Rye Rangers Members,

We are aware that a number of organizations have expanded their team offerings for the 2023-24 season and are purporting to offer new "AAA" teams.  We would like to share the Rye Rangers' perspective on these teams and provide a communication channel for our players for whom progression to a legitimate Tier I program makes sense.

For starters, Rye Rangers has evolved into a high performing program that offers players an opportunity to play at a number of levels from local travel to travel/heavy commitment Tier II / AA hockey. As a nationally recognized Tier II organization, our AA teams complete at the upper end of the LIAHL and Atlantic Hockey Federation (among the best Tier II leagues in the country).

With regard to "AAA hockey", Rye Rangers have well established relationships with the legitimate and reliable Tier I programs in our area. Through these relationships, we can aide a player's development and help them get evaluated by the appropriate Tier I / AAA team.  Anyone interested in learning more about that can start by contacting Terry Morris ( ).

Several programs in our area purport to offer differentiated/AAA hockey that, in reality, is not meaningfully different from the level played by our AA teams. Understandably, this can be quite confusing. Our experience with teams in these programs is that they are good marketers to parents and players, but suffer from inconsistent administration, coaching, team quality, player quality and program loyalty / pride. This inconsistency often comes at a materially higher financial cost than Rye Rangers.

To further help our members, Rye Rangers has recently strengthened its relationship with Mid Fairfield Jr. Rangers. Mid Fairfield is a not-for-profit (like Rye Rangers) and is the preeminent Tier I program serving primarily Westchester and Fairfield Counties.  Mid Fairfield is a big supporter of and believer in Rye Rangers' player development model. This year Mid Fairfield is expanding its team offering to include a AAA team below its Tier I Elite Team.  At the right age, and under the right circumstances, standout Rye Ranger AA players would be a fit for either Mid Fairfield's Elite or AAA Team. In discussions with their program directors, they believe that Mite, Squirt or first year Pee Wee age players that are not ready to play for Mid Fairfield's Elite team can maximize their development by staying with the Rye Rangers.

Our connections with the legitimate Tier I programs in our region and our working relationship with Mid Fairfield is a great resource to standout AA Rye Ranger players thinking about Tier I / AAA hockey. We are here to help! Please do not hesitate to reach out.

Exciting Midget Announcement !

Beginning with the 2023-24 season, Rye Rangers players ages 15 to 18 will be able to play a meaningful split-season experience in partnership with Mamaroneck Youth Hockey Association. As in years past, the bulk of the schedule will take place between September and November, before the start of the local high school hockey season, with potentially more playing opportunities after the high school hockey season ends.

The teams offered next year will be:

- An 18U team (2005 and 2006 birth years), providing players a couple of ice sessions a week, between games and practices, in preparation for their high school hockey seasons.

- A 16U AA team (2007 birth year players) that will play in the Long Island Amateur Hockey League.

- A 15U AA team (2008 birth years) that will play a partial schedule of approximately 16 games in the Atlantic Hockey Federation, along with some additional non-league games in the Westchester County/Fairfield, Conn. area.

- A 16U A team (2007 and 2008 birth years) that will play in the Hudson Valley Hockey League.

Tryouts for each team will be held per the schedule below at Hommocks Ice Rink (sign up details to follow):

Monday April 10

15U:  6:40-7:40 PM

16U:  7:50-8:50 PM

18U:  9-10 PM

Tuesday April 11

18U:  9-10 PM

Wednesday April 12

15U:  6:40-7:40 PM

16U:  7:50-8:50 PM

Thursday April 13

Call Back (if needed):     9:00-10:00 PM

Any questions please reach out to Terry Morris at .

2023-24 SEASON TRYOUTS

Welcome to the Rye Rangers 2023-24 season tryouts.  We are looking forward to another fantastic season filled with fun, skill development and success in games!

Please note that tryout dates for Mites, Squirts and Pee Wees are much earlier this year. We follow USA Hockey and NYSAHA guidelines for tryout dates.

We plan on fielding the following teams for the 2022-23 season (subject to change): 

8U MITES Birth Years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018: Mite A & A-1 travel teams, as well as locally-based skill development programs for all players age 5+. Only 2015 and 2016 birth year players seeking to make a travel need to attend tryouts. All other 8U mites can sign up and be placed in the Fall.

10U Squirts Birth Years 2013 and 2014: Squirt AA LIAHL Tier 2, participation in the Atlantic Hockey Federation League, as well as multiple additional travel teams competing in the HVHL

12U Pee Wees Birth Years 2011 and 2012: Pee Wee AA LIAHL Tier 2 National Tournament Bound, a 2^nd Pee Wee travel team competing in the LIAHL, participation in the Atlantic Hockey Federation League, plus multiple additional travel teams competing in the HVHL

14U Bantams Birth Years 2009 and 2010: Bantam AA LIAHL Tier 2 National Tournament Bound, a 2^nd team playing in the LIAHL, participation in the Atlantic Hockey Federation League, plus additional travel team(s) competing in the HVHL

Midget U15, U16 & U18 Birth Years 2005-2008

For more information about our expected Teams for these ages, please email Terry Morris (tmorris@allenco.com)

Tryout Information

Below you will find information that we hope is useful in explaining the tryout.  Please allow ample time for parking and let the parking attendant at Playland know you are there for Rye Ranger tryouts in the rink and parking is free.  PLEASE plan on arriving at the rink at least 30 minutes before your first tryout to allow time for registration, payment of tryout fees, and assignment of tryout pinnie.  A table will be set up in the lobby of either Playland or RCDS to collect everything and the player will then proceed into the rink. 

