Step 2 / FutureBlues U8 League

Welcome to the FutureBlues U8 Development League - Starts Sept. 12 at 8am

Designed for players 8 years old and under, the FutureBlues U8 Development League bridges the gap between Pre-Hockey to Mite travel hockey. Our program follows the USA Hockey American Development Model (ADM) and Long-Term Athlete Development principles, with an emphasis on building agility, balance, coordination, skating, and hockey IQ in a fun, positive environment.

Led by USA Hockey-certified directors and instructors, every session is designed to maximize puck touches, skating repetitions, and player engagement while fostering confidence and a lifelong love for the game.

Program Schedule

Players have the opportunity to skate every Saturday and Sunday.

• Saturday: 8:00–9:00 AM - Half-ice games
• Sunday: 8:00–9:00 AM - Skill development practices

Each session begins with 10 minutes of supervised free skate, allowing players to warm up, build confidence, and interact with coaches.

Players are then grouped by skill level to ensure age-appropriate instruction and development. As players improve throughout the season, they may move between groups. Practices feature:

• Small-area games
• Skill stations
• Cross-ice activities
• High-repetition skating and puck-handling drills

This ADM-based approach provides more puck touches, more decision-making opportunities, and more fun than traditional full-ice practices.

Maximize Your Player's Development

For families looking to accelerate their child's progress, we strongly recommend pairing the FutureBlues U8 League with our Wednesday MinorBlues Pre-Hockey Clinics. The additional weekly ice time provides valuable repetitions that help players build confidence and improve more quickly.

Helpful Reminder

Helmet Labels: Please place your player's first and last name on the front of their helmet using white hockey tape or a similar label.

We look forward to helping your child continue their hockey journey and prepare for the next step toward travel hockey with the Chicago Blues!