Beginner Program
The Beginner Program is for new players that have not played ice hockey previously and wish to get started, or for repeat players that would like to go through this training program again. If you are unsure if you should register for the beginner program please contact Ray Gitchel (admin@ourmchl.com). The program will include 8 weeks of training prior to any games. The beginners (players in the Beginner Program) will be drafted to the Novice Division teams and join their teams upon completion of the 8 week program.
Novice Division
The Novice Division is for players that wish to play a more relaxed style of hockey and work to advance their own skills at their own pace. Most players within this division should have 1 to 4 years of hockey experience only. This division will have the standard “No Ringer Rule” and the Metro Classic Hockey League reserves the right to move players who have registered for Novice to a higher division should the players skill level warrant it.
Intermediate B Division
The Intermediate B Division is for players that have been playing a few years and have worked up from the Novice Division but are not quite ready for the Intermediate Division. This division will have the standard “No Ringer Rule” and the Metro Classic Hockey League reserves the right to move players who have registered for Intermediate B to a higher and/or lower division should the players skill level warrant it.
Intermediate Division
The Intermediate Division is for players that have been playing a few years and have worked up from the Novice and/or Intermediate B Divisions but are not quite ready for the MCHL Division. This division will have the standard “No Ringer Rule” and the Metro Classic Hockey League reserves the right to move players who have registered for Intermediate to a higher and/or lower division should the players skill level warrant it.
MCHL Division
The MCHL Division if for experienced players who want to play a faster and “slightly” more physical game than what is offered by the Intermediate Division.
USA Hockey and Omaha Tournament Comparison Chart:
| Level | USA Hockey | Good Life / Stars | Hot as Hell | MCHL | AHA | WHAM |
| Level 1 | Beginner | Low Novice | Novice | Beginner | Beginner | C3 |
| Level 1.5 | Beginner | Low Novice | Novice | Novice | D2 | C3 |
| Level 2 | D3 League | High Novice | Novice | Novice | D1/D2 | C1/C2 |
| Level 2.5 | D2 League | High Novice | Intermediate C | Novice | D1/C3 | C1/B3 |
| Level 3 | D1 League | Low Intermediate | Intermediate C | Intermediate B | C2/C3 | B2 |
| Level 3.5 | C3 League | Low Intermediate | Intermediate B | Intermediate B | C1 | B1 |
| Level 4 | C2 League | High Intermediate | Intermediate B | Intermediate | B3 | A2 |
| Level 4.5 | C1 League | Elite | Intermediate A | Intermediate | B2 | A2/A1 |
| Level 5 | B2 League | Advanced | Intermediate A | MCHL | B1 | A1 |
| Level 5.5 | B1 League | Advanced | – | MCHL | – | – |
| Level 6 | NHL | Advanced | – | MCHL | – | – |
USA Hockey Breakdown:
D-League
D-League is for newer players and those who aren’t quite as skilled at the sport. To join a rec league at all, you should already know the basics — shooting, skating, stopping. However, skills beyond these aren’t guaranteed at this level. If you are new to hockey, this will be the league you will start in. And while it’s possible to move up to C-League, if you don’t play or practice very often, you will likely remain here. The majority of players are going to be found in either D or C-league though, so you shouldn’t worry about where you are placed.
C-League
If you have been playing ice hockey for much of your adult life, then you’re probably in C-League in most regions. Players in this league have a solid grasp on the fundamentals, including multiple shooting styles, skating backward, and stopping from a sprint. For most players, this tier is going to be the upper limit for their skill. In order to advance beyond C-League, you would likely have to put a lot more time and effort into practicing than most casual players can.
B-League
Those found in B-League may have played ice hockey in college or high school and have been playing ever since. They know the ins-and-outs of the game like the back of their hand and can perform all of the high-leveled maneuvers and strategies. These players just aren’t quite on the same level as the A-League players.
A-League
Players in A-League are often former pros, semi-pros, or high-level collegiate players. Something to keep in mind about this tier is that you generally aren’t going to move up into it from a lower tier over time. These players have put in an extreme amount of time and effort to hone their skills. And because of that, the barrier to entry into this tier is high.