About the Wenatchee Wild Hockey Academy
The Wenatchee Wild Hockey Academy players are a high-performance hockey club that is operated through a partnership between the Wenatchee Wild (WHL) and Wenatchee Amateur Hockey Association (WAHA). The Academy currently consists of three USA Hockey Tier I national bound teams, all of which are fully eligible for state, district and national postseason competitions. Our 16U and 18U AAA teams are academy-style programs where the players live in Wenatchee and train full-time, while playing a nationally competitive Tier 1 AAA and Canadian Sport School Hockey League schedule. The 14U team operates as a weekend-only team, allowing the players to live at home during the week and travel to Wenatchee on the weekends for professional training and development. The Wenatchee program has a full-time coaching staff consisting of coaches with experience at the higher levels of the game.
16U & 18U Tier 1 AAA/CSSHL Full-Time Billet Teams
The 16U Wild and 18U Wild teams are operated as a hockey-academy style program where the players live in Wenatchee during the hockey season, attend school full-time, and train daily. The 16U & 18U teams are full members of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, and compete in high-level Tier 1 showcases across the US and Canada, playing a 45+ game schedule. The schedule is highlighted with several CSSHL Showcase events designed for exposure to junior teams in western Canada, as well as several Tier 1 events in the United States. We have operated an 18U team in this model for more than a decade, and operated the 16U Wild as a full-time nationally competitive billet program for nearly a decade. Last season, both teams played a nationally competitive schedule, with the 18U team winning its fourth straight PNAHA state championship and representing the Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association at the USA Hockey Pacific District tournament. Numerous former players are currently playing the sport at the Junior A and NCAA levels.
The 16U Wild and 18U Wild teams are operated as a hockey-academy style program where the players live in Wenatchee during the hockey season, attend school full-time, and train daily. The 16U & 18U teams are full members of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, and compete in high-level Tier 1 showcases across the US and Canada, playing a 45+ game schedule. The schedule is highlighted with several CSSHL Showcase events designed for exposure to junior teams in western Canada, as well as several Tier 1 events in the United States. We have operated an 18U team in this model for more than a decade, and operated the 16U Wild as a full-time nationally competitive billet program for nearly a decade. Last season, both teams played a nationally competitive schedule, with the 18U team winning its fourth straight PNAHA state championship and representing the Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association at the USA Hockey Pacific District tournament. Numerous former players are currently playing the sport at the Junior A and NCAA levels.
14U Tier 1 Wild – Weekend-Only Team
The 14U Wild team is a weekend-only team that allows players the ability to live at home with their families and attend their local school during the week, while gaining a high-level hockey experience on the weekends. The 14U team is registered with USA Hockey as Tier 1 team and play an independent tournament/showcase schedule against top AA and AAA teams from around the US and western Canada.
Why play in Wenatchee?
Ice Time – Players on the full-time billet teams have a structured schedule with ice time Monday-Friday. Players on the weekend teams get four practices for a total of six hours of ice time each practice weekend.
Coaching – Full-time professional coaches whose jobs are to create a great development environment for the players. Most practices have 2-3 coaches on the ice. All full-time coaches have experience as player and/or coach at the Junior A, NCAA, and/or professional.
Strength Program – The full-time billet teams have a structured strength program with two certified strength coaches in the gym at every workout. The weekend teams are provided with an age-appropriate training program to follow during the season.
Exposure – The full-time billet teams will play a nationally competitive schedule against some of the top Tier 1 programs in the US & Canada. The teams will play a full CSSHL schedule, and will also play in high-level U.S. events, providing exposure to Junior A and NCAA programs.
Ladder of Development – The weekend-only teams are great way for players to get some high-level hockey experience while still living at home. The full-time billet 16U & 18U teams that play a nationally competitive CSSHL and Tier 1 schedule give players every development opportunity available to play Junior A and NCAA hockey. The players on our Tier 1 Development Teams get regular exposure to our WHL team. Our former BCHL team was one of the best junior teams in North America at promoting players to NCAA D1 hockey.
Coaching – Full-time professional coaches whose jobs are to create a great development environment for the players. Most practices have 2-3 coaches on the ice. All full-time coaches have experience as player and/or coach at the Junior A, NCAA, and/or professional.
Strength Program – The full-time billet teams have a structured strength program with two certified strength coaches in the gym at every workout. The weekend teams are provided with an age-appropriate training program to follow during the season.
Exposure – The full-time billet teams will play a nationally competitive schedule against some of the top Tier 1 programs in the US & Canada. The teams will play a full CSSHL schedule, and will also play in high-level U.S. events, providing exposure to Junior A and NCAA programs.
Ladder of Development – The weekend-only teams are great way for players to get some high-level hockey experience while still living at home. The full-time billet 16U & 18U teams that play a nationally competitive CSSHL and Tier 1 schedule give players every development opportunity available to play Junior A and NCAA hockey. The players on our Tier 1 Development Teams get regular exposure to our WHL team. Our former BCHL team was one of the best junior teams in North America at promoting players to NCAA D1 hockey.
For more information about the Wenatchee Wild Hockey Academy, please click on the appropriate team’s menu & links above.
