INFORMATION RELATED TO COVID-19
If there is news related to COVID-19 that impacts our league, we will post it here and email captains. We follow state and local mandates and any rules instituted by the rinks we play at.
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.
DIVISIONS AND SKILLS:
The following skill level divisions are available in the COHL this season:
B Upper (Advanced Semipro): Recently played semipro or collegiate hockey.
B Lower (Advanced): 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.
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.
GAMES AND FORMAT
- If we are allowed to start league play, games would be scheduled to start December 4, 2021 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
- To Be Determined: Game Time and Penalty Format. We plan to extend our game time format to a 70 minute play time (vs 60 minute in past seasons). We are surveying captains from past seasons and will make a final decision on time and penalty formats by Sept 15, 2021. We will update this page and communicate with captains at that time. Time and penalty formats will follow one of these options:
- Two (2) 23-minute stop-time halves (46 mins total). Penalties served in the box. (This is similar to other leagues that play 3 stop-time 15 minute periods (45 mins total); We play halves due to weather elements [e.g., wind, sun, etc.]).
- Two (2) 32-minute running time halves (with stop time during last 2 minutes if goal differential 2 or less). Penalties = penalty shots (or suspensions). This is simply extending our play time under our existing league format.
- 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 offered: 5 skills – D Upper and D Lower, C Upper and C Lower, B Lower
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 offered: 5 skills – D Upper and D Lower, C Upper and C Lower, B Lower
Skills-based divisions may change following team registration. 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
Note: These are last year's rules. Updated rules will be published here by Sept 15, 2021.
Download/View last year's complete Rules and Regulations.
TEAM REGISTRATION
Team registration for the 2021-22 season is not yet open. We are aiming to open registration in late September 2021.
Returning Teams will be notified via email. If you do not receive a returning team invite by end of September, please Contact us.
NEW Teams, please complete the New Team Interest Form at any time and we will get back to you with next steps.
Full team payment is due no later than November 30, 2021. 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: $3,500 Registration + $200 Team Forfeit Deposit = $3,700
- 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: $3,200 Registration + $200 Team Forfeit Deposit = $3,400
- 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
If you are interested in joining an existing team, 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/
ATTENTION GOALIES
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
