For three decades, the organization has worked to develop young athletes, build lasting friendships, and create a hockey community where players and families feel connected. As the Jr. Blue Hens begin their anniversary season, they do so with the same philosophy that has helped shape the organization throughout its history:

Development. Community. Excellence.

With eight travel teams, approximately 120 players, and programs spanning the youth hockey age levels, the Blue Hens continue to focus on providing competitive opportunities while emphasizing quality over quantity.

The objective isn’t simply to field more teams.

It’s to put players in the right environment, surround them with quality coaching, and challenge them to reach their potential both on and off the ice.

A Development Pathway in Delaware

One of the Blue Hens’ greatest advantages is the hockey environment surrounding the organization.

Playing out of the University of Delaware’s Fred Rust Arena, the Jr. Blue Hens have developed a strong relationship with University of Delaware hockey, including involvement from collegiate coaches and student-athletes who share their experience through on-ice instruction, mentorship, and coaching support.

That relationship provides young players with something especially valuable — an opportunity to learn from athletes competing at the collegiate level while seeing firsthand where continued development can lead.

The organization complements those opportunities with in-house Learn to Skate and Learn to Play programs, helping create a pathway from a player’s first experience on skates through competitive travel hockey.

Quality Over Quantity

As youth hockey continues to grow, the Jr. Blue Hens have chosen to measure organizational success differently.

Rather than focusing simply on adding teams, the club emphasizes placing athletes at an appropriate competitive level with coaches capable of helping them develop.

The result is an organization focused on creating the best possible environment for each player. Skill development remains a priority, but the Blue Hens’ philosophy goes beyond skating, shooting, and hockey IQ. Players are challenged to become better competitors, better teammates, and more confident young people.

They are encouraged to learn how to overcome adversity, accept responsibility for their development, and understand what it means to contribute to a team.

A Big Opportunity for 16U AA

While the Blue Hens expect every team to make an impact this season, one group enters 2026–27 with an especially exciting opportunity. The 16U AA Jr. Blue Hens are scheduled to attend USA Hockey Nationals, giving the team an opportunity to represent the organization on one of youth hockey’s biggest stages. It will be a special experience for the players and coaches, but also another opportunity for younger Blue Hens to see what can be achieved through development and commitment.

Throughout the organization, however, success will continue to be measured by more than tournament results and championships.

The goal is for every Blue Hens team to make an impact — developing hockey skills while creating friendships, memories, and life lessons that extend far beyond the rink.

Experience Behind the Bench

Led by Hockey Director Chris Longwell, the Jr. Blue Hens coaching staff combines experienced parent and non-parent coaches with additional support from the University of Delaware hockey community.

The organization will also welcome several new head coaches for 2026–27.

Kurt Carter takes over at 8U, Ian Bristow joins the organization to lead one of the 10U teams, and Darien Jones will lead one of the 12U teams.

All three bring playing and coaching experience to their respective age levels and will be tasked with translating that experience into meaningful development for their players.

The coaching philosophy remains consistent throughout the organization: develop the whole player, not simply the hockey player.

More Than Teammates

If development defines what happens on the ice, community defines much of what happens away from it.

The Blue Hens place tremendous importance on creating connections throughout the entire organization rather than limiting the youth hockey experience to individual teams.

Events such as Welcome Back Weekend, the annual Holiday Party, the End-of-Season Picnic, and the Club-Wide Tournament give players and families from different age groups opportunities to spend time together and support one another.

The Club-Wide Tournament has become an especially meaningful tradition.

Every team in the organization travels together to an out-of-state tournament, creating a weekend where younger players can watch and interact with older Blue Hens, families can build relationships, and the entire organization can support each other from the stands.

The hockey matters.

But so do the team meals, hotel conversations, friendships, and memories created along the way.

Those experiences reinforce the family atmosphere the Blue Hens have worked to build over the past 30 years.

A Rivalry That Never Gets Old

Of course, every hockey family has a few dates it notices when the schedule comes out.

For the Jr. Blue Hens, one opponent remains firmly circled. CCSC. Always.

Rivalries are part of what makes youth hockey memorable, and the Blue Hens will once again embrace the competition while maintaining their emphasis on sportsmanship and respect.

Building Players — and People

Player development, teamwork, sportsmanship, respect, integrity, pride, and character form the foundation of the Jr. Blue Hens program.

The organization believes players perform and develop best when they feel connected and supported.

That same philosophy shapes its relationship with families.

Youth hockey requires an enormous commitment, and the Blue Hens want parents and guardians to feel like valued partners in the experience. Open communication, mutual respect, and shared expectations help keep the focus where it belongs — on the players.

The result is a culture designed to make athletes excited to come to the rink.

30 Years — and the Next Chapter Begins

Under the leadership of Club President Todd Kinkus and Hockey Director Chris Longwell, the Blue Hens aren’t viewing their 30th anniversary simply as an opportunity to look backward.

It’s also a chance to define what comes next.

The organization’s vision is to be recognized not only for developing skilled hockey players, but for creating a community where players improve, families feel connected, friendships are built, and everyone takes pride in being a Blue Hen.

Success won’t be measured solely by wins, championships, or statistics.

It will be measured by development.

By confidence.

By relationships.

And by whether players continue to love coming to the rink.

As the Jr. Blue Hens begin their fourth decade, perhaps the best description of a successful 2026–27 season has already been written:

“When the season is over, we hope people say our organization was a place where players felt supported, challenged, and excited to come to the rink every day.”

Thirty years after the journey began, that’s still what Delaware Jr. Blue Hens hockey is all about.

Delaware Jr. Blue Hens at a Glance
Teams: 8
Players: Approximately 120
Home Rink: University of Delaware Fred Rust Arena
Club President: Todd Kinkus
Hockey Director: Chris Longwell
Years in Existence: 30
2026–27 Milestone: 30th Anniversary Season
Team to Watch: 16U AA — scheduled to attend USA Hockey Nationals

New Head Coaches

8U: Kurt Carter
10U: Ian Bristow
12U: Darien Jones

Club Identity

Development. Community. Excellence.

Rivalry Game

CCSC. Always.

Signature Tradition

Club-Wide Tournament — every Blue Hens team travels together to the same out-of-state tournament, bringing players and families from throughout the organization together for one weekend of hockey and community.