News

Sunday 3:00PM Charity Game: Chicago Warriors vs. Peoria Jr. Mustangs 18U

This Sunday at 3:00PM NIHL will host a Charity Game at Inwood Ice Arena, Joliet between the Chicago Warriors and the Peoria Jr. Mustangs 18U. All proceeds from the game go to the Chicago Warriors. The Chicago Warriors are a program that gives veterans, who have been injured or disabled in the course of their service, the opportunity to play hockey in an environment suited to their needs. Their team relies solely on fundraising and donations for support. Come on out to the game or donate right here with this link.

Donate Here
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Watch the 6 United Center Championships Here

Maybe you were playing in the games, or maybe you just want to watch it again... all the six, Feb. 18, NIHL Blackhawks Tournament Championships from the United Center can be seen on YouTube, on the Stream Sports Midwest channel.

Watch Here
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6 NIHL Blackhawks Tournament Championships at United Center

We are 24 hours from the NIHL Blackhawks Tournament Championships at the United Center. Get your tickets, and get close to the action! It's going to be great to see the fans from these clubs supporting their teams! Tickets are good for All Day. See up to Six games.

Click for Feb. 18 United Center Tickets
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ACHA/JOG Showcase at Fifth Third Arena

News from Blackhawks Youth Hockey that may be of interest to our NIHL Girls 14U and Girls 16U/19U players who are thinking about playing college hockey.

Click Here for Info
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2024 NIHL Blackhawks Tournament Host Clubs Announced

The NIHL Tournament Committee is proud to announce the Host Clubs for the various divisions of the 2024 NIHL Blackhawks Tournament.

See All the Divisions' Host Clubs
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Tage Thompson 2008-2009 NIHL PeeWee Elite Champion

"I can't express enough how essential fun and confidence are for any young hockey player, and the Northern Illinois Hockey League (NIHL) provided me with both." Tage Thompson - Buffalo Sabres

Read Tage's Statement
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2023-2024 NIHL Presidents Cup

The league recognizes the team with the best Regular Season record, in its highest playing levels, with the NIHL Presidents Cup. In the 2023-2024 season the following NIHL Divisions are eligible to compete for the President Cup award: Premier Select - 10U, 12U and 14U, Elite - 10U, 12U and 14U, Gold - 10U, 12U and 14U, Silver Tier 1 - 10U, 12U and 14U, Bronze - 14U, Bronze Tier 1 - 10U and 12U, College Junior Prep - 16U, College Junior Prep - 18U, Girls National - 10U, 12U, 14U and 16U/19U. Good luck to all teams at those levels!

Presidents Cup 2023

2024 NIHL Tournament Format

Info you have been waiting for... here's what it will take to make this season's NIHL Blackhawks Tournament. Good luck in your games as you make your run to qualify.

See the Tournament Format
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Oct. 6, 2023 Rockford ABC/FOX TV

Oct. 6, 2023 Rockford ABC/FOX TV report on Youth Hockey. Excitement about the Chicago Blackhawks and the Rockford Ice Hogs new seasons and the Rockford Roadrunners reasons for playing in the competitively balanced, Northern Illinois Hockey League.

Watch the Interview
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Oct. 7, 2023 WCPT 820 AM Radio Chicago

Oct. 7, 2023 WCPT 820 AM Radio Chicago report on Youth Hockey. News about NIHL Blackhawks Tournament Championships at the United Center, Chicago Warriors Charity Game, efforts that grow the game, competitive balance in the Northern Illinois Hockey League and All Star Game plans.

Listen to the Interview
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Sept. 19, 2023 KMOX Radio St. Louis

Sept. 19, 2023 KMOX Radio report on Girls Hockey in the Northern Illinois Hockey League. Growth of the league’s Girls’ Divisions, competitive balance the league promotes and addition of clubs/teams from Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan.

Listen to the Interview
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Oct. 7-8, 2023 WBBM News Radio

Oct. 7-8, 2023 WBBM News Radio report on Girls Hockey in the Northern Illinois Hockey League. Growth of the league’s Girls’ Divisions and the competitive balance the league promotes.

