The Indianapolis Youth Hockey Association (IYHA) is excited to announce a working agreement with the Indy Strong (Central Indiana Youth Hockey Association) travel-hockey organization. This agreement builds on IYHA's mission of leading the growth of youth hockey in Central Indiana by providing a full continuum of youth hockey player-development opportunities ranging from recreational-league to all-star to elite-travel levels.

The IYHA is building on its long-established core values of:

• Driving enjoyment of the game
• Improving skills
• Building character
• Creating memorable experiences
• Balance: the time and financial requirements should allow for other interests and activities
• Preparing players for the “next level”
  • That "next level" can include Travel hockey, high school hockey, junior hockey, college hockey and beyond. Working together, IYHA and CIYHA will provide the opportunities for players to reach their competitive-hockey goals.

"Having our two organizations working together will ensure our hockey families can easily find the developmental and competitive opportunities that best suit their players while continuing to promote our existing core values." 

- Bruce Berry, IYHA president. 

IYHA house recreational teams, Racers and Fusion will share in general day-to-day office operations with the Indy Strong. These operations include registration, administration, accounting and marketing, on-ice coaching and coaching education. Those programs will benefit from the expertise of: Indy Strong hockey directors, Derek Edwardson and Bernie John; IYHA hockey director Jordy Trottier; Indy Strong coaching staff; IYHA program administrator Wendy Esterline; as well as IYHA’s volunteer coaching staffs.

“This partnership will provide significant back-office resources that will further allow the Strong to laser-focus our resources for both associations on what we do best: exceptional player development through full-time hockey directors and the best coaching in town. There is no finer program in town for all levels or ambitions than what we are building together.”

-Josh Mervis, Indy Strong President

IYHA+Indy Strong will continue fostering relationships with Indianapolis area hockey programs South Indy Youth Hockey Association and the Jr. Fuel for inter-league play.

Please don’t hesitate to email Board of Directors at iyhamail@iyha.com or info@indystrong.com if you have any questions at all.

We look forward to the growth and opportunities this agreement will provide for the future development and continuous improvement of both of our programs.

Thank you for choosing to skate with IYHA+Indy Strong.