Learn to Play

**Registration for the 2025/26 Fall / Winter Learn To Play session will open on September 8th, 2025 and close on October 10th, 2025 OR when the program reaches capacity. The registration link will be at the top of the Learn to Play webpage.**

Program Details:

·      Cost is $300 (no refunds)

·      17 ice sessions

·      Approximately 120 skaters divided into three sessions based on skill level

·      Concentration on basic hockey skills by several certified coaches

·      NEW Buddy Program for 2025-26 Fall / Winter Learn to Play!

•    Sign up with a friend and each player receives a $100 registration discount.
•    At least one buddy must be new to LTP. 
•    Email meramec.registrar@gmail.com to get your discount code for registration.

Location and Dates:

• 17 ice sessions lasting 45 minutes each will be held starting November 1, 2025
• All sessions held at The Shark Tank located at 6297 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis, MO 63129
• The coaches will evaluate the players’ skill level and determine the appropriate session time for each player. For the first week, players will attend sessions based on their last name. Those assignments will be announced closer to the start date of the program

Registration:

Our LTP program is open to all kids that fit the following criteria in our area. Please pay close attention to the information on exclusive, shared, and open zip codes at the beginning of registration. Learn To Play is for children that want to enter and learn the sport of hockey. For more information about zip codes assigned to the Meramec Sharks see the following link with Missouri Hockey: https://www.mohockeyyd.org/parent-resources/play-hockey/2098.

If the child you register is already rostered on and playing on an MHC team, your registration will be canceled. LTP is not structured to support extra ice time for children already playing. Again, please do not register for LTP if your child is already playing on a team.

Upon Arrival

Each week all players are to check-in at the table in the lobby before going to the locker rooms. The first week at check-in you will receive a jersey. If you are a returning skater in the LTP program, please use the jersey you received at your last session, unless your skater needs a new size.

Locker Rooms

Players are to get dressed in the locker rooms that are provided on the far side of the rink. Please limit the locker room to one parent/guardian in the locker rooms, as they are very crowded. If possible, no siblings in the locker rooms. When you come into the rink there is a monitor on the wall that will show which locker room you should use.  Example: 9:45 Learn to Play 1/3. This means you are to get dressed in either locker room 1 or 3.

Once your skater is dressed and out on the ice, please observe your player from the stands

For your safety: Parents/guardians are not allowed on the player's benches.

On Ice Volunteers

On Ice, Parent Volunteers will be needed for each session. Volunteer slots will be “First Come, First Serve”. In order to volunteer on the ice, you will need to check in at the door. You will need to provide your completed liability form, which will be provided at the check in table.  Please complete the form and hand it to the volunteer at the desk when you check your child in for his or her session. All on ice volunteers are REQUIRED to turn in a completed form. This will only be required once per year, so if you volunteered during the fall, you are good.

This is a great opportunity to get out and skate with your child, but as an on ice volunteer, we also ask that you spread your time equally with all of the kids on the ice. The regular LTP Coaches will be on the ice with you to dictate the flow of the practice. 

Again… welcome to the Meramec Hockey Club Learn to Play program. Please keep in mind the first few weeks are quite busy as everyone settles into a routine, please allow yourself enough time to get your player ready. Thanks in advance for your patience. 

Any questions or concerns about Learn to Play, please email Matt Wertheimer, the Learn To Play Manager at LTPmanager@meramecsharks.com.

Welcome to the 2025 Spring Learn To Play Program

** The 2025 SPRING program registration will open on Feb 5 and will close on Mar 17th OR when the program reaches capacity. The registration link will be at the top of the Home Page **

LTP Equipment Rental and Return dates for Spring LTP:

Sunday 3/23 8am - 11am for Returns

Monday 3/24 5:30pm - 8pm for Fittings Option 1

Thursday 3/27 5:30pm - 8pm for Fittings Option 2

Program Details:

• Cost is $150 (no refunds)
• Maximum 120 skaters divided into three sessions based on skill level
• Concentration on basic hockey skills by several certified coaches

Location and Dates:

