Full Season Mite Program

After a successful 1st season, we are bringing back and adding to our full season Mite Skills Program for the 2025 – 2026 season. See below for all details and a link to a full presentation on our program.

PROGRAM PURPOSE

It is no secret that the most successful players are the ones who are the best skaters and puck handlers at all ages and levels. Until a player has that solid foundation of skating & puck skills it is very difficult to be successful and learn other parts of the game. A player’s skating and puck skills foundation is the corner/steppingstone to learning and playing the game of hockey.

The sole purpose of this program is to develop a solid foundation of individual skating & puck control skills with the goal of getting players ready for game and team play in the following year(s).  Practice sessions will introduce and focus on basic edge work, skating skills and puck/stickhandling skills. Skill based games will also be used frequently to keep all ice time fun and backing up skills learned.

PROGRAM BASICS

This program is 3 – 4 ice times per week (3.5 – 5 hours ice per week) for a total of 75 total practices (91 hours) September 9th – March 4th. We will only take 18 total players in the program.

Programming days are Sundays (4:00 – 5:30pm at Riverside Rink), Tuesdays & Thursdays (5:00 – 6:00pm at Nichols Small Rink) and then every other Saturday (TBA).

Sundays will be a mix of skill-based games and station-based skill work finishes with a 20-minute cross ice scrimmage.  Sundays is part of our Mite Skills & Scrimmage Sessions but all players in our full season mite program get an automatic spot for the season. 

Tuesdays & Thursdays are only for the full season mite group.  These are skill days and meant to give players more 1 v 1 attention and smaller group work.

NEW! Saturdays are on average 2x a month, approximately every other week excluding holidays.  For Saturdays will partnering with other 6u – 7u teams and doing joint clinic-competition days.  Saturdays in format is just like Sundays.  Station based practice, ending with a scrimmage.  The difference is Saturdays will be all competitions and small area battling games. The purpose of Saturdays is to start setting the foundation for game play, battling and puck protection skills.  Once a player has a solid skating and puck control foundation the next skill set, and first IQ concept is the ability to protect the puck and win battles.

There is no ice Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break, February Break or Super Bowl Sunday. See below for exact schedule of dates.

SCHEDULE

Sundays 4:00 – 5:30pm, Riverside Rink (weekly)

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:00 – 6:00pm, Nichols Small Rink (weekly)

Saturdays, Time & Rink TBD, (2x per month, approximately every other week)

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, 3, 5, 8

There is no ice Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Break Week, Christmas Break Weeks, February Break Week or Super Bowl Sunday

WHO IS IT FOR?

For ages 5 – 7 years old (2018 – 2020 birth years).

This is not a beginner learn to skate or hockey introduction beginners’ program. Players should have 1 – 3 years of skating/hockey experience already. Players should already show passion for the game of hockey (want to be there) and be good at paying attention to coaches, participating in drills and following instructions.

Players should already have some ability to crossover, tight turn, hockey stop, handle a puck, skate backwards, know some basic edges. Players who fit best are ones looking to refine and advance those skills into a solid foundation of individual skating & puck skills. This program is not appropriate for players below that level of ability.  See the presentation below for more detailed explanation about this program and who fits best.

**Please note if your players birth year is not listed but feel they are at the level of this program please contact mark@markzarbohockey.com. Birth years outside the listed ages would be accepted if the player is at the average level of the group.

EVALUATION & SKATE TESTING

As part of the first ice session players will be put through a basic timed skating test. The purpose of this test is to split players into 4 groups of players their level for Sunday Station work. This will help ensure all groups are close in level and ability for skill works and games. This test will also be used to track player progress throughout the season.  For next season we plan to track skating time without a puck, skating time with a back and backwards skating time no puck.

STAFF

Mark Zarbo will be the head instructor for all ice times.

We are looking to recruit parent assistant coaches for next season.  To encourage coaches’ commitment and attendance coaches can earn up to half their tuition back for the season. Every practice a coach attends earns them half the cost of that ice time back as credit for that session. If a coach where to attend all practices, they would earn back half their tuition. If you are interested in coaching, please check mark box on sign up form.

