Registration Info - Chicago Outdoor Hockey League

Registration Info

INFORMATION RELATED TO COVID-19

Please visit this web page for the latest information regarding the impact of Covid-19 on league play.

COED OUTDOOR ICE HOCKEY

The Chicago Outdoor Hockey League (COHL) is an 18 and over coed adult recreational non-check outdoor hockey league. League games are played at outdoor rinks throughout the Chicagoland area.

We play hockey the way it was meant to be played.

TEAM REGISTRATION

Team registration for the 2020-21 season is not yet open. Please visit this page for the latest status.

Returning Teams are notified via email. If you did not receive a returning team invite, please Contact us.

NEW Teams, please complete the New Team Interest Form and we will get back to you with next steps.

Individual REGISTRATION

Individual registration for the 2020-21 season is not yet open. Please visit this page for the latest status.

If you are interested in other skill levels at Hull and or Niles rinks, please complete our Individual Free Agent form to have your contact info sent to existing captains. You can also visit our Player Forum to publicly post yourself as a free agent, or if you are a team captain you can pickup a free agent. Link to forum: http://cohl.boards.net/

DIVISIONS AND SKILLS:

The following skill level divisions are available in the COHL this season:

C (Intermediate): The most popular skill level of hockey players is somewhere in the “C” range (i.e. average skill). Players typically have at least 5 years of experience, 2 years of organized/coached experience, and have a complete understanding of the rules of play. Players have average stick handling skills, are comfortable skating both forwards and backwards, and can easily perform a “hockey stop”. The COHL breaks out the C skill level into the following two divisions:

Upper C (Intermediate): 5-10 years recent experience playing at C level.

Lower C (Intermediate): 2-5 years recent experience playing at C level.

D (Novice): For players with lesser defined skating and stick skills. Players should be comfortable skating forwards and backwards, and performing a “hockey stop”, but have a good amount of work to do on their stick-handling and shooting skills.

D (Beginner): The COHL encourages adults to take up the game of hockey and this skill level is ideal for those that have been skating and playing some hockey for at least a year and are ready to try organized hockey. Players typically have 1-3 years experience of skating plus at least 1 year of completely some sort of beginner hockey training/coaching. Prior to joining any league, players should be comfortable skating forwards and performing a “hockey stop”, but likely have work to do on their backwards skating, stick-handling, and shooting skills.

Note to players with NO hockey playing experience: We love adult players that are new to the game, but at this time the COHL does not offer a skill division for completely new players to the game of hockey. It is too dangerous to the new player and the players and officials on the ice. Every COHL player should have at least 1-3 years experience skating AND 1-2 years playing in pickup hockey games and or 1-2 years of basic hockey skills development (e.g., completing a Hockey 101 coached session) before playing in a COHL league setting. Once these skills are acquired, then the best next step is our D (Beginner) skill division.

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Unless there are more new teams and interest rises, the following skill levels will likely not be available in the COHL at this time.

A (Elite) (NOT offered this season): Recently played professional hockey.

B Upper (Advanced Semipro) (NOT offered this season): Recently played semipro or collegiate hockey.

B Lower (Advanced) (NOT offered this season): Very skilled hockey players who play at a high level. Often these are people who played hockey since they were young. Generally, these players have at least 10 years experience, over 4 years of organized/coached hockey experience, and a complete understanding of the rules of play. These players have great stick handling skills and can confidently skate both forwards and backwards with ease.

GAMES AND FORMAT

If we are allowed to start league play, games would be scheduled to start December 5, 2020 and would go through end of February or first week of March, weather pending.
Played the way it was meant to be played (that means outdoors)
18 and over, both men and women (coed)
Player giveaways provided by league (e.g. winter hat), while supplies last
Saturday and Sunday start times 8am-8pm (one game per week, day varies weekly)
5-on-5 full equipment, shoulders optional
Two (2) 27-minute running time halves (with stop time during last 2 minutes if goal differential 2 or less).
Penalties = penalty shots (or suspensions)
Guaranteed minimum nine (9) games
Single elimination playoffs, all teams make the playoffs
Opportunity to play in the All Star Game (each skill level) at the End of the Season Party if nominated by your team and selected by the league
2-person referee/officials system for every game
Stats tracked by scorekeepers and provided online on this site and via the HockeyShift app

RINK LOCATIONS

Northside: Iceland Skate Complex, 8435 Ballard Rd, Niles, IL 60714, (847) 297-8010

Times: Games will vary on Saturdays and Sundays 8am to 8pm
Skills available: 4 skills – Upper and Lower D, Upper and Lower C (we will seed teams)

Southside: Bobby Hull Community Ice Rink, 3400 S 53rd Ave, Cicero, IL 60804, (708) 477-6875

Times: Games will vary Saturday and Sundays 8am to 2pm
Skills available: 3 skills – Upper and Lower D, Lower C (we will seed teams)

Teams may be re-seeded after the first two weeks of the season. Final Championship games will likely be played at IceLand. Additional games may be played at MB Financial Place in Rosemont, IL.

LEAGUE RULES

Download/View our complete Rules and Regulations.

TEAM REGISTRATION OPTIONS AND COSTS

Full team payment is due no later than November 30, 2020. Late payments are subject to a $25 per day late payment fee. Team captains are responsible for collecting payments from their players and then paying the COHL. The COHL does not accept individual player payments.

There are Two (2) Team registration Options this season...

OPTION ONE: ICELAND-ONLY LEAGUE TEAM REGISTRATION

Games are played at Iceland Skate ONLY in Niles, IL. Playoffs can be played at either rink location.

Mail a Check: $3,300 Registration + $200 Team Forfeit Deposit
Online by Credit Card / Paypal: +3% fee to total charge
If your team already has a $200 deposit on file, it will be credited on your team invoice.

OPTION TWO: HULL-ONLY LEAGUE TEAM REGISTRATION

Games are played at Bobby Hull Community Rink ONLY in Cicero, IL. Playoffs can be played at either rink location.

Mail a Check: $2,850 Registration + $200 Team Forfeit Deposit
Online by Credit Card / Paypal: +3% fee to total charge
If your team already has a $200 deposit on file, it will be credited on your team invoice.

INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATION OPTIONS AND COSTS

Are you a Goalie interested in subbing or getting assigned to a team? Goalies play free! Goalies please register here.

Overall registration deadline (all teams) by November 30, 2020

All players on teams will be instructed by league management or their captains on how to register themselves onto their team roster during their applicable registration time windows. The COHL will be in direct contact with team captains to assist in the process.

PLAYER WAIVER

All players will be required to sign the following Player Waiver. Please note, the rinks may require players to sign an additional waiver at their discretion.

Download/View our Player Waiver