• 8 x 45-minute sessions will be held starting March 29 , 2025
• Sessions held at the FSI Shark Tank located at 6297 Lemay Ferry Road
• Session times are located below, (times are different from Fall/Winter LTP)
• The coaches will evaluate the players’ skill level and determine the appropriate session time for each player. For the first week, players will attend sessions based on their last name, Those assignments will be announced closer to the start date of the program

2025 Spring Learn to Play Schedule

8 touches in Spring LTP (below dates)

2 time slots per Saturday:

Session 1 - 9:15 am

Session 2 - 10:00 am

Dates: 3/29, 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17

Ice Sessions: On Saturday, March 29th, please attend the session based on your player’s last name:

Session 1 - 9:15 am : A through L

Session 2 - 10:00 am : M through Z

During the first two weeks, all players will be assessed by the on-ice director & coaching staff to determine the best skill level based session for each child to attend. A colored sticker will be applied to the player’s helmet, which will indicate which time slot they are to attend going forward. This allows us to tailor each practice to the skill level of each group. Please do not remove these stickers.

If your child has not received a sticker by the 3rd week, please let us know upon check-in, so we can alert the coaching staff. It's important to note the your child’s time slot will most likely change after the first two sessions. Updates for group assignments / time slots will be sent via e-mail within the week before your child's next session. Usually after the second session, they are in their permanent time slots for the season.

Upon arrival:   Each week all players are to check-in at the table in the lobby before going to the locker rooms. The first week at check-in you will receive a jersey. If you are a returning skater in the LTP program, please use the jersey you received at your last session, unless your skater needs a new size.

Locker rooms: Players are to get dressed in the locker rooms that are provided on the far side of the rink. Please limit the locker room to one parent/guardian in the locker rooms, as they are very crowded. If possible, no siblings in the locker rooms. When you come into the rink there is a monitor on the wall that will show which locker room you should use.  Example: 9:45 HIP 1/3. This means you are to get dressed in either locker room 1 or 3.  

Once your skater is dressed and out on the ice, please observe your player from the stands

For your safety: Parents/guardians are not allowed on the player's benches.

On ice volunteers:  On Ice, Parent Volunteers will be needed for each session. We will have limited space on the ice this year because of the pandemic, therefore, there will only be 12 on ice volunteers allowed on the ice to help the coaches for each session. Volunteer slots will be “First Come, First Serve”. In order to volunteer on the ice, you will need to check in at the door. You will need to provide your completed liability form, which will be provided at the check in table.  Please complete the form and hand it to the volunteer at the desk when you check your child in for his or her session. All on ice volunteers are REQUIRED to turn in a completed form. This will only be required once per year, so if you volunteered during the fall, you are good.

This is a great opportunity to get out and skate with your child, but as an on ice volunteer, we also ask that you spread your time equally with all of the kids on the ice. The regular LTP Coaches will be on the ice with you to dictate the flow of the practice. 

Copy of Player Birth Certificate

Missouri Hockey requires that we collect a copy of each skaters birth certificate. Please bring a copy for our records. If you have submitted a birth certificate for LTP in the past you do not need to bring it again. We will only accept a paper copy of your players birth certificate at the check in table. Please do not E-mail them. 

Again… welcome to the Meramec Hockey Club Learn to Play program. Please keep in mind the first few weeks are quite busy as everyone settles into a routine, please allow yourself enough time to get your player ready. Thanks in advance for your patience. 

Any questions or concerns about LTP/ HIP, please email Matt Wertheimer, the Learn To Play Manager at LTPmanager@meramecsharks.com.

There are a couple important things that you need to remember and one document that you will need to complete and turn in before you can help.

• Liability Waiver- You will need to complete this prior to helping on the ice. On the ice, helpers need to complete a new form each year. This form will be provided at the check-in table before your LTP session.
• You will need skates, helmet, and gloves (yes, people have tried to go on the ice to help before without skates). A stick is optional but obviously helpful.  
• Please be willing to help children other than just your own.
• Minimum age to help is 10.
• Have fun!