Full Season Mite Program

After a successful first season, we are excited to bring back—and expand—our Full Season Mite Skills Program for 2025–2026! See below for full program details and a link to our presentation.

🏒Program Purpose

It is no secret that the most successful players are the best skaters and puck handlers at every age and level. Without a solid foundation in skating and puck skills, it is very difficult to progress and learn other aspects of the game.

The goal of this program is to build a strong foundation of individual skating and puck control skills, preparing players for team and game play in the following years. Practices will introduce and emphasize:

• Edge work & skating fundamentals

• Puck control & stickhandling skills

• Skill-based games to reinforce learning in a fun way

🏒 Program Basics

• 3–4 ice times per week (3.5–5 hours/week)

• 74 total practices = 89.5 hours of ice (Sept. 9 – Mar. 8)

• 16 total player spots

Schedule Overview

• Sundays: 4:00–5:30pm @ Riverside Rink

• Tuesdays & Thursdays: 5:00–6:00pm @ Nichols Small Rink

• Saturdays (every other week): 2:30–4:00pm @ North Buffalo Rink

  • Saturday Sept. 20, Oct. 4, Oct. 18 = 3:00–4:30pm

Format

• Sundays: All full-time players get an automatic spot in our Mite Skating, Skills & Scrimmage sessions for the season.

• Tuesdays/Thursdays: Small-group skill days for 1-on-1 attention.  Only our full-time mite players.

• Saturdays (NEW!): Joint clinics with other 6U–7U teams; competition-based stations and small area games, focusing on puck protection & battling skills

No ice on: Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break, February Break, or Super Bowl Sunday

🏒 Season Schedule 

September: 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30

October: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30

November: 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23

December: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20

January: 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29

February: 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 26, 28

March: 1, 7, 8

🏒 Who Is It For?

• Ages 5–7 years old (2018–2020 birth years)

• Players with 1–3 years of skating/hockey experience

• Players should:

  • Show passion for hockey (want to be at the rink)

  • Follow instructions, pay attention, and participate in drills

  • Already have basic ability in crossovers, hockey stops, tight turns, skating backwards, puck handling, and edges

⚠️ Not a beginner learn-to-skate program. Players below this level should look into our introductory programs.

If your child’s birth year is outside of 2018–2020 but they are at the appropriate skill level, please contact mark@markzarbohockey.com to discuss placement.

🏒 Evaluation & Skate Testing

• Conducted at the first session

• Basic timed skating test to split players into 4 skill-based groups for Sundays

• Groups ensure players are matched by level for stations and games

• Results also used to track player progress throughout the season

🏒 Staff

• Head Instructor: Mark Zarbo (all ice times)

• Parent Coaches: We are recruiting assistant coaches.

  • Incentive: Earn back up to half tuition.

  • Each attended practice earns a credit equal to half that session’s cost.

  • All must pay by payment deadline, at season’s end all coaching credits added up and can be used to future programs

🏒 Presentation

We highly recommend watching the Full Season Mite Skills Program Presentation (link below). It explains program purpose, goals, weekly structure, and who best fits the program.

🏒 Try It Out!

Interested families are encouraged to attend a current session before March 8 to see if this program is the right fit.

• Sundays 4:30–6:00pm @ Riverside Rink (Skills, Compete & Scrimmage)

• Tuesdays/Thursdays 5:00–6:00pm @ Nichols Small Rink (Skills Days)
  📧 Email mark@markzarbohockey.com or call 716-208-3724 to schedule a try-out session.

🏒 Openings

• 16 spots total

• 10 returning players → 8 open spots for 2025–2026

• Spots are first-come, first-served for players who fit the group skill level

🏒 Cost & Benefits

$1,185 per player

• 74 practices / 89.5 hours = $13 per hour

• 3–4 sessions per week (Sept. 9 – Mar. 4)

• 1:4 player-to-coach ratio

• Jerseys provided

• Weekly email updates/explanations

• Testing & evaluation tracking

• Discounts to other Mark Zarbo Hockey programs

• Free equipment check at Front Row Sports

Breakdown of Ice Hours:

• 40 hrs – Small Group Skills (Tue/Thu)

• 31.5 hrs – Skills & Scrimmage (Sun)

• 18 hrs – Joint Clinics/Games (Sat)

🏒 Additional Discounts

Players in this program receive discounts for other MZH programs:

• 3v3 Summer League – $185 (normally $220)

• Spring & Summer Skills – $17/session (normally $25)

• Mite Skills & Skating Camps – $125 (normally $150)

• Fall/Winter Skills – $17/session (normally $25)

• School Holiday Camps – $35/session (normally $40)

🏒 Free Equipment Check – Front Row Sports

All full-season players receive a free equipment sizing check at Front Row Sports (West Seneca).

Proper equipment fit—especially skates—is critical at the Mite level. Poor fit can prevent players from learning key skills like stops or crossovers. Front Row Sports will assess and make corrections if needed, regardless of where the gear was purchased.

🏒 Payment Policy

• $100 non-refundable deposit due at sign-up (or by March 1)

• 50% of balance due July 1

• Final balance due October 1

🏒 Before Filling Out Sign Up Form!

1. Watch the program presentation.

2. Attend a session to ensure the program is a good fit for your player.

3. Fill out the official sign-up form below.

  All players must be seen to ensure proper fit before sign-up is accepted.  This is not a tryout as spots are first come, first serve for all players who fit the program group.