League Information
The Copper Country Junior Hockey Association, based in Houghton and Hancock in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offers recreational and travel hockey opportunities to boys and girls from age 5 through high school. The Association activities are described below.
House Leagues
The "House League" is designed for fun, recreation, and physical fitness. Skill development is emphasized over winning. All teams are constructed by a draft that is set up to promote competitive balance between the teams. The level of competition in House League is consistent with the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) "B" designation. House League teams are guaranteed 2 ice times per week, with more offered as available and as finances allow.
Central Upper Peninsula (CUP) League
In order to offer a wider variety of competition, Bantams, Midgets and some girls teams play in the Central Upper Peninsula (CUP) Hockey League. There are 2 home games and 2 away games against each team in the League. These games are designated by (CUP) on the schedules. The teams and schedules vary from year to year.
Inter-City League
In order to offer a wider variety of competition, Squirts and Pee Wees play an "Inter-City" series with the Calumet Hockey Association. These games are designated by (IC) on the schedules. There will be at least one home game and one away game against each Calumet team. At the end of the year, there will be an Inter-City Championship Game for Squirts, Pee Wees and Bantams. The CCJHA entrant in the championship game will be the team with the best record against the Calumet teams in Inter-City games (Squirts, Pee Wees) or CUP games (Bantams). In the event of a tie in the standings, the standard Tie Breaker procedure will be used. Note that the first 3 tie-breakers are based on head-to-head games, NOT games against Calumet teams. Mites play exhibition games against Calumet and other local teams, but not an Inter-City championship series.
Girls Hockey
Girls are welcome to play on the boys teams, both House and Travel. Girls who do not wish to play with the boys are able to play on girls-only teams. There is usually a team that plays in the House League against squirt teams, with players between 9-14 years old. There are also usually 1 or 2 older girls teams at different levels of competition. Girls teams often play in the CUP League.
Travel Teams
The CCJHA offers travel hockey to Squirts, Pee Wees, Bantams and Midgets in collaboration with the Calumet Hockey Association. These are combined teams with players from both associations. Practices and games will occur both in Houghton/Hancock and Calumet. The program has adopted the nickname "Keweenaw Storm".
Teams compete in MAHA "A" (all first-year players) and "AA" levels. Squirts, Pee Wees, and Bantams compete in the Northern International Hockey League, NIHL. See the CCJHA Travel Hockey Link and the CCJHA main page for more information.