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HOUSTON WILD HOCKEY CLUB 

About the Houston Junior Aeros

Houston Junior Aeros Hockey Association, Inc.

(previously Houston Wild Hockey Club)

P. O. Box 19654
Houston, TX 77224
 
president@houstonwildhockey.com
www.houstonwildhockey.com

History and Mission Statement

The Houston Junior Aeros Hockey Association, Inc. (the “HJAHA”) was formed in the 1970’s (with our current legal entity being established in 1988) as a 501(c) non-profit organization with the straightforward philosophy to “provide a forum to promote and develop youth ice hockey in Houston” and is governed by a set of Bylaws as well as rules, policies, and guidelines that are managed by a volunteer Board of Directors with the mission to:
  • Develop character, sportsmanship, and physical fitness among the youth
  • Promote, encourage, and improve the standard of amateur ice hockey
  • Associate with other ice hockey associations
  • Conduct an amateur ice hockey program consistent with the rules and regulations of the Texas Amateur Hockey Association (“TAHA”) and
  • USA Hockey, Inc. (“USAH”).
The Houston Wild Hockey Club (the “Wild”) was formed in 2001 under a USAH affiliate identity, separate from the HJAHA, in efforts to combine the top talent from the then local hockey organizations to create Tier II/AA teams at the 14U, 16U, and 18U age groups.  Several years ago, the white and light/dark blue colors, jerseys and HJAHA name were retired in favor of a unified red/green/gold look within the Wild organization.

ByLaws

2022-23 ANNUAL MEETING

MEMBERSHIP

The Junior Aeros are a true citywide organization with teams comprised of players who reside from all four corners of the Houston area:  from League City to The Woodlands to College Station to Richmond/Rosenberg.

Volunteers

Much like any other youth sports organization, the Houston Junior Aeros are volunteer-based and has a terrific group of Board members, coaches, and team managers, and other volunteers who spend countless hours to provide our players the opportunity to play hockey and help the season run as smoothly as possible.   It truly takes a group of individuals with an incredible passion for hockey to make youth hockey possible.  There are a number of volunteer opportunities to fill upon completion of tryouts; should you be willing/available to share your time and talents with the organization, please reach out to president@houstonwildhockey.com.
 
Our Board of Directors includes individuals who also are very involved with USAH at each of the League, State, Regional, and National level, and the Wild is a highly regarded and respected member of both the Texas hockey community and USAH.

board members & support personnel

Visit HERE to view current Board of Directors and Support Personnel.

Houston Wild Teams - 2021-22

In the 2021-22 season, the Wild sponsored a total of ten (10) teams separated into five (5) different age divisions ranging from ’12 birth year players at the 10U age division to ’03 birth year players at the 18U age division.  More than 170 players were placed on rosters this past season:
  • 10U A (`12 &`11)
  • 10U AA (`12 &`11)
  • 12U A (`10 &`09)
  • 12U AA (`10 &`09) – DSTHL Playoff Participant
  • 14U A (`08 &`07)
  • 14U AA (Tier II) (`08 &`07) – Texas Tier II 14U State Tournament Participant        
  • 16U A (`06 &`05)
  • 16U AA (Tier II) (`06 &`05) – Texas Tier II 16U State Tournament
  • 18U AA (Tier II) ('04 &`03)      

Practices

Junior Aeros teams practice 3-4 times per week, depending on the age division and skill level.   In the past, we have not practiced on Mondays or Fridays due to travel weekend schedules.  Practices may be half ice, full ice, or buckle practices (one half hour of full ice/one half hour of half ice), depending on ice availability and coach preference.  Practices generally start about mid August and run through the beginning of March. 

Rinks

With the Junior Aeros being a truly citywide organization, with players from four far corners of the Houston area, it goes without saying that the Junior Aeros organization supports several ice rinks in the Houston area.  The rinks our Wild families frequent and call home for practices and league games are:

Dallas Stars Travel Hockey League (DSTHL)


Click on image to access DSTHL website.

The Junior Aeros are proud to be one of four Charter Members of the Dallas Stars Travel Hockey League (“DSTHL”) (successor to the North Texas Hockey League “NTXHL”), which was formed in 2012 with the full support and backing of the Dallas Stars NHL club.  The DSTHL coordinates travel league play for many TAHA-sanctioned organizations.  The Junior Aeros Past-President sits on the Executive Board of the DSTHL.  The DSTHL will be in its twelfth year of operation in 2023-24, working towards its goal of improving the competitiveness of TX/OK teams and having players and teams compete at the appropriate levels – basically, righting the hockey pyramid in Texas.
 
In 2021-22, the DSTHL has 89 teams with thirty-five (35) of those teams being non-DFW teams; Member Organizations include:
  • Dallas Penguins
  • Dallas Stars Elite (Youth & Girls)
  • Houston Wild Hockey Club (now Junior Aeros)
  • McKinney North Stars
  • Oklahoma City Oil Kings
  • San Antonio Jr. Rampage
  • Texas Jr. Brahmas
  • Texas Jr. Stars (Austin)
  • Texas Tigers
  • Texas Warriors
  • Tulsa Jr. Oilers
  • West Texas Selects (Amarillo & Odessa)
Junior Aeros teams travel approximately every third week to one of Dallas, San Antonio, or Austin for league games, and those DSTHL teams, in turn, travel to Houston for host/home games.  The Junior Aeros teams typically meet in Dallas with teams such as Oklahoma City, Odessa, Amarillo, and Tulsa.
 