Each player will be assigned a tryout pinnie that they are to wear for the entire tryout process.  Coaches at check-in will let you know whether to wear the blue side or white side of the tryout pinnie.  For sessions labeled with “Group 1”, “Group 2”, or described as “Callbacks”, Rye Rangers will notify you of your assignment, it is not the choice of the player.

Players will be notified of their “group” or “callback” in advance of the ice slots below once we get going.

Mite 2015 & 2016 Birth Years ($100 tryout fee)

3/4/23, Mite 2016 birth year, 5:10 - 6:25 pm @ Playland

3/4/23, Mite 2015 birth year, 6:40 - 7:55 pm @ Playland

3/5/23, Mite 2016 birth year, 12:00 – 1:10 pm @ WSA

3/5/23, Mite 2015 birth year, 1:20 – 2:40 pm @ WSA

Squirt 2013 & 2014 Birth Years ($200 tryout fee)

3/2/23, Squirt A-KL last name, 6:30 – 7:30 pm @ RCDS

3/2/23, Squirt KM-Z last name, 7:45 – 8:45 pm @ RCDS

3/4/23, Squirt Group 1 (TBD), 9:35 – 10:35 am @ Playland

3/4/23, Squirt Group 2 (TBD), 10:45 – 11:45 am @ Playland

3/5/23, Squirt Group 1 (TBD), 3:25 – 4:25 pm @ Playand

3/5/23, Squirt Group 2 (TBD), 4:35 – 5:35 pm @ Playland

3/6/23, Squirt Callbacks (if necessary) - CANCELLED (not needed)

Pee Wee 2011 & 2012 Birth Years ($200 tryout fee)

3/3/23, 2012 birth year, 6:30 – 7:30 pm @ RCDS

3/3/23, 2011 birth year, 7:45 – 8:45 pm @ RCDS

3/4/23, Pee Wee Group 1 (TBD), 7:15 - 8:15 am @ Playland

3/4/23, Pee Wee Group 2 (TBD), 8:25 - 9:25 am @ Playland

3/5/23, Pee Wee Group 1 (TBD), 5:45 – 6:45 pm @ Playland

3/5/23, Pee Wee Group 2 (TBD), 6:55 – 7:55 pm @ Playland

3/6/23, Pee Wee Callbacks (if necessary) - CANCELLED (not needed)

Bantam 2009 & 2010 Birth Years ($200 tryout fee)

4/8/23, Last Name A-K & all goalies, 4:15 – 5:15 pm @ Playland

4/8/23, Last Names L-Z & all goalies, 5:30 – 6:30 pm @ Playland

4/11/23, Bantam Group 1 (TBD), 6:50 – 7:50 pm @ WSA

  4/11/23, Bantam Group 2 (TBD), 8:00 – 9:00 pm @ WSA

4/12/23, Bantam Group 1 (TBD), 6:50 – 7:50 pm @ WSA

4/12/23, Bantam Group 2 (TBD), 8:00 – 9:00 pm @ WSA

4/13/23, Bantam Callbacks (if necessary), 8:00 – 9:00 pm @ WSA

GOALIES ONLY–  No Charge (Included in Tryout Fee above)

3/2/23, Pee Wee Goalies (2011s and 20012s), 7:40 – 8:40 pm @ Playland

3/3/23, Squirt Goalies (20013s and 20014s), 7:30 – 8:30 pm @ WSA

3/6/23, Squirt Goalies, CANCELLED

3/6/23, Pee Wee Goalies, CANCELLED

4/5/23, Bantam Goalies (2009s and 2010s), 5:50 – 6:50 pm @ WSA

4/13/23, Bantam Goalies, 6:50 – 7:50 pm @ WSA

The tryout fee can be paid in cash or check made out to Rye Rangers Hockey Club.  Any player new to the Rye Rangers must submit a NYSAHA Release form from their previous organization prior to participating in any tryout.

Evaluators will be in the stands.  Erik Nates’ group will be running the tryouts on the ice.  Please respect their privacy and do not approach or ask to speak with Evaluators.

This selection process, which incorporates year-long player evaluations for current Rye Ranger players plus tryout evaluations, is difficult, and done among Committees comprised of coaches and other experienced evaluators.

Players will be notified via email of their team placement after the conclusion of the final tryout.  A letter of commitment will be attached to the email and must be signed and mailed to Rye Rangers PO Box 85, Rye NY 10580, with a $1,000 deposit within 3 days of notification.  Failure to do so will result in the spot on the team being made available to other players.

As a reminder, all 2022-23 membership dues must be paid in full for participation in tryouts and consideration for a spot on a team for next year.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact Sharon or Steven Ketchabaw us at 914-937-9331 or via email at should you have any questions.

The Rye High School and Rye Country Day School boys hockey teams are likely to have more “important” games this season, but it’s hard to imagine one more meaningful than their matchup Jan. 6 at a packed Gerald LaGrange Fieldhouse. 

The game featured more than two dozen players who grew up competing together as Rye Rangers, including many who learned the game alongside one another as far back at Junior Clinic. The 6-3 Rye High School win featured a hat trick by Garnets captain Dempsey Brown and a goal by Wildcats captain Kevin Francella, both of whom have been honored in consecutive years with the prestigious Rye Rangers Award for student athletes.