Rice Lake Hockey Association (“RLHA”) is working to ensure a great season for all of our players and families.  Safety is our top priority and we will continue to work with our USA Hockey partners and local health officials to implement policies centered around a safe and fun environment.  We are utilizing resources made available through USA Hockey and WAHA to encourage best practices for our association.  You can visit USA Hockey at https://www.usahockey.com or WAHA at https://wahahockey.com to read more about best practices. 

The RLHA Board Members will continue to evaluate the safety guidelines as the season progresses and will provide necessary updates to all of our members.  

1.  MASKS:

• ALL individuals age 5 and older shall wear face coverings when inside the Rice Lake Hockey Arena.  Masks will not be required by players, coaches and officials when they are on the ice.  

2.  RINK ENTRY/EXIT:

• Players are allowed to enter the arena no more than 15 minutes prior to scheduled on-ice activities and should immediately change and vacate the arena within 15 minutes following on-ice activities.
• Players should arrive to the rink fully dressed, with the exception of skates (coming into the rink with skate guards on is ideal) and helmets.  Exceptions are made for goalies.

3.  LOCKER ROOMS:

• Each team will be assigned two locker rooms for practice.  We ask that players divide equally between these two locker rooms to allow social distancing.  

4.  PARENTS/GUARDIANS/SPECTATORS:

• Any parents/guardians/spectators exhibiting symptoms or signs of an illness shall not enter the rink.  
• Families are asked to minimize the number of spectators that come with a player in order to limit the number of people in the facility.  
• Parents/guardians/spectators shall not access the rink until just prior to the commencement of a player’s on ice activities and after the group ahead has completely vacated the arena. 
• Children are encouraged to sit with their family in the stands and not congregate around the rink.  

5.  PLAYER SAFETY:

• Players or coaches with any risk factors or illnesses should not participate in any on-ice activity. 
• Any players or coaches exhibiting symptoms or signs of an illness should not be in the facility at any point. If your child becomes ill following a game or practice contact your child’s coach immediately.
• If a player or an immediate family member has a pending COVID-19 test due to close contact or symptoms, no person from that family may enter the rink until the negative test result has been received.  If a player is currently in quarantine per a public health directive, they may not enter the rink until their respective quarantine period is complete.  
• All individuals are encouraged to wash hands or use hand sanitizer as they enter/exit the rink.  (Wall mounted hand sanitizers have been installed throughout the rink.)
• Players should bring and use their own individual water bottles with names clearly marked.  Water bottles should be filled prior to coming to the rink.
• All individuals are encouraged to practice social distancing while in the arena.  

For a complete detailed list of guidelines click here.

Our mission while teaching and playing the game of hockey is to provide a safe, fun experience, respect for oneself and others, education, respect various levels of competition, develop a healthy philosophy toward winning, giving ones best efforts while teaching good sportsmanship, develop individual and team skills, knowledge of the game, develop respect for coaches, referees, parents, players and self all while developing friendships that last a lifetime.

We want to keep RLHA Alumni updated on things going on at the rink and within the Association.  Be sure to register on our Alumni Registration so that we can keep a running list of all former players from youth through high school and beyond.

Lots of kids play! Rice Lake is one of more than 90 youth hockey associations statewide. In Rice Lake alone there were more than 100 kids participating in hockey last year.

Girls can play too!  Currently Rice Lake has several girls that play on our youth teams.  Although we do not have a WIAA high school girls team, many move on to play for area girls co-op teams once they age out of the youth program.  Two of our Rice Lake girls even played for the State Champion girls team in 2016!

Hockey is exciting to play and watch! For both the players on the ice and parents in the stands, hockey games are fast and exciting!

Everybody is part of the action! Unlike some youth sports, there aren’t just a few kids in the key positions. In hockey everyone shares in the fun and action.  A youth hockey team generally fields (and needs) twice as many kids as a basketball team, and everybody plays!   That is huge!

Hockey is for all sizes!  You don’t have to be big to play hockey well. Whether you’re big or small, any player can contribute to the success of their team.

Hockey is a lifetime sport!  Men and women of all ages play in recreational hockey leagues for years and decades after leaving youth hockey.

LETS PLAY HOCKEY!