SKATE FAST. HAVE FUN. MAKE FRIENDS.

PLAY HOCKEY.

Join Myrtle Beach's only youth hockey league!

First time here?

Thanks so much for your interest in our league! Drop us your e-mail and we'll fill you in on important details like registration dates, season kick-off events and open skates.

Growing the game in a fun & friendly way.

Grand Strand Youth Hockey is a 501(c)3 organization devoted to growing the sport of hockey in the Myrtle Beach area. Our goal is to teach kids of all ages the game of inline hockey and give them opportunities for learning, growth, camaraderie and, most of all, fun.

We're more than just hockey.

Playing with us means you’ll immediately inherit a hockey family that goes beyond our time on the rink. Of course, we skate hard and encourage competition, but never at the cost of the fun and good sportsmanship.

  • Learn an awesome sport
  • Make new friends
  • Skating is great exercise
  • Develop team skills
  • Perfect for any skill level
  • Co-ed Teams (ages 4-17)
  • Quality Instruction
  • Have lots of fun!
LEAGUE INFO

FAQs

Here’s a look at some of the common questions and things you need to know about our league.

When does the season start?

Our season is broken up into two sessions — fall and spring. Each session includes 8 games and weekly practices. The season calendar is as follows:

Fall Session

  • Fall Sign-ups Open: August 1, 2023
  • Fall Kick-Off Event (Open Skate & Info Session): Sept. 9, 2023
  • Practices Begin: Sept. 12, 2023
  • Games Begin: Sept. 23, 2023

Spring Session

  • Spring Sign-Ups Open: Dec. 1, 2023
  • Spring Kick-Off Event (Open Skate & Info Session): Jan. 6, 2024
  • Practices Begin: Jan. 9, 2024
  • Games Begin: Jan. 20, 2024

When are the games and practices?

Games are held on Saturdays and occur between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Players are expected to arrive 30 minutes prior to game time so they can dress, warm-up and be ready to start on time. Games consist of two 20-minute halves with 10 minutes for warmup and 5 minutes at halftime. Rain dates for games will be on Sunday mornings.

Practice will be held once per week either on Tuesday or Thursday nights, weather permitting. Practices will take place between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., depending on team assignment. Players are expected to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to ensure they are on the rink in full gear at start of practice.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather, rink conditions and availability, however days of the week will remain consistent.

How much does it cost to sign up?

League fees are $125 per session and include rink time for 8 games (plus playoffs), weekly practices and a team jersey.

Discounts are offered for the spring session for players who choose to play in both sessions.

These fees must be payed by your player’s first game day of the session and all payments will be handled through the TeamSnap platform.

Note: Grand Strand Youth Hockey is devoted to giving ANY child who is interested in our sport an opportunity to play. If the financial aspect of the game is an issue for your family, please contact us to arrange a payment plan and/or financial assistance.

Do I have to bring equipment?

Grand Strand Youth Hockey is dedicated to making sure that any child with in interest in our sport gets the opportunity to play hockey. 

That's why we offer new players the opportunity to try the sport first by borrowing gear from our trailer, which is full of used and donated hockey equipment. 

While we can't always guarantee that we'll have gear available in every size, we will do our best to accommodate the needs of new players with gear including helmets, sticks and even skates.

We do encourage kids to bring as much of their own gear as possible.

What kind of equipment do we need?

We require players to have the following protective gear:

  • Helmet
  • Skates
  • Elbow Pads
  • Shin Guards
  • Hockey Gloves
  • Hockey Stick

We also strongly recommend:

  • Full Face Mask / Cage (for Helmet)
  • Hockey Pants or Inline Girdle (leg pads)
  • Inline Pants or Hockey Socks
  • Shorts w/ Pelvic Protector (cup)
  • Shoulder Pads
  • Mouth guard

For those looking to purchase gear, we recommend ordering from online stores such as Inline Warehouse, Hockey Monkey or Dick's Sporting Goods — which allows for in-store returns at Grand Strand locations, even though hockey equipment isn't sold locally.

My child has never played before. Can they still join?

Yes. Our mission is to spread the game of hockey throughout the Myrtle Beach area and thus new players are always welcome to participate. GSYH accept players of all skill levels and no experience is necessary to play.

We offer several "open skate" league events throughout the year such as our player evaluation days (in late September and early January) and summer pick-up games.

We encourage those who are new to the game to come and try up to 3 skating sessions before making a decision about whether to join the team. You may do so by attending open skates or practices.

If you'd like to attend, please let us know by dropping us a line or calling‪ (843) 633-3150‬.

How do you split up teams / ages?

Our league is broken up into three divisions — Juniors, Mites and Mini-Mites. 

Players in the Juniors Division must be at least 10 years old by the start of the league year and no older than 17 at the start of the league year. This division is primarily for more advanced players with some experience in hockey.

Players in the Mites Division must be at least 6 by the start of the league year and no older than 12 at the start of the league year. This division is for developing players looking to hone their hockey skills.

Players in the Mini-Mites Division must be at least 4 by the start of the league year and no older than 7 at the start of the league year. This division is for beginning players without and hockey experience.

As a developmental league we do our best to cater to all skill levels of player and thus we will work with players and parents to get your player placed in the correct division based on age, experience and skill level. 

At times, some players may be asked to practice or play in both divisions until we can determine a full-time placement. We do our best as a coaching group to actively monitor these situations closely and work to communicate with players, teammates and parents to make sure participants are both challenged and comfortable with their position, line assignment and team.

How is inline different from ice?

Inline hockey is a team sport played on inline roller skates which looks and plays similar to ice hockey, but a variety of tweaks to the play, rules and team structure.

The biggest difference between inline hockey and traditional ice hockey is the playing surface. In Myrtle Beach, we play at the Market Common Hockey Rink, an outdoor rink with a surface constructed of hard plastic "waffled" tiles known as sport court. The surface is designed to be more shock-absorbent than concrete and just as fast as ice while providing for easy sliding of plastic pucks.

Additional tweaks include lighter equipment, a less physical game (no checking) and the number of players on the rink at one time — inline hockey is played 4 vs. 4 instead of 5 vs. 5.

How can I get involved?

Thanks for your interest in our program. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization run by volunteers and parents, we can always use a few more people who love hockey to help our program grow.

If you'd like to help out by getting involved as a coach, sponsor, donor or volunteer, please reach out to us by calling (843) 633-3150‬.

Our league organizers are:

  • Chris Mowder, League Commissioner 

  • Allen Ryals, Youth Director / Head of Officiating

  • Jon Sommeso, Tournament Team Head Coach

Is inline hockey dangerous?

The fluid teamwork of hockey players as they move skillfully across the ice is an exciting and beautiful spectacle to watch. Hockey demands strength, explosive speed, endurance, and high levels of physical conditioning and coordination. It’s characterized as a high-speed collision game with high rates of injury.

However, parents may be reassured to learn that at the youth level, hockey injuries are less common than in other youth sports, including football, basketball, and soccer. The most common hockey-related injuries are relatively minor: Bruises, Strains, Sprains and the like. See the data here.

Here at GSYH, we emphasize player safety by playing a safe, non-checking game and requiring all players to wear proper protective equipment.

Have another question that wasn't covered here? Feel free to reach out to us by clicking below.

Keep up with us!

Want to get involved? See all of our open skates, practices and games on our schedule page. 

Grand Strand Youth Hockey
‪(843) 633-3150‬
The Market Common Hockey Rink
Emmens Avenue & Crabtree Lane
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
info@grandstrandhockey.com

Keep up with us!

Sign up for e-mail updates and follow us on social media to stay in the know about what’s going on with the league!