Who are the Saginaw Jr Gears?

Named after the Saginaw Gears of the International Hockey League in the 70s & 80s, the Jr Gears are an 8u Mite Travel program that plays under the AAU umbrella (not USA Hockey). 

The first (birth) year Mite team is a Tournament team only.  They play their regular season in the Saginaw 8u Mite house program and travel on a few selected weekends throughout the season.  

The second (birth) year Mite team plays either as a Tournament team, playing their regular season in the Saginaw 10u or 8u house program, or they play as a full season team, competing only with other AAU Mite AA teams.

Who should come to the Gears Camps/Clinics?

The Gears camps are open to any player in the proper birth year who is interested in getting more ice time and improving their skills. 

If we come to the Camps/Clinics, are we committed to the Gears?

No.  These are only opportunities for your child to get extra instruction while in a group with kids from other associations in the same birth year.  For parents, it's an opportunity to see where your  child is at compared to the group, and to ask questions.  For coaches, it's an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the  players, answer questions and collect contact information.

Should my son/daughter try out for the Gears?

Players who are interested in playing travel hockey should come to the tryouts.  For those that are unsure about their child's abilities, participating in the camps and clinics are a great opportunity to see where your player is compared to the rest of the skaters, prior to the tryout.  Formal tryouts typically happen late March for a spring team, and September for the regular season tournament team.  The team is selected from those attending the tryouts, so not everyone makes the team.  Tryouts will be posted in advance.

What if we aren't sure if travel sports are for us?

Travel hockey is not for everyone.  It is a big time commitment, as well as a financial commitment.  The camps/clinics give you a chance to see what the environment is like before you have to make a final decision.  At these camps, there will be other parents who are currently having "the Gears experience" who had those same questions before they joined.  They will be a good resource for you to ask questions.

If we tryout for the team, get offered a spot, and accept that offer, do we have to go to every practice and tournament?

Outside of having a reasonable excuse ahead of time, the short answer is YES.  The commitment level at travel hockey is much greater than house, and the coaches expect 100% participation when you accept a spot on the team.

Do the Gears play beyond 8u Mites?

Typically, when the Gears graduate into Squirts, they come back to USA Hockey and play as the Saginaw Jr Spirit, where they can play through the rest of their youth hockey career.

For more information regarding specific Gears Teams, select their respective team pages...

2012 Gears Tournament Team
Coach: DJ Bourdow

2013 Gears Tournament Team
Coach: Jeff Turner

Future... 2021-22 Season
2014 Gears Tournament Team
Coach: Jason Bourdow