🏒 DFW Rink Guide

Youth hockey in Dallas-Fort Worth: a parent’s guide

By DFW Rink Guide · Published Oct 19, 2026

Youth hockey in Dallas-Fort Worth is bigger than most parents expect. Our directory lists 13 ice rinks, 41 youth leagues and clubs, 11 camps and clinics and 8 tournaments across the metro, each with a link to its public source. Most kids start with a learn-to-skate class or the free Dallas Stars Little Rookies (free learn-to-play) program, move into a house league such as the Dallas Stars Metro Hockey League (DSMHL), and some later try out for a travel club or play high school hockey.

This guide explains how those pieces fit together and links to every program we track, so you can find the right starting point for your player's age and experience. Counts below are computed from our listings data as of Oct 19, 2026.

DFW youth hockey programs by type

Here is how the 41 leagues and clubs in the directory break down. Each program is counted once, in the first group that fits.

TypeProgramsExamples
High school25AT&T Metroplex High School Hockey League, Texas Scholastic Hockey League (TSHL), Team Texas Girls High School Hockey, …
Sled (adaptive)1Dallas Sled Stars
Girls programs2Victory Green Girls Hockey League, Dallas Stars Elite Girls Hockey
House & rec leagues4Dallas Stars Metro Hockey League (DSMHL), Jr. Americans Youth Hockey Program (Allen), Metroplex Christian Hockey Association (Integrity Hockey League), …
Travel clubs9Dallas Stars Elite Hockey Club (Boys), Texas Heat Hockey, Texas Tigers Hockey (Alliance Youth Hockey Association), …

Where beginners start

If your child has never played, start with skating. The Dallas Stars run Dallas Stars Little Rookies (free learn-to-play), a free program for first-time players ages 4 to 8 that includes equipment for the program. Rinks outside the StarCenter network run their own intro programs too, such as Allen Learn to Skate: Hockey and NYTEX Mini Mites & Jr. Bruisers. See all 11 camps and clinics on our camps page, or read our guide to Dallas Stars Little Rookies.

House leagues: the usual next step

House (recreational) leagues group players by age and keep travel local. The directory lists 4 house leagues: Dallas Stars Metro Hockey League (DSMHL), Jr. Americans Youth Hockey Program (Allen), Metroplex Christian Hockey Association (Integrity Hockey League), NYTEX House Hockey (DSMHL). The DSMHL is a rink-based league at StarCenters and NYTEX, so most families can find a home rink close by.

Travel clubs

Travel teams pick players through tryouts and play other clubs, which usually means more practice, more driving and a bigger bill than house hockey. We list 9 travel clubs: Dallas Stars Elite Hockey Club (Boys) (Children's Health StarCenter Valley Ranch); Texas Heat Hockey (Children's Health StarCenter Euless); Texas Tigers Hockey (Alliance Youth Hockey Association) (Children's Health StarCenter Farmers Branch); Texas Warriors Youth Hockey (Children's Health StarCenter Richardson (Ice Training Center)); McKinney North Stars Hockey Club (Children's Health StarCenter McKinney); Dallas Junior Hockey Association (Dallas Penguins) (Children's Health StarCenter Plano); Team Dallas (Children's Health StarCenter Multisport Northlake); Texas Jr. Brahmas (NYTEX Sports Centre); Allen Bandits Hockey Association. Tryout timing varies by club; our DFW tryouts guide shows when each club held tryouts last season.

Girls, high school and adaptive hockey

DFW has 2 girls-only programs, including the Victory Green Girls Hockey League, and some travel clubs, such as Texas Heat Hockey, list both boys and girls teams. For older players, 23 high school clubs compete in AT&T Metroplex High School Hockey League and Texas Scholastic Hockey League (TSHL). The Dallas Sled Stars offer sled hockey for players with physical disabilities.

Rinks and the programs based at each

Most youth hockey in DFW happens at 13 rinks. The table counts programs in our directory that list each rink as their home rink.

RinkCityPrograms based here
NYTEX Sports CentreNorth Richland Hills8
Children's Health StarCenter Valley RanchIrving5
Allen Community Ice RinkAllen3
Children's Health StarCenter EulessEuless2
Children's Health StarCenter Farmers BranchFarmers Branch2
Comerica Center (Frisco)Frisco2
Children's Health StarCenter McKinneyMcKinney1
Children's Health StarCenter Multisport NorthlakeNorthlake1
Children's Health StarCenter PlanoPlano1
Children's Health StarCenter Richardson (Ice Training Center)Richardson1
Children's Health StarCenter MansfieldMansfield0
Galleria Dallas Ice Skating CenterDallas0
ICE at The ParksArlington0

See them all on the rink map, or browse youth hockey by city.

Tournaments

5 dated tournaments in our guide are still ahead this season, starting with High School Showdown (Nov 27-29, 2026). Our 2026-27 tournament calendar lists every date and registration deadline we have.

Frequently asked questions

How many youth hockey programs are in Dallas-Fort Worth?

Our directory lists 41 youth leagues and clubs, 11 camps and clinics, and 13 rinks across DFW, each with a public source link.

What age can kids start hockey in DFW?

The free Dallas Stars Little Rookies program is for first-time players ages 4 to 8. The Dallas Stars Metro Hockey League (DSMHL) lists age groups 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U.

What is the difference between house and travel hockey?

House leagues are recreational and local. Travel clubs pick players through tryouts and play other clubs, which usually means more practice, more driving and higher fees.

Is there girls hockey in Dallas?

Yes. We list 2 girls-only programs, including the Dallas Stars Victory Green girls league.

Where can I find high school hockey in DFW?

We list 23 high school clubs, which play in the AT&T Metroplex High School Hockey League and Texas Scholastic Hockey League (TSHL).

Looking for something specific? Search the full directory of rinks, leagues, camps and tournaments. See something wrong or out of date? Suggest a correction and we'll check it against the source.

Sources