The DSTHL season starts with every DSTHL team’s participation in the Texas Shootout (Labor Day) Tournament.  Thereafter, the teams are seeded into skill levels according to the tournament scores.  The two weeks following Labor Day are typically dedicated to subsequent match ups to provide support to the leveling process.
 
Mid-September, representatives from each DSTHL association gather in Dallas at the DSTHL Scheduling Meeting to build a schedule for approximately twenty (20) league games/team to be played between approximately late September and mid/late February/President’s Day weekend. Historically, either the last weekend in February or first weekend in March is dedicated to playoff games.

HOCKEY SHIFT


Click on above image to view 2021-22 and current DSTHL stats, schedules, and standings.

DSTHL league stats, schedules, and standings for the 2012-13 to 2017-18 seasons may be found on Pointstreak. 

The DSTHL moved to HockeyShift effective the 2018-19 season; current stats, schedules, and standings may be accessed on HockeyShift by clicking on the adjacent image.

AA v. A1/A2 OR B & TIER II v. HOUSE/REC

AA v. A1/A2 or B - In accordance with the Junior Aeros participation as a Charter Member of the DSTHL, the top Junior Aeros team at each age division will be granted the opportunity to level into the AA bracket of each age division.  Each of the Junior Aeros subsequent teams at each age division will participate at a level TBD upon the Labor Day Weekend leveling process being finalized.
 
Tier II v. House/Rec - USAH recognizes only three types of team rosters:  Tier I, Tier II, and House/Rec.  Tier I and Tier II teams are applicable to teams at the 14U, 16U, and 18U age divisions and are eligible to participate in the TAHA State Tournament with the goal of advancing to the USAH Nationals Tournament at those respective levels.   Regardless of letter designation (AA or A1/A2, etc.), 10U and 12U teams are House/Rec teams, as well as those 14U, 16U, and 18U teams (generally) that are not State/National-bound teams.  House/Rec rostered teams are not eligible to participate at the State/National levels.
 
In the past ten (10) years alone, the Wild has won five (5) TAHA State Championships and has sent seven (8) teams to Tier II Nationals with two (2) of those teams earning bronze medals.

SPRING CLINICS

Each Spring, the Junior Aeros hosts a Spring Development Clinic for all age divisions and which is open to both in-house and travel players.  Note, however, that the Junior Aeros has historically implemented a tiered registration process wherein Junior Aeros players have a brief window of opportunity for first-come/early registration.
 
Watch the website in early Spring 2024 for exciting details of next year's  Spring Development Clinics.  In the meantime, complete details of last season's spring clinics may be found HERE.

Tryouts

TAHA and the DSTHL have established respective tryout policies to ensure tryout schedules that allow players both the opportunity and option to try out for a desired level or team and with a distinct separation between that level and the subsequent level [eg: Tier I~AAA tryouts take place before Tier II~AA tryouts that take place before House Rec~A/B tryouts].
 
Tryouts are held in accordance with TAHA- and DSTHL-mandated dates, which dates are typically available in mid-March of year and held in mid-late June.
 
Visit the 2023-24 Tryout page on the Wild website for complete details - CLICK HERE. 

DSTHL Roster Numbers

Wild teams will typically roster 14-20 players (including two (2) goalies wherever possible), depending on the age division, birth year numbers, and appropriate skill level, and in accordance with the DSTHL minimum roster requirements as follows:
  • 10U      10 skaters + 1 goalie
  • 12U      11 skaters + 1 goalie
  • 14U      14 skaters + 1 goalie
  • 16U      15 skaters + 1 goalie
  • 18U      15 skaters + 1 goalie

Player Registration Fees

Player fees are typically in the range of $3,000 per season and do not include travel costs or non-parent coach expenses.  Anticipated team-specific fees will be published at least two (2) weeks prior to tryouts each year. 
 
The actual 2023-24 player registration fees may be accessed on the above-referenced 2023-24 Houston Junior Aeros Tryouts page on the website.

Financial Assistance

Each season, the Board of Directors makes provision for a limited number of opportunities for financial assistance, which is intended for those players/families who may not, otherwise, be able to meet the financial demands of travel hockey. 
 
The Board of Directors’ selection of a player eligible for such assistance is based on the requested information, requirements, and other considerations as specifically set forth in the adjacent Financial Assistance Application.

Websites of Interest

USA Hockey


Click on image to access USA Hockey home page.

Texas Amateur Hockey Association


Click on image to access TAHA home page.

Dallas Stars Travel Hockey League


Click on image to access DSTHL home page.

Inquiries

More information regarding all of the above, or becoming a travel hockey player, may be found throughout the Houston Junior Aeros website. 

If you have other questions or would like further information, please reach out to:

Laura Dumas

Laura Dumas

President