Naperville Hockey Club Season

All hockey players enrolled or eligible for enrollment at Naperville North High School, Naperville Central High School, and St. Francis High School College Prep are eligible to register & play for Naperville Hockey Club. In the Fall/Winter season, we play in the Illinois West Hockey League under Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois' High School Division sanctioned by USA Hockey. In the spring, we play in the spring league organized by Neuqua Valley Hockey Club.

Are there any extra or additional costs/fees incurred during the season?

NHC has never had to collect or incorporate additional fees like slush funds to cover expenses. All predetermined club expenses are covered by the program (season) fees collected at the beginning of the season. However, if the club decides to enter/compete in an away or "stay to play" tournament after the season registration opens, the club may need to collect an additional fee to cover any entry fees or coaching staff travel expenses not outlined in our annual budget.

Are parents &/or players required to complete volunteer hours for the club?

Member families will be required to volunteer a minimum of three (3) hours in Naperville Hockey Club supporting activities during the Fall/Winter season or pay the $300 volunteer buyout option during registration. The volunteer hours can be completed by the player or family members, or both in combination. There are no volunteer requirements during the spring season.

What is the reason Illinois high school hockey teams are called "Clubs"?

In the state of Illinois, high school hockey is not an IHSA sanctioned sport. Hockey is considered a club sport, meaning it's not directly funded or managed by individual schools or the IHSA like other high school sports such as football, basketball, or baseball.

Naperville and other local communities have combined school teams?

Yes. In order to ensure hockey clubs have enough eligible players to roster student athletes at both the Junior Varsity and Varsity level, AHAI & IL West may allow schools to combine to form a combined affiliate organization (hockey club). NHC is a combined affiliate serving Naperville Central, Naperville North, & St. Francis High Schools.

Are combined high school hockey teams considered "No-Cut"?

Yes. AHAI rules state that any full-time high school student player in good standing that is from one of the combined affiliate organization's high schools, is an eligible player and cannot be cut without approval from the AHAI High School Committee.

Can my student athlete play for a Tier II Hockey Club & a High School Club?

Yes! Many Tier II clubs actually encourage their high school aged players to play for their high school team. Those players would be considered "double rostered", and their right to play for both clubs is guaranteed under IL HB 3037 (Right to Play Act).

What is a "dual rostered" player?

Naperville Hockey Club's Hockey Director and coaching staff utilize tryouts to assess every player's talent, skills, and abilities to best determine the rosters for Varsity and Junior Varsity. At the sole discretion of the director and coaching staff, a player may be dual rostered on both JV & Varsity teams allowing a JV player the opportunity to "play-up" for a limited number of games as the coaching staff deems appropriate.

Is my student athlete required to take USA Hockey SafeSport training?

All players 2009 birth year or older must take USA Hockey SafeSport training to be rostered to a high school hockey team that allows both minor-age (under 18) and adult-age (18 or older) players.