligible guaranteed a spot on a B team? It is WYHA’s desire to provide, whenever possible, opportunities for participation and, thus, has historically attempted to field enough Jr. Gold teams to meet demand. Consistent with that philosophy, players no longer JG16 age-eligible (i.e. most seniors) who would not otherwise make the Jr. Gold A or B teams generally have been given spots on a B team. However, per the unique and varying circumstances of any given season, either pertaining to the Jr. Gold program at-large or to an individual player, placement on a team, and thus participation in the program, is not guaranteed.

What is the tryout process/schedule? Since many Jr. Gold players tryout for their high school team, the tryout process for Jr. Gold doesn’t occur until mid/late November, immediately after the high school teams have been selected. Remaining Jr. Gold players are then evaluated by coaches and independent evaluators over the course of three days of drills and scrimmages and then selected or drafted onto a team as applicable. Free pre-tryout open ice sessions are available to all Jr. Gold registered players, starting in early/mid-September.

What is the time commitment? The season generally runs from the mid/late November tryouts (with games starting late November or early December) through early March (mid/late March if team goes deep into the playoffs). The typical week consists of 4-6 ice times (generally 2-4 games plus 1-2 practices).

What is the cost? Per-player costs include the upfront registration fee of around $600 plus additional in-season assessments usually totaling somewhere between $1000-1500 (for a grand total of $1500-2100). Key variables in the assessment amounts include number of tournaments, amount of additional practice ice purchased, number of players on the team, amount spent on team parties, apparel, etc. 

Who do we play? The Junior Gold High School League (jghsl.org) is an arm of Minnesota Hockey, established to govern Jr. Gold hockey in the state of Minnesota. The majority of regular season games are against other teams from the JGHSL. (Each team plays approximately 24 league games per season). Other games mostly come from invitational tournaments (usually 3-4 tournaments per team, providing an additional 9-15 games). Generally, there are a handful of out-state or nearby out-of-state A teams but limited numbers of B and JG16 teams; thus, the A team is more likely than the others to travel outside the metro area for games or tournaments. Final regular season league standings determine eligibility for each level’s post-season tournament, which then produces teams for the state tournaments sponsored and run by Minnesota Hockey..

Where do I get more info on WYHA Junior Gold hockey? Visit the Junior Gold page on the WYHA website (wayzatahockey.org) or contact Kelli Ask – Jr. Gold Level Coordinator/Director (kelliask@hotmail.com) or Greg Gibson – Jr. Gold A Team Manager; (Gregory.g.gibson1972@gmail.com).