About AMHA

To positively engage local youth in the fundamentals of hockey through:

• Sportsmanship
• Teamwork
• Character Development

The Ames Minor Hockey Association (AMHA) was founded in 1973 and began competition during the 1974-1975 Season.  

Skaters range from three years to 18 years old. Our most recent regular season saw more than 200 skaters participate in our travel hockey, house league, learn-to-play or practice only programs. Our AMHA families come from communities around Ames, some as far as 55 miles away. 

The motivating factor for most children who enter an organized youth sports program is their desire to have fun. Here at AMHA we use a recipe of fun and development. Our goal is to employ a supportive attitude with a fundamental understanding of the ice hockey, so families new to hockey are comfortable with the concepts and those with hockey experience are challenged to grow their knowledge and skills.

League divisions include Learn-to-Play, House League(no-travel) Travel teams: Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam and High School. Teams practice up to three times a week and games/tournaments are on weekends. Participation in the travel teams are open to boys and girls who have achieved the required skills and who wish to test their skills in a competitive setting against kids of similar age and skill level.

Our coaching staff is dedicated to building hockey skills, game rules and concepts , skating and power skating as well as a healthy dose of becoming a contributing teammate, caring for equipment, and appropriate team behavior and discipline, on and off the ice. 

At the older age groups, AMHA has dedicated, expert paid lead coaches, Bantam and High School. All other levels are dedicated volunteers who love the sport and love seeing kids have fun, learn and discover their potential.

We at Ames Minor Hockey Association (AMHA) pride ourselves on our motto of "Raising the Bar". This year is no different, and we are excited to announce several new opportunities within the AMHA community, while also reminding you of the already existing programs we provide our players.

The following are included in annual registration fees:

• AMHA summer hockey program
• AMHA weekly specific goalie practice called "Behind the Mask"
• Team tournament fees
• A highly trained and experienced coaching staff
• All volunteers directly interacting with youth receive background checks and are Safe Sport certified
• House leagues and travel opportunities
• Up to three (3) practices a week with additional game time opportunities on the weekends
• AMHA incorporates both the USA Hockey ADM model and the Power Edge Pro (PEP) development system for practices.

AMHA also supports our coaching staff in providing additional training and practice opportunities for optional purchase:

• Stickhandling sessions by our Bantams coach
• Dryland strength, endurance, and conditioning for Squirts-High School offered by our High School coach
• On ice skating and goalie camps offered throughout the year by Top Shelf Hockey Academy
• Summer travel teams offered by Top Shelf Hockey Academy
• Power Edge Pro (PEP) camps offered throughout the year
• Additional technical skills through the Learn to Skate (Hockey) sessions offered by the Ames Figure Skating Club

High School Varsity + JV, team tryouts, practice and regular season - July through February. Tryout registration - June/July. Season Registration August.

Travel team Bantam Peewee Squirts Mites, team tryouts, practice and regular season - August through March. Season/ Tryout registration - July-August.

House + Learn To Play - Practice, regular season Mid-October - February. Season Registration September - October

AMHA Bonus Summer Ice June & July. Included for all regular season AMHA Travel + High School players. Small fee for House + LTP skaters.

In honor of the many strong female hockey players that have played with AMHA, we are proud of the growth within the association related to female players. This past season AMHA had more female participants throughout the association than has been seen in years past.