The Northern Illinois Hockey League (NIHL) is proud to announce its agreement with the Chicago Blackhawks on a long-term partnership between the nation's second largest youth hockey league and the six-time Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks. 

The Northern Illinois Hockey League is poised to enter its 49th season of play with over 350 Tier II youth hockey teams, from over 45 local clubs. The league provides play for upwards of 5,000 players from the ages of 7 to 19 in appropriate age-based playing divisions. The league continues to grow year over year. Its Youth and Girls divisions offer players in our region the opportunity to play travel hockey and to grow and develop their hockey skills as they prepare to advance toward possible play at the college level and beyond.

Several current Chicago Blackhawks players, as well as other NHL players from Illinois, at one time played on teams in the Northern Illinois Hockey League.

The Northern Illinois Hockey League and the Chicago Blackhawks will partner on their common objectives of building greater interest and participation in ice hockey among the children in our area.

The Chicago Blackhawks will be the primary sponsor of the Northern Illinois Hockey League's Presidents Cup awards for best Regular Season record and its end-of-season tournament and championship games.

Over the next few months the Northern Illinois Hockey League and the Chicago Blackhawks will provide details about specific programs and promotions arising from the partnership.

For more information on the Northern Illinois Hockey League please contact:

NIHL President Robert Apter

apter.robert@gmail.com

Twitter: @NIHL_Hockey

Facebook: @NorthernIllinoisHockeyLeague

Website: www.nihl.info