The Premier Recreational Youth Hockey Experience

The Heritage Hockey League (HHL) brings hockey back to its roots – fun, affordable, and flexible where players grow skills, make friends, and create lifelong memories – all while honoring the heritage of the game. Whether your player is just starting out or looking for a local winter league, our program makes it easy to play, learn, and love the game for life.

Why Choose HHL:

• Coaching – Our coaches are experienced, passionate, and dedicated to teaching skills while fostering confidence and teamwork.
• Flexible & Family-Friendly – No travel? No problem. Our winter house league works around your schedule and your player's level of play. 2 days a week
• Community & Heritage – Rooted in hockey tradition, HHL celebrates camaraderie, sportsmanship, and the joy of the game.
• Livelong Love of Hockey – From first skates to lasting memories, our league creates players who love hockey for life.

Keep your kids in the game without the travel! Sign up today and grow their skills on the ice!”

League Details:

Evals: Jan 3rd and Jan 4th

Regular Season Begins Jan 11th

Levels: Mite (8U), Squirt (10U), Pee Wee (12U), Bantam (14U)

Skaters: $895 (can be split into 2 payments)

Goalies: $675 (can be split into 2 payments)

Game Structure (4 Balanced Teams Per Level Squirt/Mites and PeeWee/Bantams)

4v4 Cross-Ice Game Days (4 Total Dates) - We will use a point system to determine seeding for the End-of-Season Tournament.

Benefits of 4v4 Cross-Ice:

• More puck touches, more action, and more involvement — players are constantly engaged, not standing around.
• Faster skill development in tight spaces — improves skating, puck protection, quick passing, and decision-making.
• More scoring chances — builds confidence, creativity, and offensive instincts.
• Game-like conditioning with constant motion — short shifts and nonstop play improve endurance and speed.

Full-Ice 5v5 Game Days (4 total) - Each full ice game will combine the different players.

Benefits of Full-Ice 5v5:

• Teaches true game positioning and team systems — players learn real hockey structure, spacing, and responsibility.
• Builds endurance and full-stride skating power — develops speed, stamina, and strong transitions.
• Develops hockey IQ and game awareness — reads the play, anticipates movement, and makes smart decisions.
• Introduces real game flow and special situations — line changes, faceoffs, breakouts, and special teams concepts.
• Prepares players for travel and/or high school hockey — confidence in real-game environments.

Hybrid Model (4v4 + 5v5) is the Best of Both Worlds

Using both formats within the same season creates a balanced, high-development environment:

Season Timeline & Schedule

• Week 1: Evaluations
• Weeks 2–9: Saturday Practices, Sunday Regular Season Games (8 games, rotating teams)
• Week 10: Saturday skills competition and Sunday End-of-Season Tournament / Grand Finale

• Total Program Length: 10 weeks

• Total Ice Events: 20 (including evaluations)

Special Events

• 3/28: Skills Competition
• 3/28: Final Tournament

Interested in Coaching? This is league is a great way parent coaches to further their interests in coaching. The parent coaches will be guided by Chicago Hawks coaches towards learning techniques and strategies needed to develop their coaching principles.

Equipment Requirements: HECC approved helmet with an expiration date on the sticker, USA Hockey approved face mask, hockey stick, shoulder pads, hockey pants, protective gloves, elbow pads, knee/shin pads, hockey skates and neck guard.

USA Hockey Registration: All players must register online with USA Hockey. All coaches, assistant coaches and bench helpers must register online with USA Hockey.

In an effort to offer an opportunity for a third ice slot each week, all HHL players are eligible to participate in Drills for Skills for a 50% discount.

Drills for Skills and Power Skate are one-hour classes intended to help players maintain and further develop their hockey skills in preparation for in-house league or travel hockey. Drills for Skills classes are high intensity with many repetitions in all drills allowing instructors to recognize the needs of each player and provide personalized direction for their further development. The reinforcement of skating, stick handling, passing, and shooting will all be taught in a non-contact environment.

HHL players can opt-in to the Drills for Skills sessions for a 50% discount during the HHL registration process.

If your player is a goalie, please email goalieliaison@chicagohawks.com PRIOR to registering for the league.



If you have any general questions about the league, please contact Amanda Hanlon at president@chicagohawks.coim