Travel Hockey: 8U - 18U
Following a successful strategic partnership during the 2025 - 2026 season, the South Westchester Blackhawks (“SWB”) and Scarsdale Youth Hockey Association (“SYHA”) are proud to announce our official merger into the South Westchester Hockey Club (“SWHC”).
As both legacy associations prepare to celebrate their 30th anniversaries as volunteer-run non-profits in 2026, this merger provides an even stronger foundation for accessible, comprehensive and competitive youth hockey in Westchester. Both organizations have long track records of developing youth hockey players and successful seasons; you can learn more about SWB's achievements here and SYHA's achievements here.
Beginning with the 2026 – 2027 season, the South Westchester Hockey Club will feature:
- Blackhawks Teams. Our most competitive teams. We expect Blackhawks teams to compete at the HVHL AA and HVHL A levels, elite EJEPL and LIAHL divisions and/or declare to compete in the New York State Tournament (“Tournament Bound”)
- Raiders Teams. These will be both competitive and developmental teams. We expect the Raiders teams to generally compete at the HVHL A1 and B levels
- Lady Raiders. Our dedicated all-girls program, with teams at 14U/12U and 19U/16U participating in the Connecticut Girls Hockey League (CGHL).
Across all players and teams, our mission remains clear: we want to offer the most accessible and comprehensive youth ice hockey program in Westchester.
- Accessible: Quality travel hockey shouldn't require a fortune or a two-hour round trip to a different state. We seek to bring the elite experience to your backyard.
- Comprehensive: We serve players and families from 8U through 18U across a wide range of competitive tiers, including a dedicated all-girls program.
Additional details on our travel program (including on 2026 - 2027 tryouts) are below.
2026 - 2027 Tryout Schedule
Note: All tryouts held either at Westchester Skating Academy or EJ Murray Memorial Skating Center. Please review time and location details below carefully.
8U - 12U
Tuesday, March 3
8U: 5:40PM - 6:40PM (WSA)
10U: 6:50PM - 7:50PM (WSA)
12U: 8:00pm - 9:00PM (WSA)
Thursday, March 5
8U: 5:40PM - 6:40PM (WSA)
10U: 6:50PM - 7:50PM (WSA)
12U: 8:00pm - 9:00PM (WSA)
14U-18U (including Lady Raiders)
Monday, April 6
Times to be confirmed closer to tryout date
Tuesday, April 7
Times to be confirmed closer to tryout date
Wednesday, April 8 (TB / AA Callbacks)
Times to be confirmed closer to tryout date
Ages
For the 2026 - 2027 season, the age groups are based on the following birth years...
Travel - Co-Ed
2018 - 2021: 8U
2016 - 2017: 10U
2014 - 2015: 12U
2012 - 2013: 14U
2010 - 2011: 16U
2008 - 2009: 18U
Travel - Lady Raiders
2012 - 2015: 14U/12U (White)
2008 - 2011: 19U/16U (Maroon)
Price
Tryout Cost: $125
Actual full 2026 - 2027 season fees will be communicated no later than the time of an offer being extended for a place on a team.
Coaches
Full head coaches for the 2026 - 2027 season will be communicated no later than the time of an offer being extended for a place on a team.
Please note that we have identified and confirmed the Head Coaches for the top teams by age level as follows:
8U - Mike Carlucci
10U - Mike Carlucci
12U - Alex Post
14U - Zack Kaplan
16U -
18U - Mike Rossi
Lady Raiders: Anthony Felice
In addition, see below for link to our current coaches for the 2025 - 2026 season.
Where
Practice and home games locations will vary between Westchester Skating Academy and EJ Murray Memorial Skating Center. The locations of games and practices for teams will be determined once the number of teams and players are known.
When
Our program runs from late-August to late-March.
We typically break for holidays (e.g., Thanksgiving, Winter Holidays, February School Break) although we offer "stick times" and other skills clinics over these holidays periods for program members.
Practices
Teams can expect to practice twice per week.
Full Season - 50 practices per season
Split Season (available at 16U and 18U levels) - 30 practices per season
Games
Teams can expect, on average, two games per weekend (one home and one away game).
Full Season - Approximately 20 home and 20 away games (including tournaments)
Split Season (available at 16U and 18U levels) - Approximately 12 home and 12 away games (including tournaments)
Jerseys
We will be providing jerseys for all registered tryout participants.
Once team selections are made, more information regarding game and practice jerseys (as well as assigned numbers) will be provided.
Skill Levels (League Placement)
Team levels will determined following tryout and team selections. Blackhawks and Raiders have teams playing at HVHL AA and TB (State Tournament Bound) all the way through HVHL B1.
Tournaments
Teams will typically play in 2 tournaments per season with travel distance typically between 2 and 5 hours from our home area. The specific tournament(s) will be proposed by the team coaches and managers once the skill of the team and the league level has been assessed.
Extra Tournament Costs
Although the organizations subsidize the cost of tournament entry for teams (two tournaments per team per season), there are lodging, transportation and meal costs that will need to be covered by each family.
2026-2027
2026 - 2027 SOUTH WESTCHESTER HOCKEY CLUB (SWHC) Tryout Registration
Register