Winter League

Welcome to the Twin Cities Queer Hockey Association Winter League! TCQHA exists to build a hockey community where LGBTQ+ players and allies can play the game they love in a space centered on safety, belonging, and authenticity — regardless of skill level, gender identity, sexual orientation, or background. On our ice, you're valued for your heart, energy, and love of the game.

This winter, we'll build on the foundation of community, sportsmanship, and competition that makes our league special — welcoming newcomers, growing our skaters, and creating a space where everyone can show up as themselves. We'll celebrate our wins, learn from our challenges, and make memories that last well beyond the final buzzer.

Let's lace up our skates, grab our sticks, and have a fantastic season!

Quick season details:

Starts the week of October 11 for 23 weeks

$385 skaters / $185 goalies

Three levels offered — more details below.

*Based on demand, and to ensure we maximize access to the league, the Board and Commissioners reserve the right to increase the team player maximum.

Three preseason assessments are available this year at no cost.

Do I need to assess?

• If you are new to TCQHA and didn’t skate with us prior to the Winter 2025-2026 season, you must come assess with us.
• If you are returning and previously registered as a different self-assessed level, you need to assess with us.
• If you are confused by our leveling descriptions, please come assess with us. Level descriptions can be found here.

The board reserves the right to move any player during the season to keep teams balanced.

Assessment registration can be found here.

Want to play without the full-season commitment? Join the sub pool.

Update your availability for the skates you're free to play, and captains will reach out directly when they need a sub. It's a flexible way to stay on the ice, pick up games on your schedule, and help out teams in a pinch.

Skater: $18.00 per game

Goalie: $9.00 per game

To join, follow the registration process and select the sub only option.

Is there a buddy system?

Yes! Each skater can list one buddy they'd like to play with.

• The League will accommodate buddy requests where feasible. Requests may not be honored if granting them would compromise competitive parity and balance amongst teams or necessitate placement across different divisions or levels.
• Buddy requests must be mutual — you and your buddy must each list one another. If only one side lists the other, it won't be honored.
• Buddy chains (e.g., A lists B, B lists C, C lists D) will not be honored — only direct, mutual pairs count.

Talk to your buddy and confirm you're both listing each other before you register.

Do I need to be assessed even if I've played with this group before?

Returning players who've already been evaluated may not need to re-assess, but fall evaluations remain the formal pathway if you're looking to change levels for winter. If you are new to TCQHA and didn’t skate with us prior to the Winter 2025-2026 season, you must come assess with us. If you are returning and previously registered as a different self-assessed level, you need to assess with us. See the assessments page for full details. If you're unsure what level you were placed at last winter, reach out to tcqha.info@gmail.com.

Assessments haven't happened yet, but registration for a guaranteed spot closes soon. What level should I register for?

Register at the level you played most recently. This guarantees your spot in the league before the deadline. Once assessments are complete, your commissioner will review the results and move you to the appropriate level if you assess higher (or lower) than where you registered. You don't need to wait for your assessment to register, and you won't be locked into your prior level if your skills have changed.

If you have questions about the evaluation process or your specific placement, reach out to your league commissioner.

I can't make it to any of the scheduled assessment dates. Is there another way to be evaluated?

Register for your best estimated level of play, and understand that the commissioner will be responsible for monitoring your play and recommending an alternative placement without a formal evaluation, if needed. If we identify more cases where scheduling conflicts arise, the Board may elect to add additional assessment times.

How do I know what level I am?

Check out the level descriptions or come to an assessment! If you've previously assessed or self-assessed in a Winter Season prior to the Winter 2025-2026 season and forgot your level, please reach out to tcqha.info@gmail.com.

I’m a full time player, assessed as a level 3. Can I sub in the 4/5 division?

For level 1 and level 3 players, we are allowing them to be subs in a division one level higher than their own at the discretion of that team’s captain and league commissioner. We do our best to group players as close to skill level parity as possible to ensure that play is competitive between teams and for player safety.

I’m a full time player, assessed as a level 4. Can I sub in the 2/3 division?

Commissioner must approve each sub request for a player to play below their level. This will only be approved based on need for subs per game if a team is below 10 skaters. Skaters are expected to skate to the appropriate level when playing a lower division.

Do I need a jersey for this league?

Yes. TCQHA jerseys are required for full-time league players. To order jerseys, please visit the TCQHA Jerseys & Socks page under resources on our website.

If you don't have one yet, your captain can coordinate borrowing a jersey until you're able to purchase your own.

I'm interested in being a Captain or Assistant Captain.

Great! You can note your interest during registration under the captain/assistant captain question. Selections are made by the league Commissioners from the pool of interested candidates. For a full overview of duties and benefits, see the Captain Job Description.

Is there an age requirement?

Yes, players must be 16 or older. Minors (16–17) must be registered by a parent or guardian, who will maintain all league communication on the minor's behalf. Minors are not permitted access to TCQHA's social platforms (e.g., Discord).

Are scholarships available for the 2026-2027 Winter League?

A central tenet of Twin Cities Queer Hockey Association is making hockey available for everyone. We recognize ice hockey can be an expensive endeavor and thus, TCQHA would like to mitigate the cost by providing scholarships to those who wish to play but may face financial barriers.

TCQHA is proud to support our community as much as possible.

To be considered for a scholarship for the 2026-2027 Winter Season please complete the form linked below. Note, you must be logged into your account to submit the form.

Winter 2026-2027 Season Scholarship Request Form

For more information about our scholarship program and policy please visit our scholarship page here.

Below are the ice times currently booked for the winter season, organized by level. Each team skates once per week — for Intermediate and Upper, that means your game will fall on one of the two times listed for that week. Times are subject to change, for example, due to unforeseen rink closures. If a game is scheduled past 10 PM, the board may move it to an earlier slot on the same day if one becomes available; similarly, if a skate lands in the early morning, we'll work to find a more reasonable time in the afternoon or early evening.

Schedule last updated August 14, 2026