Park District of Oak Park
Our mission: In partnership with the community, we enrich lives by providing meaningful experiences through parks, programs and facilities.
Park District of Oak Park
Our mission: In partnership with the community, we enrich lives by providing meaningful experiences through parks, programs and facilities.
The Ice Bears program competes in the Northwest Hockey League. This league focuses on competitive hockey while still allowing for balanced ice time for all players. The Oak Park Ice Bears program is based on the three pillars of developing a love for the game of hockey, a dedication to skill development, and being a model organization in terms of sportsmanship. Players who are interested in participating must have previous playing experience. The season begins in early September and runs through the beginning of March.
Players who are new to the Ice Bears Program MUST be evaluated PRIOR to registration. Contact Dan Seltzer at hockey@pdop.org to set up an evaluation. Anyone who registers without being evaluated will be removed from the roster and lose their place on the team
Registration Dates |
|
RETURNING RESIDENT ICE BEARS (Fall 2022 or Spring 2023) |
Friday, May 19, 8:30am |
OAK PARK RESIDENTS |
Saturday, May 20, 8:30am |
RETURNING NON-RESIDENT ICE BEARS (Fall 2022 or Spring 2023) |
Friday, May 26, 8:30am |
OPEN REGISTRATION |
Saturday, May 27th, 8:30am |
PRELIMINARY REGISTRATION CLOSES |
Friday, June 30th, 11:59pm |
The program reserves the right to add players based on circumstance
Additional Registration Questions in Amilia
Jersey Number: If Players were on the Ice Bears previously, they MUST use the number that they have been assigned. If you are unsure of your player’s number, contact abby.sacks@pdop.org BEFORE registration. If your player is new to the ice bears, please choose three numbers* your player would like to have. Number selection during registration does NOT guarantee that number for your player during the season. If there is an issue with the number selected, PDOP staff will reach out to parents prior to the start of practices.
*The Park District attempts to keep players’ numbers consistent throughout their Ice Bears career, to do this please ensure your players’ number matches the parity of their birth year:
Players with even birth years (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016) have even jersey numbers.
Players with odd birth years (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015) have odd jersey numbers.
USA Hockey Number: All players must register with USA Hockey every year. Please follow the USA Hockey Registration instructions on page 4 and provide the players USA Confirmation Hockey number which is a combination of 9 numbers and 4 letters located in the PDF confirmation emailed to you after registering with USA Hockey. The fourth number must be “4” for the Fall 2023 Season
Fall Timeline*
Evaluations for Team Drafts: August 13th and 20th all players must attend at least one hour:
8U (Mites): 8:45A-9:45A
10U (Squirts): 10:00A-11:00A
12U (Peewees): 11:15A – 12:15
Bantam (14U) Checking Clinics: August 15th and 17th – 8:30-9:30A and two Sundays in September
ORDER JERSEYS THROUGH SQUADLOCKER: BY AUGUST 19
September 24: Scrimmage Sunday- All teams will scrimmage for practice before games begin
Game Scheduling: TBD – Your head coach or team manager will communicate when possible. Games are usually on the weekends. Home game times are listed below “Weekly Schedule”
Games Begin: Late September or early October
Season Ends, League Tournament Begins: Early March
Season Conclusion/Championships: Mid-March
*Timeline may be subject to change.
Weekly Schedule
Each team will have 2 one-hour practices a week, and training with Goodman Elite Training (See Program Information)
Potential Practice Times**
Mondays: 5:00-6:00P, 6:15-7:15P, 7:30-8:30P
Tuesdays: 7:10P-8:10P
Thursdays: 6:30-7:30A, 7:15-8:15P
Fridays: 4-5, 5:10-6:10, 6:20-7:20
Potential Weekend Home Game Slots
Saturdays: 3:45-4:55P, 5:10-6:20P
Sundays: 8:50-9:50A, 10:00-11:00A, 11:15A-12:15P
**Subject to Change Based on Registration Numbers. The practice schedule will be decided based on registration by August 2023
Age Levels by Birth Year
Players will be required to play at their appropriate age level.
