Charlotte Metro Hockey Association's
 Charlotte Jr. Checkers Travel Program

The Charlotte Metro Hockey Association (CMHA) is dedicated to providing the most broad-based and comprehensive programs in the Charlotte area for kids ages 3 to 18. The Jr. Checkers travel teams compete in the USA Hockey Tier II classification and are members of the Carolinas Hockey League (CHL) and the Southeast Youth Hockey League (SEYHL).  All practices and home games are played at the Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail, North Carolina.  The team's CHL and SEYHL games, in addition to strong tournament and non-league schedules, form a competitive environment for the players to gain experience and test their progress as individuals and as a team.  Some principles of the program include pursuing a greater practice-to-game ratio, forming a sense of "community" within the club and helping its participants become better hockey players and good citizens.

As proponents of USA Hockey’s American Development Model, the Jr. Checkers maintain a higher practice-to-game ratio.  Players get better in practice and gain experience in games so by focusing on development in a challenging but supportive environment they are more likely to enjoy the game as they see themselves improving their skills. To this end, the Jr. Checkers players participate in Performance Training, a six week early season practice for each age group used to teach skills such as power skating, body positing, stick skills, offensive and defensive tactics as well as goalie development.  To continue helping players reach their potential, after the Performance Training concludes, players will keep working specifically on individual skills such as puck control and shooting either on the Puddle Rink or dry-land once a week practice until the teams breaks for Christmas.