Tryout fee is $65
ALL TRYOUTS WILL BE AT WINGS WEST
REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN
Coaches will be announced as soon as possible. the application deadline was February 24th and we are now in the process of coach selections.
KOHA will determine the formation of Blue teams once we see the number of players registered for tryouts at each age level. Coaches for the Blue teams will be chosen when we know which coaches are available following the Red team selections
(2014 & 2013 BIRTH YEARS)
HEAD COACH: TBA
THURS. MAY 18TH - 6:15PM - 7:15PM
FRI. MAY 19TH - 6:40PM - 7:40PM
WINGS WEST ICE ARENA
Tryout fee is $45
(2012 & 2011 BIRTH YEARS)
HEAD COACH: TBA
THURS. MAY 18TH - 6:15PM - 7:15PM
FRI. MAY 19TH - 6:40PM - 7:40PM
WINGS WEST ICE ARENA
Tryout fee is $45
(2010 & 2009 BIRTH YEARS)
HEAD COACH: TBA
THURS. MAY 18TH - 6:15PM - 7:15PM
FRI. MAY 19TH -6:40PM - 7:40PM
WINGS WEST ICE ARENA
Tryout fee is $45
For the 2023-24 season KOHA will be offering a 16U Split Season Team. As always in the hockey community there are a lot of rumors this time of year. One of those rumors is about 16U and 18U full season teams for the 2023-24 season.
KOHA WILL NOT BE OFFERING FULL SEASON TEAMS AT THESE AGE GROUPS
KOHA Junior Varsity (JV) offering will consist of two separate seasons for 2023-2024.
Pre-Season (September & October) will be selected at tryouts in May 2023, and then those players should plan to try out for their high school teams in November 2023. The JV regular season (November 2023 to March 2024) team will be composed of players selected at a new tryout in November 2023 from players that did not make their high school team and those players may include players from the pre-season JV team, 16U or any other players interested in playing on the JV regular season team.
*Players that played for their high school team in 2022/23 are ineligible for participation of the JV pre-season team and their option would be limited to the 16U Split Season Teams.
The 16U Split Season Team begin mid-August and compete until the end of October 2023, concluding prior to the start of high school tryouts. We are not anticipating these teams will compete again in March 2023 unless they win MAHA states conducted in October 2023 resulting in a Nationals bound opportunity. However, if there is interest in a "spring season" it would be an additional registration and cost.
CHANGE for the 2023-24 JV team.
With the 16U Split Season teams and the JV pre-season team participating prior to the high school tryouts, we will not be guaranteeing spots for the pre-season JV players on the regular season JV team. All 16U and JV pre-season players should plan to try out for their high school teams. Once high school teams are selected, all players that did not make a high school team are eligible to tryout for the JV regular season team. This opportunity for a subsequent tryout will put all the players on a level playing field no matter what team they play on prior to high school tryouts.
PLAYERS MUST BE IN HIGH SCHOOL TO TRY OUT FOR THE JV TEAM. VALID HIGH SCHOOL ID WILL BE REQUIRED
BIRTH YEARS (2008 & 2007)
COACHES: BEN MILLER, LOGAN THORNE, JUSTIN TAYLOR, LUKE BAFIA & SKILLS STAFF
THURS. MAY 18TH - 7:15PM - 8:15PM
FRI. MAY 19TH - 5:30PM - 6:30PM
WINGS WEST ICE ARENA
Tryout fee is $45
BIRTH YEARS (2009 - 2005)
HEAD COACH: PAUL WALTKE
MON. MAY 22ND - 7:40PM - 8:40PM
TUES. MAY 23RD - 7:30PM - 8:30PM
WINGS WEST ICE ARENA
Tryout fee is $45
CO-HEAD COACHES: DERRICK McIVER & DAN LUTS
MON. MAY 15TH - 5:30PM - 6:30PM
TUES. MAY 16TH - 5:30PM - 6:30PM
WED. MAY 17TH - 5:30PM - 6:30PM
WINGS WEST ICE ARENA
Tryout fee is $65
HEAD COACH: JEFF THIELMAN
MON. MAY 15TH - 7:50PM - 8:50PM
TUES. MAY 16TH - 7:50PM - 8:50PM
WED. MAY 17TH - 7:50PM - 8:50PM
WINGS WEST ICE ARENA
Tryout fee is $65
CO-HEAD COACH: CASEY DAVIS
MON. MAY 15TH - 6:40PM - 7:40PM
TUES. MAY 16TH - 6:40PM - 7:40PM
WED. MAY 17TH - 6:40PM - 7:40PM
WINGS WEST ICE ARENA
Tryout fee is $65
HEAD COACH: MATT WEBSTER
MON. MAY 15TH - 8:50PM - 9:50PM
TUES. MAY 16TH - 8:30PM - 9:30PM *
WED. MAY 17TH - 8:50PM - 9:50PM
WINGS WEST ICE ARENA
Tryout fee is $65
*note time difference from other nights
CO-HEAD COACHES: REX TROTT & NICK KAKABEEKE
MON. MAY 15TH - 7:40PM - 8:40PM
TUES. MAY 16TH - 7:20PM - 8:20PM *
WED. MAY 17TH - 7:40PM - 8:40PM
WINGS WEST ICE ARENA
Tryout fee is $65
*note time difference from other nights
HEAD COACH: JEFF TIMPE
MON. MAY 15TH - 9:00PM - 10:00PM
TUES. MAY 16TH - 9:00PM - 10:00PM
WED. MAY 17TH - 9:00PM - 10:00PM
WINGS WEST ICE ARENA
Tryout fee is $65
MISSION AND VISION
The mission of the Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association (K.O.H.A.) is to provide a safe and inclusive environment for youth of all skill levels to learn, develop, and excel in the sport of hockey. We strive to instill a lifelong love of the game and promote sportsmanship, teamwork, and leadership among our players. We pride ourselves on providing age appropriate player development and skill-appropriate coaching.
KOHA exists to offer a premium, affordable opportunity to learn the game of hockey for players in our organization. Through high-quality coaching, training, and competition, we aim to help our athletes reach their full potential on and off the ice. Our ultimate goal is to produce well-rounded, confident, and skilled hockey players who will be successful at all levels of the game
The KOHA Office is located at Wings West Ice Arena
5076 Sports Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
269.349.7825
info@koha.com