This will be the 12th year of the 16U and 18UAA Split Season Program. We are extremely excited about year Twelve!

We have now had four National Championships come from the MAHA split season program.

Some of the benefits of the program are:

· Encourages more player development prior to high school season

· Allow all 16U/18U age players intending to play high school hockey the opportunity to play for the State and National Championship as well.

· Reduce the competition between MAHA and MHSAA programs who are each recruiting the same players for their teams.

· Split season provides more places to play for players not making the varsity teams.

· Changes in the 2025 – 26 season allow for players who choose not to participate in High School OR do not make their High School team an opportunity to continue playing throughout the season.

Important Dates and CHANGES!!

· **NEW THIS YEAR** 16U A State tournament will be played in October. This follows recent success of moving 18U AA tournament to October.

· On August 1, 2025, ALL 16U A and 18U AA teams can begin playing games. Teams can begin rostering on 7/15 but cannot play games until 8/1.

· September 1, 2025, Teams must declare intent to enter their respective state playoffs (Entry form will be on MAHA website) A $900 deposit will also be required as part of the application process.

· October 16 – October 26, 2025 will be the 16U A & 18U AA playoffs. Dates, times, and tournament format will be determined by amount of teams that register for their respective tournaments. The tournament may span multiple weekends, if needed, to complete.

· November 5, 2025, split season rosters end. Winners of the state tournaments rosters go dormant. Players not participating on high school teams may create new teams or join other full-season teams.

· USA Hockey Nationals are March 25 – March 29: 16U – Irvine, CA, 18U – West Chester, PA

Age Divisions:

· 16 U (National Bound)

· Players in the 2009 & 2010 birth years or younger.

· 18 U (National Bound)

· Players in the 2007 & 2008 birth years or younger.

16 U and 18U Tier 2 State Tournament Format:

Subject to change pending State Playoff Committee decision.

· All teams who register are eligible to participate.

· Tournament format to be decided after September 1 and be based on number of registered teams.

· Tournament format may require multiple weekends to complete.

Eligibility for Playoffs:

· 10 Games for a player in classification and 20 games for a team apply to be eligible for 16U and 18 U playoffs. This means 20 games in the age classification you are in. So, you will need 20 games against other 16U/18U Tier 2 teams to qualify for the playoffs. They can be split season or full season as well as out of state teams, even the Canadian equivalent to your level. (Games against Tier 1 or Tier 3 teams do not count toward your game count).

· There are normally two early round robin events to help teams get games. Big Bear Tournament in Chelsea in August & a round robin event in Kalamazoo in September.

· Credential checks must be done before the playoffs begin by your district. Any requirements that are due by December 31st of each year (i.e., coaching certification) must be completed by the teams prior to the start of the playoffs.

Questions and Additional Information

Contact: Don Wright - don@arcticcoliseum.net or Jon Hosking - jhosking@maha.org

Help provide MAHA with information on the teams that intend to participate in the split season in Fall 2025. A complete list of those teams participating will be shared with those teams that register so they can more easily contact other split-season teams for games. We will also communicate other information about split-season opportunities as well as playoff information.

Fill out the form below now to let us know your participating this season! 

Team's can declare their intent to enter for the 2025-2026 MAHA state tournament at the 16U & 18U Tier II level. As part of the declaration process a deposit will be required. The registration deadline is September 1, 2025.

The registration will become active in early July

The Michigan Amateur Hockey Association implemented the split season as a pilot program in the 2014 – 2015 season to help players whose goal in to play high school hockey in the winter. The program provided a split season option for Midget A & AA divisions. Under this new program teams were now be able to compete in a new, earlier season starting in August, a late season starting in late-November, or in both.

Having an early season allows high school age players, not playing other fall sports, to compete at a high level in preparation for the MHSAA season. Those teams playing in the early season will have a playoff at the end of that season to qualify teams for the State Finals, which will be played immediately after the MHSAA season is done. The winner of the finals will represent Michigan at the USA Hockey National Championship.

Goals:

• Sends a positive message to Michigan hockey parents that MAHA cares and desires to rectify and minimize the stress and undecidedness that hockey parents face each fall on whether to "gamble" on their child making the high school team and not having a place to play at all if he/she doesn't make that team.
• Recognize and significantly reduce the frustrations felt by 1st year high school athletes as they ponder whether they have a chance to make their high school team come tryout time in November while risking the chance they may not have any place to play if they don't tryout for a midget team that is selected earlier.
• Help address the uncertainty of minor hockey associations and arena management on whether to budget ice for a midget team that might have too many or not enough players come November based on the number of players trying out for the local high school team(s).
• Reduce the uncertainty for midget and high school coaches on how many players they will each have once high school tryouts conclude. 
• Increase skill development for all players in these divisions by providing more competitive training and game opportunities prior to MHSAA season.
• Allow High School Players to play fall sports and still be able to join a hockey team for the late season.

• Allow more high school age players to participate on both MAHA and MHSAA teams.
• Reduce the competition between MAHA and MHSAA programs who are each recruiting the same players for their teams.
• Allow all Midget age players the opportunity to play for the State and National Championship.
• More early-season ice utilization for rinks