2026-27 NCGB TIER 2

We are pleased to announce the 2026-27 offerings for the NC Golden Bears co-ed youth hockey program. The 2025-26 season was our best ever competitively as our 14UAA team went back-to-back as NC State champions, following in the footsteps of the 2022 18U State Champions.

Here are the program details and registration links for tryouts.

Tryouts will be held the weekend of May 1, 2 and 3 at the Garner Icehouse. The exact days and times for each age group will be posted a week out, approximately, as we will close registration and determine how much ice is needed for each age group.

Please review the program details below for each team and age group.

14AA – (2012/2013)

• HEAD COACH– DEVIN WARFIELD
• LEAGUE - ACHC
• 2 WEEKLY(FULL/SHARED)
• 1 BI-WEEKLY SKILLS
• 40-42 GAME ESTIMATE
• NATIONAL BOUND
• OFF-ICE D1 HOLLY SPRINGS
• CAROLINA ALLIANCE AAA OPPORTUNITIES
•  SEASON FEE - $5100

12AA - (2014, 2015)

• HEAD COACH DEVIN WARFIELD
• LEAGUE - ACHC
• 2 WEEKLY TEAM PRACTICES
• OFF-ICE D1 HOLLY SPRINGS
• 40-42 GAMES EXHIBITION/TOURNAMENT/LEAGUE
• CAROLINA ALLIANCE AAA OPPORTUNITIES. (2014 AND 2015)
• -SEASON FEE - $4600

18U (2008/2009)

• HEAD COACH MATTHEW STRAND
• LEAGUE - ACHC
• 2 WEEKLY TEAM AND SKILLS PRACTICES
• 35 GAMES - EXHIBITION/TOURNAMENTS/LEAGUE
• SEASON FEE: $3500

Our 18U team will strive to play at the highest level possible whether that is A or AA. With the growth of Tier 3 junior hockey, it has strained the player pool across the board at 18U as the Tier 3 leagues need to fill rosters with any available players. The NC Golden Bears will provide a quality 18U program with professional coaching that will allow players to develop in their final years of high school and give them an opportunity to play club hockey or move onto Juniors after their high school career is finish.

For mor information feel free to contact Matthew Strand - 780-914-0088

10U - (2016, 2017)

• HEAD COACH – BRADEN MAYO (NON PARENT)
• LEAGUE - ACHC
• 2 WEEKLY TEAM PRACTICES
• 30-32 GAMES – EXHIBITION/TOURNAMENT/LEAGUE
• CAROLINA ALLIANCE AAA OPP. (2016, 2017)
• SEASON COST- $3500

Our belief is that 10U should be competitive and fun, focusing on development. We will strive to make sure that all our players are ready for travel and able to compete at the single A level at a minimum. While we are returning to our roots of believing that AA hockey should begin in the 12U age bracket we will play at the highest level that we are competitive after tryouts. We also will provide the opportunity for those capable to tryout for the Carolina Alliance to give them the opportunity to play higher level hockey without the cost associated. There is no direct correlation with AA 10U hockey and continuing that into 12U and beyond, so we choose to have a 10U program that does not create burn out of break the bank

GAME COUNT vs SET TOURNAMENT NUMBERS

With the increase in Stay to Play tournaments, there has been a rise in tournament companies that have watered down tournaments, specifically at the A and B levels. Not only are they more expensive for the family, with tournaments requiring 3 nights in hotels with ridiculous game start times, many times the tournaments are being cancelled for specific age groups and moved at the last minute to another location.

So instead of listing number of tournaments the NC Golden Bears will attempt to provide the teams with quality tournaments and more home/local games via league play and exhibition. Each team will still get tournaments, but if more quality games can be done locally and save people a hotel and gas expenses of having to travel to a subpar tournament and play local teams, then we will attempt to do that.

After tryouts and once the league game counts are tallied, we will assess each team and possibly locations for tournaments.

If you need further explanation, please feel free to contact Paul Strand