MITE SKILLS PROGRAM PRESENTATION

It is highly suggested to listen to the presentation below about our Full Season Mite Skills Program. This presentation gives background on the program, its purpose/goals, who fits best, explains our general weekly practice plans and details on next season’s schedule for the program to make sure our program fits for you.

WANT TO TRY OUT OUR PROGRAM?!

If interested in this program and wanting to an in person look at one of our sessions and for your player to try a session, email mark@markzarbohockey.com or call 716-208-3724. Our current season goes until March 9th. Sundays 4:30 – 6:00pm at Riverside Rink (Skills, Compete & Scrimmage Day) and Tuesday & Thursday 5:00 – 6:00pm at Nichols Small Rink (Skills Days).

AVAILABLE OPENINGS

We are only taking 18 full time player’s total. We currently have 10 returning players from last year’s group, leaving 8 spots open for the upcoming season.

We do NOT have tryouts for this program, but we do view this as a big decision for players being a full season program. A group like this works best if all players are close in level and ability. So, if before March 8th (end of current season) we are asking anyone interested to come skate and see the group and if they fit or not directly.   If the player fits the level of the group and they want the spot, then it’s theirs until spots are filled.  Spots are first come, first serve for the kids who fit the group we currently have.  If a player does not fit the group, then attending and seeing that now avoids a lost season for that player.

Cost: $1185               (75 ice times – 91 hours ice – $13/hour of ice)
  • 3 – 4 days of ice per week average
  • 1:4 player to coach ratio
  • September 9th, 2025 – March 4th, 2026
  • Sundays 4:00 – 5:30pm at Riverside Arena
  • Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:00 – 6:00pm at Nichols Small Rink
  • NEW! Saturdays — (Rink/Time TBD, 2x per month, 12 total)
  • 42 hours Small Group Skills (Tuesday & Thursdays)
  • 33 hours of game-competition based skills (Sundays)
  • 18 hours of joint team clinic, competition, game days (Saturdays)
  • Practice & Game Jersey Provided
  • Small group training
  • Testing/Evaluation tracking
  • Weekly group email updates & explanations
  • Players in this program receive generous discounts to other Mark Zarbo Hockey programs
  • FREE Equipment check with Front Row Sports
  • No ice Thanksgiving week & weekend, February Break Week, Christmas Break weeks or Super Bowl Sunday. See below for exact schedule of dates.

Generous discounts on other Mark Zarbo Hockey for Spring-Summer 2025 & 2025 – 26 Fall-Winter Programs

  • Discount for 3 v 3 Summer league ($185/player—normally $220/player–$15/hr ice – 16% discount)
  • Discount Spring & Summer Skills ($17/session flat rate—normally $25/single session– 32% discount)
  • Discount to our Mite Skills & Skating Camps ($125– normally $150/player – 17% discount)
  • Discount to fall/winter skill sessions ($17/session flat rate—normally $25/single session– 32% discount)
  • Discount to School Holiday Camps ($35/session flat rate—normally $40/camp – 12.5% discount)

FREE Equipment Sizing Check Provided by Front Row Sports

All full-time players are eligible to get a FREE equipment sizing check at Front Row Sports in West Seneca.

One the biggest issues at the mite level is a players equipment fitting properly, especially skates. If a player’s equipment does not fit properly, it can severely hinder or even make it impossible to learn some skills. For example, if a player’s skates are too big or they supinate or pronate to much at the ankle it makes it very hard to impossible for those players to learn to stop and/or crossover dependent on issue.

You do not have to buy or have bought your equipment at Front Row. They are providing all full-time players from our program a courtesy equipment sizing check and corrections on gear if possible/needed.

PAYMENT POLICY

Non-refundable deposit of a $100 is due by March 1st or at sign up if after March 1st. Half of remaining tuition is due July 1st. Remaining payment being due October 1st. 

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

Prior to signing up it is suggested that all prospective players listen to the presentation on our program above, attend a practice session with our current group to ensure your player fits and/or talk with Coach Mark regarding our program. Once you have done those things to officially sign up, please fill out the sign-up form at the bottom of the page.

Full Season Mite Skills Development Program

Review your sign-up form before submitting. After submitting you will receive an emailed copy of your form as a receipt. Save or print this email for your records. Check SPAM/Junk folder if email receipt not received within 1 - 2 minutes of submission.

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After selecting number of players, the signup forms for each player will appear.


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