2026-27 Team Kentucky 16U/18U AA Teams
Announcing!
The Kentucky Amateur Ice Hockey Association (KAIHA) is excited to invite all 16U and 18U players in the KHSHL to tryouts for Team Kentucky 16U and 18U Nationals-Bound teams! This is different and separate from our Spring/Summer Team KY tournament teams. Spring/Summer Team KY tournament teams will still exist. Details for the new Team KY National-Bound teams formats are as follows:
Participation & Eligibility
- This will include the best players from the state of Kentucky and surrounding communities with 2010/2011 birth years for 16U and 2008/2009 birth years for 18U
- Teams will declare for Tier II AA USA Hockey Nationals
- Teams must play 18 games to be eligible to qualify for Nationals
- Individual players on the teams must play 12 games in order to be eligible for Nationals participation
- Participating players will be eligible to play for Team KY and their high school team in both USA Hockey Nationals tournaments
- Players are not permitted to be rostered on any other nationals-bound travel team with their respective associations or elsewhere
League Play, Scheduling, High School Flexibility
- It is intended for players to be able to play for their respective high school teams for the full regular season as well as Team KY with minimal-to-no scheduling conflicts
- Teams will compete in the Southeastern Showcase League (SESCL) for 16U & 18U
- If the SESCL does not sponsor an 18U division in 2026-27, it will compete as an independent
- 20 regular season games + league EOS tournament
- The SESCL schedule includes five showcase weekends with alternating league member hosts, roughly one showcase per month
- Entire SESCL season schedule is constructed in June, providing ample notice and flexibility to high school teams to minimize conflicts
- 2025-26 SESCL teams were located in Nashville, Atlanta (2x), Huntsville, Knoxville
- This model of coordinated efforts between travel and high school teams has worked very well for two consecutive seasons with Louisville's 16U AA travel team and local high school teams
- We ask that participating associations kindly encourage their local high school coaches to work around the established SESCL schedule, as it will ultimately support the success of the program and its players who are fortunate to make the roster
- Additional "pre/post" season tournaments will be necessary to work around the high school season, including over winter break and/or holiday weekends
Practices
- Players will primarily practice with their respective high school teams
- Team practices will mainly be held in preparation of a league showcase weekends or tournaments throughout the season (roughly 8-10 total practices)
- All team practices will be held at Iceland Sports Complex in Louisville, unless noted otherwise because of ice time unavailability
Coaches
- Head coach candidates will be interviewed and selected by KAIHA's Coaching Selection Committee in March, ahead of tryouts
Tryouts
- 16U: Sat, 5/9 @ 4pm & Sun, 5/10 @ 11:30am
- 18U: Sat, 5/9 @ 5pm & Sun, 5/10 @ 10:30am
- Tryout Fee: $50
- Teams will be selected by KAIHA
Unselected Players
- Unselected 16U players are welcome to participate on a second Louisville 16U travel team in the SYTHL's AA or A1 division, whichever is the appropriate caliber
- We do not anticipate having the numbers to support a second 18U travel team, nor does the SYTHL currently sponsor an 18U division
- Players can always solely participate with their local high school or JV team
Marketing
- KAIHA will be announcing and promoting this new 16u/18u Team KY program at the upcoming KHSHL tournament in Louisville, having already purchased a full page ad in the tournament's program
- KAIHA's Director of Hockey & Player Development, Louie Abounader plans on speaking individually with all the participating teams' coaches at the KHSHL tournament to endorse the opportunity
- The Team KY flyer will also be shared on social media, and via our KAIHA membership email announcements
- There is a pre-registration option for players outside of Louisville here, where they can receive access to our KAIHA email announcements ahead of tryouts via Crossbar, including being notified when the official registration opens to coincide with new 2026-27 USA Hockey #'s on April 1st
Good luck to all players and we look forward to seeing you at tryouts!
- KAIHA Board of Directors