Travel Hockey

The goal of the Louisville Ice Cardinals Hockey Program is to promote the development and competitiveness of youth hockey players by providing the most possible ice touches and the highest quality of instruction available. The Ice Cards travel program will field teams for all age groups depending on the number of players and skill levels available. A determination will be made after player evaluations (tryouts). It is very important that the player and parent understand and accept the time commitment of the travel program, and that they are expected to make the travel team a priority.

Expenses per travel team vary on how many players are kept per team and other expenses such as league fees, tournament fees, etc. A typical roster is between 13-15 skaters & 1-2 goalies. Player expenses range from $2200-$3000 per season + local travel expenses (gas, food & overnights) to and from other ice arenas in KY, IN & OH. Usually, you play the same league team twice in one day to cut down on overnights & traveling to and from other ice arenas. Usually, you will have 5-10 overnight stays per team depending on how many out-of-town tournaments your team chooses to attend. There are team fundraising opportunities to drive down those expenses.

What is the difference between Travel Hockey and the House Program?

House is considered an introduction to the sport of hockey. Travel is the next step in skill and competition exposing players to a higher level of the sport.

Can my player play for their high school team and a travel team?

Yes, both KAIHA and USAH allow for double rostering on a club team and a high school team.

Why is the cost so much more than the House Program?

The cost increase is primarily attributed to more ice time and tournament fees.

What if my player doesn't make a travel team?

Depending on their age level we recommend participating in the House Program or the Louisville Metro High School team. We encourage players to continue to develop their skills both with on-ice practice as well as off-ice drills and conditioning. We hope that any player who does not make a travel team will continue to work hard and try out again next season.

What do the B, A, AA, and AAA levels mean?

B, A, AA, and AAA are distinctions between skill levels with B being the lowest. USAH defines these as Tier 1: The highest level of competition, also called "AAA". Tier 2: also called "AA" or "A". Tier 3: Also called "Select" or "B"