News
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 PrivilegesRegular 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
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.
ContinueTeam 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
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
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.
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.
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.
Premier Select Champions 2022
Congratulations to all of the 2022 Premier Select, NIHL Blackhawks Tournament Champions.
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Academic Excellence - Win Every Shift
Did you know that the league celebrates players' accomplishments in the classroom?
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