Youth Ice Hockey in Charleston (North Charleston, Mount Pleasant: high schools, living in, club)

[cvernold]

My family and I are considering a move from Upstate New York to Charleston within the next 6months - year. We have two sons involved in youth ice hockey (second year pee wee and a beginner). Looking for any feedback, good, bad, indifferent you may have to offer about the youth hockey programming in Charleston, as well as the local high school ice hockey teams. Is this a growing sport, are high schools moving beyond club status to legitimate high school team sport, etc. Looking at possibly living in Mount Pleasant or Summerville areas. Thanks for any possible feedback.

[pokrplr]

Youth hockey has blossemed here in Charelston, really ever since the SC Stingrays came to town (ECHL Team) They have several great programs for all ages and all levels of players. My two newphews play on the pee wee travel league and I skate in the Adult "B" league. There travel team is something to watch! Not sure if you play but the Adult league offers some 50 something teams in 4 divisions. A,B,C & Over 35. I've been skating there since it opened in 97 and have seen some great progress (for southern hockey).

Link to the rink
Welcome to the Carolina Ice Palace...The New Ice Age!

Check out all the links under hockey, make sure to check out the section on the Charleston Wolverines (exceptional team)

HS hockey is in its 2nd year I believe (maybe 3rd). Yes it continues to grow at a rapid pace.

From Mt Pleasant you are looking at a 30min drive to the rink, located in North Charleston. From Summerville, 10 to 15 min drive.

The fellow who heads up the hockey is Matt Mons. He's the director. You can reach him (843) 572-2717.
Hope this info is helpful to you, and if you need more pls let me know as I am actively invloved with the CIP.

[cvernold]

Thank you so much for your input....very helpful and I'll be sure to look at the websit and contact Matt as we approach a move. Just one more question...my understanding about the high school teams is that they operate like a club, only playing 10-12 games a season. Is this true or do you see it transforming from a club to a legitimate sport for the schools and playing more games a season? Being from Upstate New York, hockey is looked at like football, basketball etc. and the kids definitely play more than 10-12 games a season. Also do most of the high school kids continue to play with the association in addition to high school teams or once they get to high school, do they just play for their school? Thanks Again ...... I'm thirilled to hear hockey is thriving in South Carolina!!

[DJShymansky]

I think there are only 10-12 high school teams that have hockey programs in SC. I'm sure if more pick it up as a team sport it'll grow, but the lack of available rink space, more than anything else, might be the deterring factor.

[pokrplr]

Yes the HS program is more like a club program. Football being the dominate sport here in the South. But, I do see a bright future for HS hockey. I look at the way the youth programs are growing and the continued interest that is following the sport. Eventually when the bantams and midgets reach the HS level, i do believe that there interest will make HS hockey a much bigger and better program that it is now.

When I moved to SC in 95' there was NO ICE, NO HOCKEY!...Now I can look back @ the development and say WOW...I am a NY transplant so I grew up playing pond hockey. Thank god for the Ice palace. Charleston is an awesome area and having hockey back in my life only makes it better. There has been rumor for some time now that more ice facilities will be built in charleston. There is definitely a need. I know that the Figure Skating program has grown as well too and it's now hard sharing the two rinks for all the programs that are going on. Good luck on your move down here, you won't regret it! Your kids will fit right in too!