Age Divisions
The following definitions cover the Minor Ice Hockey Victoria (MIHV) Junior Winter competition for season 2025.
17U (17 & Under)
This is a mixed, full-checking division, open to players aged 16-17 (and by exception for top age 15U players)
‘A body check represents intentional physical contact, from the front, diagonally from the front or straight from the side, by a skater to an opponent who is in control/possession of the puck. The opposing player’s objective is to gain possession of the puck with a legal body check and NOT to punish or intimidate an opponent. Legitimate body checking must be done only with the trunk of the body (hips and shoulders) and must be above the opponent’s knees and at or below the opponent’s shoulders.’
For the 2025 season, the birth years for this division are 2008-2009.
15U (15 & Under)
This is a mixed, modified-checking division, open to players aged 14-15 (and by exception for top age 13U players)
‘Body checking is allowed when there is a clear intention of playing the puck or attempting to “gain possession” of the puck. No contact made between two players travelling in opposite directions, that is avoidable, will be considered legal. The only exception to this would be in the instance where torso contact is made with the torso in the act of a poke check or stick check and is not of excessive force.’
For the 2025 season, the birth years for this division are 2010 - 2011.
13U (13 & Under)
This is a mixed, non-checking division, open to players aged 12-13 (and by exception for top age 11U players)
Please note: Exemptions may be made for children younger than 8 to participate in this division, however those exemptions are based on a coaching assessment. Ideally, players 8 or under will gain the necessary experience for full-ice competition via iceHQ’s development progra,.
‘Body checking is not permitted in any area of the ice. Competitive contact is body contact between two or more skaters who are in the immediate vicinity of the puck and who are in the normal process of playing the puck. These skaters are reasonably allowed to lean into each other provided possession of the puck remains the sole object of the contact.’
For the 2025 season, the birth years for this division are 2012-2013.
11U (11 & Under)
This is a mixed, non-checking division, open to players aged 9-11
Please note: Exemptions may be made for children younger than 9 to participate in this division, however those exemptions are based on a coaching assessment. Ideally, players 9 or under will gain the necessary experience for full-ice competition via iceHQ’s development progra,.
‘Body checking is not permitted in any area of the ice. Competitive contact is body contact between two or more skaters who are in the immediate vicinity of the puck and who are in the normal process of playing the puck. These skaters are reasonably allowed to lean into each other provided possession of the puck remains the sole object of the contact.’
For the 2025 season, the birth years for this division are 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017.
Junior Development
This is a mixed, non-checking program open to players aged 5-8 and other 11&U players who may not (yet) have enough competitive hockey experience to take part in the 11U's “full-ice” division.
The 11U cross-ice program is run in a self-contained ‘house league’ format by the team at iceHQ.
All details for the Junior Development program - from signup through to uniform procurement - are available at: