About Us
Mission Statement
It is the mission of Jackson Youth Hockey to provide a meaningful opportunity for children to experience the great game of hockey and to develop their skating skills and hockey skills to the best of their ability while instilling the importance of sportsmanship, leadership, and teamwork.
ABOUT JYH
Jackson Youth hockey enrolled over 200 players for the 2023 - 2024 season. Since 1989 Jackson Youth Hockey has provided a meaningful opportunity for girls and boys ages 4-18 to experience the great game of hockey and to develop their skating and hockey skills to the best of their ability, while instilling sportsmanship, leadership and responsibility. Jackson Youth Hockey is a member of the Wyoming Amateur Hockey Association, part of the Northern Plains Disctrict of USA Hockey.
GET TO KNOW OUR DIRECTOR
Jackson Youth Hockey is very excited for Eric Ballard to continue as our Executive Director. Ballard’s extensive background has brought some deep and rich roots in the game of hockey and player development. Jackson Moose have amassed 17 State Championship’s the past four seasons in Wyoming Amateur Hockey League and are the largest youth Hockey Association in all of Wyoming.
Prior to arriving in Jackson, Ballard coached five seasons with the Colorado Buffaloes Men's ACHA DI Collegiate hockey team. Ballard was also selected to represent USA Hockey as an Assistant Coach for the World University Games that were played in Krasnoyarsk Russia in 2019.
https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/947883
A native of Grand Rapids Minnesota, Ballard has coached 22 years and over 200 plus games in the North American Hockey League with 183 of those as a GM/Head coach. Ballard has an extensive background as an owner, general manager and coach with Midget AAA, Junior B and Tier III junior A teams. In Ballard’s career he has a proven track record of developing players for the highest levels of hockey from National Hockey League, various minor league professionals and NCAA Collegiate players.
Eric still is very active in his region with running and evaluating players for State, District and National Camps and has been working in this capacity his entire career. Ballard has also scouted in the Western Hockey League (WHL), United States Hockey League (USHL) and North American Hockey League (NAHL) for over 20 years.
Eric Ballard currently is one of three Northern Plains District Directors and is the Boys Player Development Director for the State of Wyoming. Ballard also sits on the Youth Council and Junior Council for USA Hockey, which is our National Governing Body for hockey in the United States.
We are very proud to have Eric Ballard here in Jackson and representing Jackson Youth Hockey in our state of Wyoming.
GET TO KNOW OUR STAFF
Jackson Youth Hockey is pleased to have on board our Marketing and Communications Liasan, Kilee Amborski. Kilee is a 5th generation Jackson Native. Although Kilee does not have a background in hockey, her husband does and that is how she came to love and enjoy the sport. Kilee has a background in coaching multiple sports at different levels as well as grew up playing multiple sports, including collegiate volleyball.
Kilee has 4 children in the JYH program and brings to the table organization, enthusiasm, communication and support for the entire Jackson Youth Program. She is here to help and Jackson Youth Hockey is glad to have her on our team.
