Dear Families,
As we approach the New Year, I want to take a moment to wish each of you a wonderful year ahead filled with happiness and good fortune.
With the season now well underway, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and patience as we’ve transitioned into the new
Mass Admirals organization. While there have been some expected challenges along the way, the new ownership has settled in smoothly and has been working hard behind the scenes. After observing the program over the past few months, they are already planning exciting new improvements for next year to further strengthen the experience for our players and families.
Your trust and loyalty are important to us. While we understand that not every decision may meet every expectation, please know that our goal is to communicate openly and ensure families understand the reasoning behind our choices. Everything we do comes from a shared commitment to providing the best possible playing environment for your children.
To keep everyone informed and confident in our direction, here are some updates on a few key areas of the program:
South Shore Conference
This year marked our first season participating in the
South Shore Conference, following our decision to move away from the South Coast Hockey League due to stability concerns. We knew that several programs would be leaving that league, and we wanted to ensure our players would continue to have strong, competitive opportunities in an established and stable league.
Transitioning into a new league has not been without challenges. Working with a new board and adapting to new procedures proved to be a significant adjustment, particularly with the extended parity round that continued into November. We felt this portion of the season ran much too long, and efforts to collaborate on proper team placements were often restricted by the conference’s existing policies and timelines.
The good news is that parity has now ended, and our teams appear to be placed appropriately for the remainder of the season. Official records began after the parity round, and our players are now competing in divisions that best reflect their skill levels. While the early-season matchups against higher-level teams were difficult, they also provided valuable experience and growth opportunities that are already visible in their development and performance—you may have seen this in your player’s progress on the ice.
As we move into next season, we are exploring alternative opportunities to ensure our teams are best positioned for growth and competition. Some of the teams most affected by placement challenges have already been notified that, beginning after the New Year, a few of our 8U teams will participate in games within the
Bay State Hockey League. This opportunity will allow us to evaluate whether the league could be a good long-term fit for our teams in future seasons.
Tournament Fees
We’ve received some questions regarding tournament costs this season. It’s understandable to wonder about the difference between the price listed on a tournament’s website and the fee collected by our program.
Please know that the intent behind these fees is never to take advantage of families. Operating a youth hockey program involves many behind-the-scenes expenses—ice time, referee fees, league dues, coaching and administrative staff salaries, staff apparel, and equipment—all of which have continued to rise sharply over the years. In fact, ice costs at The Village increased significantly
after registration fees were collected last season.
Rather than dramatically raising tuition costs, we’ve chosen to balance expenses in part through tournament fees, which helps us manage these increases with less financial impact on families overall. Even with rising costs, we remain deeply committed to keeping our program as affordable as possible while maintaining the high-quality experience our players deserve.
To provide some perspective, our
Devils/Mass Admirals 2025–2026 fees remain well below those of our four closest and largest competitors:
- Devils Full Season: $2,095 (includes 2 practices per week)
- Mass Admirals Full Season: $2,695 (includes 2 practices and 1 skills session per week)
- Competitor 1: $4600 for the same offering (2 practices, 1 skills session per week) plus a required $450 swag bundle
- Competitor 2: $4,200 for the same offering (2 practices, 1 skills session per week)
- Competitor 3: $3,200 for 2 practices per week
- Competitor 4: $2,800 for 2 practices per week and Sunday morning games only
We’re proud to continue offering a high-quality, development-focused hockey experience at a significantly lower cost compared to other programs in our area.
Please note that next year’s registration fees will reflect necessary adjustments to meet these ongoing cost increases. These changes are not for profit—they are simply what’s required to sustain the program and continue offering the level of hockey experience that our players and families expect.
Team Placements
We recognize that team placement is one of the most important and emotional aspects of the hockey season for families. Please know that we put great care and effort into this process each year, while also working within the restrictions of the leagues we participate in. Once teams are submitted in the spring, we are obligated to follow league rules and placement structures, which sometimes limit our flexibility.
While some teams fit perfectly into their divisions, others may face tougher competition or growing pains. We understand this can be frustrating. These situations are never taken lightly, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate the realities of league play each season.
In these moments, we’re especially grateful for our incredible coaches and team administrators. Their leadership, positivity, and commitment to player development ensure that every player continues to grow—not only in skill, but in sportsmanship, teamwork, and resilience. Our admins also cultivate the
Devils/Mass Admirals focus on family, camaraderie, and social connection, which we believe are just as important as athletic development. These lessons, learned through both victories and challenges, are what make youth sports so valuable.
We know that not every circumstance is within our control, but we will always focus on what
is: creating a nurturing, supportive environment where every player feels part of a true hockey family.
Goalie Training
While we have made efforts to be creative with our
Goalie Training, we want our families to know that we are listening to their feedback. Including goalies in weekly skills sessions has provided valuable benefits for all players, offering necessary shot opportunities and game-like situations.
However, we also recognize the importance of position-specific development. Beginning
Tuesday, January 6 at 8:30 PM on the Premier Rink, we will introduce a dedicated
goalie-specific training block for our
12U and 14U goalies.
Our
10U goalies are also welcome to attend, though we understand this time may be late for some, so we will leave attendance to each family’s discretion.
8U and 10U goalie training will continue to be held during their regular team skills sessions.
All goalies are, of course, welcome and encouraged to continue attending their team skills as well.
As we look ahead to the
2026–2027 season, please know that we remain fully committed to providing a program led by dedicated coaches, supportive administrators, wonderful families, and a positive environment where players can continue to develop and grow—both on and off the ice. Thank you once again for your continued trust, support, and belief in what we do. You will soon receive information regarding our
2026–2027 registration and tryouts, and we truly hope you’ll continue to be part of the
Mass Admirals Family. Your involvement and enthusiasm are what make this program so special.
Happy New Year to All!
Patti McTernan, Director of Hockey Operations
Mass Admirals / Devils Hockey
508-507-1952
Email
Print