Mite (8U): 2015-2016
Squirt (10U) : 2013-2014
All Girls Team: Ages TBD
Peewee (12U): 2011-2012
Bantam (14U): 2009-2010
Generally, there are teams at each level, however, a team may not be offered at all levels pending registration outcomes.
Sportsmanship Meetings
All players will participate in a Sportsmanship Meeting with the Aquatic & Rink Program Supervisor. In this meeting, we will discuss sportsmanship basics such as acting with empathy, winning and losing with grace, and making meaningful apologies. These meetings will further the Park District’s mission to be a model organization in terms of sportsmanship as well as give players valuable information to take with them in all areas of sport and competition. All parents and guardians will be invited to a similar meeting in which we will discuss how to report unsportsmanlike behavior and tools you can use to support your player’s personal growth as well as their development as an athlete.
Goodman Elite Training
Oak Park and Goodman Elite Training are pleased to continue their training partnership! Goodman Elite Training is directed by Paul Goodman, Chicago Blackhawks Head Strength & Conditioning Coach, and 3 X Stanley Cup Winner. Goodman Elite’s full-time coaching staff are highly educated, NSCA-certified strength and conditioning coaches, maintaining the highest level of coaching standards in the industry. Practicing his success at the NHL level and D1 Hockey strength & conditioning, Paul Goodman brings his scientific approach and proven holistic training program directly to Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex. Each training session will mirror the Goodman philosophy, containing elements of speed, balance, power, agility, mobility, total body, and core strength. Our athletes will receive a world-class strength & conditioning program during the hockey season. For the Fall 2023 season, Goodman Elite Coaches will train all teams 10U and up for 2 hours a week, one-hour on-ice, and one-hour off-ice. 8U teams will participate in monthly stride mechanics clinics.
Parent Volunteer Opportunities
The Ice Bears program is run on the generosity of our parent volunteer coaches and managers. If parents are interested in volunteering to coach or manage a team, they should reach out to Abby Sacks directly. The Park District requires all volunteers to submit to a background check as well as remain compliant with all USA Hockey volunteer requirements.
Level Clarifications and Requirements
Players who are new to the Ice Bears Program MUST be evaluated PRIOR to registration. Contact Dan Seltzer at hockey@pdop.org to set up an evaluation. Anyone who registers without being evaluated will be removed from the roster and lose their place on the team
Pre-Requisites – Mite New Mite (8U) players must have minimally passed Mighty Cub 4, completed Skills & Drills, and completed 2 sessions of Ice Bear Prep League PRIOR to registering. Players who have not met these requirements will be removed from the roster.
Pre-Requisites – Squirt New Squirt (1oU) players must have minimally passed Mighty Cub 4, completed Skills & Drills and Powerskating class as well as completed 2 sessions of Ice Bears Prep League PRIOR to registering. Players who have not met these requirements will be removed from the roster.
Pre-Requisites – Peewee Peewees must show that they have surpassed the requirements of squirt and their skating and stick handling is strong enough to safely participate.
Pre-Requisites – Bantam Checking is introduced and players transitioning to the Bantam level must be equipped with the proper skills and experience to participate safely. Therefore, all players interested in the Bantam Team must be evaluated by the Hockey Coordinator in order to enroll. Evaluation will take during Ice Bears Peewee practice the previous season. Prior years of play DO NOT guarantee Bantam level eligibility.
All Bantam-level players must participate in two checking clinics before participating in league games. All checking clinics are included in Bantam Registration. Available times are listed below:
Monday, August 15th 8:30A-9:30A (On Ice)
Wednesday, August 17th 8:30A-9:30A (On Ice)
Sunday, September 10th Time TBD (On Ice and Off Ice)
Sunday, September 17th Time TBD (On Ice and Off Ice)