2. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Purpose To promote, develop, and administer the USA Hockey Program for junior aged players and teams in Colorado and the Western United States. To strengthen the mission of USA Hockey, which is to provide a competitive opportunity for the elite player on a national, regional, and local basis. For member organizations to complete their commitment to the American Development Model by adding the “Train to Compete” stage of the long- term athletic development model (USA Hockey).

3. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Purpose USAH Tier-3 junior hockey is a highly developed option in the eastern United States, but is relatively non-existent in the western United States. Due to the large player pool and lack of USA Hockey sanctioned Tier-3 junior opportunities in the West, the AAU backed WSHL is slowly gaining a monopoly over 20U player development in all western regions markets. The RMJHL attempts to contain the rapid and continuous growth of the WSHL by providing a structured alternative to maintain the development goals established by USA Hockey in the heart of the western United States.

4. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Mission The mission of the RMJHL is to provide an affordable and competitive opportunity for responsible organizations to prepare and develop committed and elite players with aspirations to pursue a collegiate career in the ACHA and/or the NCAA.

5. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Goals To increase the opportunities for players in the western United States by following USA Hockey rules for junior hockey as outlined in Section XI of the USAH Annual Guide, Rules and Regulations. To ensure players, coaches, and officials adhere to the standards of USA Hockey and all NCAA eligibility requirements, including the protection of all RMJHL participants’ amateur status. To improve the chances for players to correctly develop in an organized and structured environment that maximizes player advancement by building authentic relationships with higher level junior leagues, ACHA and NCAA teams.

6. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Goals To develop a strong commitment to membership stability, and maintain this stability within a responsible geographic footprint by owners who share the RMJHL vision, mission, and goals. To provide elite training opportunities for players while promoting and participating in community service and outreach programs.

7. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Goals To further players’ educational goals through community based educational institutions while developing their hockey/athletic skills. To further grow the sport of hockey in our communities by promoting and supporting local youth hockey associations.

8. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Structure The RMJHL shall be governed by a Board which shall establish, direct, adopt, amend and implement the policies of the RMJHL, and uphold its Bylaws and Rules and Regulations. The Board of Directors consists of the official representatives of each member team. The number of Board members equals the number of teams in the RMJHL. The Board of Directors will elect a presiding officer who shall serve as the primary point of contact and official spokesperson of the RMJHL for a term of up to one (1) year.

9. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Structure The Board shall adopt By-Laws, which shall include provisions governing and controlling the structure and operation of the RMJHL. The Board shall appoint an official to assign referees/lineman, provide supervision, and conduct educational training specific to the rules of Tier-3 Junior Hockey. The Board shall appoint a Director of Public Relations to promote the RMJHL. This position includes the management of statistics, the RMJHL website, and schedule. The Board shall approve a commensurate salary by 2/3 majority vote of members.

10. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Teams Aspen Leafs (Aspen, CO) Colorado Thunderbirds (Littleton, CO) Colorado Rampage (Monument, CO) Grand Junction Coyotes (Grand Junction, CO) Pikes Peak Miners (Colorado Springs, CO)

11. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Aspen Leafs Established in 1972, Aspen Junior Hockey is a highly structured non- profit youth hockey association (6U – 18U) sanctioned by USA Hockey As leading members of the CDYHL and MSGHL, Aspen provides advanced instruction to players throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. The Leafs continue to play at the infamous Aspen Ice Garden, where Bob Johnson and Art Berglund started the Bob Johnson School of Hockey in 1964

12. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Colorado Rampage Established in 2002, the Rampage is a nonprofit hockey club sanctioned by USA Hockey that provides instruction for 6U-18U players. The Rampage provides competitive teams at the AAA thru C levels, plus an ever growing and dynamic U8 program for kids 4-8 run by NHL veteran Al Pedersen. The AAA 16U and 18U Rampage teams currently play in the Tier-1 Elite Hockey League.

13. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Colorado Thunderbirds The Colorado Thunderbirds Program was formed in 2002 with the goal to provide elite players an opportunity to compete against the very best teams and players in the country. The Thunderbirds provide AAA caliber Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget players with the ice time, coaching, and training needed to establish and maintain an elite development track. The 18U and 16U (National) teams are members of the Midget Tier 1 AAA Elite Hockey League. The 16U (American), 14U, 13U, 12U, and 11U teams are members of the AAA Super Series League.

14. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Grand Junction Glacier Yetis The Grand Junction Coyotes are a Mite through Midget youth hockey association serving the Grand Valley in Western Colorado. A proud member of the Colorado Amateur Hockey Association and USA Hockey, the Coyotes are committed to providing long-term athletic development as outlined by the American Development Model. Grand Junction is the largest city on the Colorado Western Slope; Mesa County is home to 148,000 residents.

15. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Pikes Peak Miners CSAHA (home of the Pikes Peak Miners and Colorado Springs Jr. Tigers) is the oldest youth hockey association in Southern Colorado Fielding teams from the 8U level to the 18U AAAA level, CSAHA proudly serves as a USA Hockey National Model Club. The Miners AAA 16U and 18U teams compete in the North American Prospects Hockey League.

16. Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League Breckenridge Bucks The Boulder Bison (Boulder, CO) Fort Collins Jr. Eagles (Fort Collins, CO) Cheyenne Stampede (Cheyenne, WY) Colorado Evolution (Denver, CO) With official approval by the Junior Council, the RMJHL will aggressively pursue these markets.