The Chicago Blues Hockey Club is a competitive Tier 2 travel hockey organization that fields multiple teams at every age level from Mites to Midget. We have a clinic and tryout process that is designed to be beneficial and rewarding for all participants.
The Chicago Blues Board of Directors works extensively with our hockey directors to establish a tryout and team selection process that is equitable and supportive of every player. The information below is designed to address common questions about our tryout and selection process. If you have additional questions that are not addressed below, please contact the hockey director for your player's age division. We wish all the participants good luck. Thank you for your interest in the Chicago Blues.
The Chicago Blues hold tryouts at each age division (Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget) for each of our Central States Development Hockey League (CSDHL), Northern Illinois Hockey League (NIHL) and Chicago United Hockey League (CUHL) teams. Players for each team are selected based on the assessments of the coaches and hockey directors for each level. They determine both the player's ability and the players "fit" for a particular role on the team being selected. Players should attend the team tryout of the particular team they wish to reasonably make. It is also reasonable for players to tryout for the next highest level team of where they expect to be placed.
Pre-season conditioning clinics are held at the end of August. Please note that while participation is highly recommended, participation has no bearing on the tryout selection process.
Tryouts are structured over a four- to five-day period beginning in early September. Tryouts for the highest level team at a particular age level, typically a CSDHL team, are scheduled on the first and second day of tryouts.
Tryouts for the next highest level team overlaps with the highest team's second tryout session, although this tryout may be by invitation only for coaches to get a more defined look of the top level players . Tryouts for team two are generally held on the second and third tryout sessions, and team three tryouts are held on the third and fourth sessions. For the benefit of your child, if you are hoping to make team three, it might not make sense to tryout for team one, although you are welcome to try.
Cuts may be made after successive tryouts in the interest of allowing the coaches the best chance to review the prospective players for each team. Upon completion of a respective team’s tryout, the director assigned to that team will send an email (within 24 hours of the completion of the last tryout for that specific team) advising you if your son/daughter has been invited to join that team for the upcoming 2018/2019 season. Upon receipt of that email, you will have 48 HOURS to accept that invitation and to register your son/daughter for that team for the upcoming season (there will be a registration link in the email you receive from the director). If you decline the invitation or if you do not accept the invitation within the 48 hour time period, your son’s/daughter’s roster spot will be given to another player and your son/daughter will not be eligible for placement on any other Blues team for the 2018/2019 season.
When final decisions are made at each level, we will make every effort to speak to those players not invited to join a Chicago Blues team regarding other hockey options.
The first practices generally start on the Monday and Tuesday following tryouts. Parents are encouraged to attend the first few practices, as there is normally a parents meeting either before or after one of the first few practices where the head coach addresses team rules and other important issues. If you have a question, please contact the hockey director for your player's age division.
As always, we encourage parents to recognize that there is potential disappointment in the team selection process. As much as you can, let your child know that you are proud of the effort they put in and for accepting the challenge to compete. Do not encourage placing blame or criticism on the selection process. Keep a positive outlook. Children are great at reading their parents' expressions and voices. Remember that it is your child trying out and not you. Avoid words such as winner, loser, success or failure. Let your child know when you see improvement. Treasure the little steps they are taking and leave it up to them to decide when and where they will push harder. Let your child know that you accept them just as they are -- a work in progress.
Mite
CUHL (AAU) 1-2 $2,800
NIHL 3-4 $2,500
Squirt
CSDHL Skater $4,000 Goalie $2,300
NIHL 1 Skater $3,700 Goalie $2,200
NIHL 2-3 Skater $3,600 Goalie $2,100
PeeWee
CSDHL Skater $4,400 Goalie $2,600
NIHL 1 Skater $4,200 Goalie $2,500
NIHL 2 Skater $4,000 Goalie $2,500
NIHL 3 Skater $3,900 Goalie $2,500
Bantam
CSDHL 1-2 Skater $4,600 Goalie $2,700
NIHL 1-2 Skater $4,100 Goalie $2,400
Midget
CSDHL 1-2 Skater $5,050 Goalie $3,000