Listen to the Interview
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2023 – 2024 NIHL Scheduling Meetings

The 2023-2024 scheduling will take place at Metea Valley High School (Saturday Sept. 9th) during two sessions: 9:15 – 10:45am and 11:30am – 1:00pm.

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GIRLS 10U, 12U, 14U, 16/19U SHOWDOWN TOURNAMENT

NIHL has partnered with the Michigan Girls Hockey League and Elite Amateur Sports to create a tournament for our league's NIHL Girls teams. This Showdown Tournament on November 17-19 in Muskegon, MI, will include upper and lower divisions for all ages. It is a wonderful opportunity for our Top and Second Tier teams to play teams of a similar competitive level from the Michigan Girls Hockey League. Click on the link below to register.

Girls Showdown Tournament Registration
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SHOWCASE SERIES FOR NIHL 16U AND 18U

NIHL has partnered with Elite Amateur Sports to create a series of showcase opportunities for our league's NIHL Midget teams. These showcases are an excellent way to allow clubs to play against teams outside the league of a similar competition level. Register using the link below for the first three events. The fourth event will take place January 19-21 here in Chicago, Illinois with more details coming soon.

Midget 16U and 18U Showcase Series Registration
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Youth 16U, 18U and Girls Clubs/Teams Can Submit Playing Privileges Applications

The NIHL Executive Board is receiving and considering applications for Playing Privileges for the 2023-2024 season. Playing Privileges are for Non-Member organizations and must be renewed each year.

Application for Playing Privileges

Regular Season Scheduling Instructions

As the season transitions from the seeding round to the regular season, learn how to see your regular season schedule and find division contacts.

Download the Tutorial
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Manager Tools for Sunday's Scheduling Meeting

The September 18 NIHL Scheduling Meeting will take place in two sessions. Find out in which session your team will schedule, and where your division's table will be located. This event takes place at the Westin Lombard 70 Yorktown Center Lombard IL 60148 on Sunday morning. Click on continue for scheduling instructions, home ice slot worksheet and the meeting room table maps.

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Team Manager Instructions

Get to know how to use our new website and learn how to register as the manager for your team, login, and schedule and score games.

Download the Tutorial
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Key NIHL Dates Coming Up

The kickoff of the new season is a very busy and hectic time for the league, the clubs and the players' families. Here are some key dates that are coming up quickly. By keeping these dates in our calendars it will help us all plan our August and September. Click on the NIHL Calendar tab to see all the entries.

View NIHL Calendar
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Team Managers - the Straw That Stirs the Drink

That are lots of ingredients for a hockey team to have a successful season. One critical piece of the equation is the Team Manager. These managers do a lot of work behind the scenes and this lets the coaches, players and parents focus their attention on practices and games. On Sunday, September 18 NIHL Team Managers will gather to set their 2022-2023 game schedules. We hope you all appreciate their work as much as we do.

New Look Website for the Northern Illinois Hockey League

After serving us well for 12 years, the old NIHL website has been retired and this new one has launched. Many functions will be very familiar, but there are many new features that will make the info you are looking for easier to get your eyes on. Browse around the site, and especially on the pages of your favorite club or team to see how it looks and feels.

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2022-23 Marks Record Number of NIHL Organizations

In the 53 year history of the Northern Illinois Hockey League there have never been this many organizations in the league! We will have over 50 Member Organizations and Playing Privileges Organizations this season.

2022 2023 clubs

Get Your Team on the NIHL Game of the Week

Would your team and your opponent like to be the NIHL Game of the Week with live play-by-play from professional announcers?

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IIHF Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend

October 8-9 is Girls Ice Hockey Weekend. NIHL thanks our member associations and the area rinks that are helping celebrate Girls Ice Hockey Weekend. It's efforts like these that build awareness, celebrate current players and keep growing Girls Hockey in our state and our league.

IIHF Girls Hockey Weekend

Premier Select Champions 2022

Congratulations to all of the 2022 Premier Select, NIHL Blackhawks Tournament Champions.

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St Jude 2022 Squirt 10U Premier Select Champions

Academic Excellence - Win Every Shift

Did you know that the league celebrates players' accomplishments in the classroom?

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