Junior Titans U7
U7 Development Program · Players born 2020 & 2021
Junior Titans (U7) Development Program
The Junior Titans Development Program provides an introductory "team" experience for players who have completed Learn-to-Play. Led by professional non-parent coaches, the program builds fundamental skating, puck skills, and basic hockey strategy through the Play · Teach · Compete Model.
- Two practices per week. Skills-focused sessions at local rinks.
- Weekly Showdown Game. Half-ice intersquad games, no travel required.
- Professional non-parent coaches. with a full-time Technical Director and Admin team
- Set schedule. The full season schedule is published before the season starts.
- Ski-Friendly Schedule No programming from Friday 4pm to Sunday 4pm in ski season.
- Competitive Pathway Clear progression from U7 to U8 and on through U15+.
All games are played as half-ice intersquad Showdown Games, designed to optimize development time and create a highly efficient schedule. Showdown Games deliver more puck touches and more scoring, while introducing competitive hockey and teaching the core skills that matter most at this age: listening, hard work, and teamwork.
How the Program Works
Two Practices
Skills-focused practices at local rinks, run by professional non-parent coaches with a modern game-based curriculum. The full schedule is set well before the season starts, so weekly times stay consistent.
Showdown Games
Frequent Half-ice intersquad games. Smaller surface means more puck touches, more scoring, and more involvement for every player, with no travel and no rotating game schedule.
Ski-Friendly Schedule
No practices or games from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon throughout the ski season, with no overlap with TOP Lacrosse and TOP Soccer programs.
Schedule & Format
- Ski-Friendly Program: no programming from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon throughout ski season.
- Set Schedule: two skills practices per week plus a weekly Showdown Game, with no rotating times or changing schedules.
- Weekly Showdown Games: half-ice intersquad games designed to maximize development and schedule efficiency.
Coaching & Pathway
- Professional Coaches: non-parent coaches hired and trained by TOP Hockey, running a modern curriculum.
- Multi-Sport Friendly: minimal overlap with TOP Lacrosse and TOP Soccer.
- Player Pathway: clear progression from U7 to U8 to U15+ with consistent standards at every step.
Behind the Scenes
FAQs
Common Questions
How are teams selected? Are there tryouts?
At the grassroots level we do not use tryouts. Testing a six-year-old before the first day of class tells you very little about long-term development and can push kids out of sport. Players are selected through an application that considers previous experience, multi-sport history, and family philosophy.
What is the structure of the program?
High-quality practices, intersquad Showdown Games, and professional coaching combine into a development-focused program that is efficient and family-friendly, with no over-investment of time or resources at young ages.
What does a weekly schedule look like?
Two skills practices plus a weekly Showdown Game. Once the season schedule is set, changes are minimal.
Who are the coaches?
Our professional coaches are teachers and mentors who model teamwork, respect, and work ethic. They are selected for coaching and playing experience and aligned philosophy, and are fully trained on the TOP Hockey model and expectations.
Why half-ice instead of full-ice games?
Half-ice is the right size of surface for this age. Players touch the puck far more often, score more, and spend less time skating in space they cannot yet control. It also removes travel from the schedule entirely.
What comes after U7?
Players move into our U8 program and continue on the TOP Hockey pathway through U15 and beyond, with the same coaching standards and development model at every step.
Have questions about Junior Titans?
Our hockey staff can walk you through the program, the schedule, and the pathway ahead.