Cyclones Fall Hockey Program

We're thrilled to kick off registration for the 2025-26 Fall hockey season. This page will provide you with all the essential details to ensure a smooth and successful registration process. Let's dive in and get you ready for another exciting season on the ice!

• USA Hockey Membership:
• Before registering with the Cyclones, please secure your 2025/2026 USA Hockey membership at www.usahockeyregistration.com.
• This membership is mandatory for all players, coaches, and managers, as required by the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI).
• The membership is valid from September 2025 to August 2026.
• SafeSport Training:
• All coaches, managers, and players born in 2008 and earlier must complete SafeSport training or a refresher course by September 1, 2025.
• This training is essential for a safe and positive hockey environment.
• The core course takes approximately 90 minutes, while refresher courses take about 30 minutes.
• AAU Membership for Mites:
• AAU membership is required for Mites in the CUHL. Instructions will be provided by team managers after tryouts.

The Cyclones will compete in the Central States Development Hockey League (CSDHL), the Northwest Hockey League (NWHL), the Chicago United Hockey League (CUHL), and the Midwest Superior Girls Hockey League (NIHL) during the 2025-2026 season.

The Cyclones have been selected for the following CSDHL Major / Minor Divisions:

• Squirt Major (2015)
• PeeWee Minor (2014)
• Bantam Minor (2012)
• 15U (2010)

A significant change for the upcoming season is the consolidation of all Tier II co-ed hockey into the CSDHL. This decision, made by AHAI, NIHL, and the CSDHL, will see the former NIHL Gold, Bronze, and Silver divisions restructured within the CSDHL Prospects Division. The Prospects Division will feature three levels—Red, White, and Blue—each with multiple tiers. Red Prospects Tier I represents the most competitive level within this division. The CSDHL anticipates a 28-game season, consisting of 8 declaration round games followed by 20 regular season contests.

We’re thrilled to launch the Cyclones Girls Hockey Program this season! As this is our inaugural year, there are eligibility restrictions in place based on league rules. Please review the guidelines below:

• Eligible to Play:
• Girls who have never played for any Tier II club, including players brand new to hockey or those who have only played recreational or in-house programs.
• Girls who have previously played co-ed hockey at the Cyclones and are continuing with us—your player is eligible for the new Girls program.

• Not Eligible to Play:
• Girls currently rostered on all-girls teams at other Tier II clubs (even if they previously played co-ed for the Cyclones).
• Girls transferring from another club with an existing Girls program, even if they live closer to Fox Valley Ice Arena or have previously played elsewhere due to lack of a Cyclones Girls option.

Due to AHAI rules around new Girls program launches, we’re not permitted to accept transfers from clubs that already support Girls Tier II teams.

As a non-profit organization with a mission to provide a great place for youth athletes to grow their hockey skills and life-long enjoyment of the game, the Cyclones organization makes every effort to control the costs associated with youth hockey. This season, you will notice a small increase in team fees, primarily due to an increase in ice cost. We are once again offering an early bird discount ($200) as well as a payment plan to spread the cost over 6 monthly payments**. The following are included in your fees:

• CSDHL
• Two team practices per week
• One skills session per week run by professional skills instructors
• One goalie clinic session run by EDGE Goaltending
• One off-ice strength and conditioning session per week with GVN Performance
• All league games
• **Additional fee applies for Major/Minor teams
• NWHL
• One team practice per week
• One skills session per week run by professional skills instructors
• One goalie clinic session run by EDGE Goaltending
• One off-ice strength and conditioning session per week with GVN Performance
• All league games
• CUHL
• Two team practices per week
• One skills session per week run by professional skills instructors
• One goalie clinic session run by EDGE Goaltending
• All league games
• Girls
• One team practice per week
• One skills session per week run by professional skills instructors
• One goalie clinic session run by EDGE Goaltending
• All league games

**Note: A late fee of $50 will be applied for failed installment payments. This fee will be applied after a grace period of 30 days.

Please note: the schedule provided is for planning purposes and is subject to change. We’ll notify you of any updates as the tryout dates approach.

Monday, August 18: Players born in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2015

Tuesday, August 19: Players born in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2015

Wednesday, August 20 & Thursday, August 21

• Mites: born 2017–2019
• Squirts: born 2015–2016
• Pee Wees: born 2013–2014
• Bantams: born 2011–2012
• Midget Minors: born 2009–2010

Friday, August 22

• Girls U10: born 2013–2017
• Girls U16: born 2009–2012

NWHL evaluations are scheduled for Tuesday, September 2.

The Cyclones are a non-profit, community-driven youth hockey organization—and we thrive because of the time, energy, and spirit our families bring to the rink. This season, we’re inviting every family to be part of that tradition by pitching in to help make the season a success for all our players.

We are requesting that each family to contribute at least 10 hours over the course of the season. There are plenty of fun and flexible ways to get involved, including the Welcome Back BBQ, Winterfest, apparel sizing events, penalty box duty, game clock operation, music management, and playoff assistance at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

Volunteer hours will be tracked by your team manager and the Cyclones Board.

To help us plan and ensure coverage across events, a $200 volunteer fee per family will be collected at registration. Families who complete their 10-hour commitment will have this fee fully refunded. Refunds will be processed on December 31st and March 31st.

If you're registering multiple players, please email the Cyclones Registrar at paiges@cycloneshockey.net for a discount code to apply during registration.

All members that register prior to July 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM will receive a discount of $200. Your discount is automatically applied during the registration. No discount will be applied to any registration after July 31, 11:59 PM.

Refund Policy

Once registered, all players are subject to a non-refundable $350 registration fee.

Refund Eligibility:

Before Tryouts Begin:

If you request a refund before the first day of tryouts, you will receive a refund minus a $50 processing fee. (This applies to all programs: CSDHL, NIHL, NWHL, CUHL.)

After Tryouts Begin:

No refunds will be issued once tryouts have started, even if the player does not attend.

After Rosters Are Posted:

Once rosters are posted on the Cyclones website, you are responsible for all season fees.

• If you notify the registrar via email (paiges@cycloneshockey.net) within 24 hours of roster posting, you may receive a refund minus the $350 non-refundable registration fee. No exceptions will be made after the 24-hour window.



All players who are selected for a CSDHL Major or Minor team (not a team in the Prospects Division) must pay an additional fee after placement on the team. The CSDHL Fee will be due on October 15, 2025. This additional fee is collected to cover higher league fees, the extra ice needed for games, and trainers for Bantam and Midget games.

• 10U Squirt: $300
• 12U PeeWee: $350
• 14U Bantam: $400
• 15U Midget: $500



The team manager and head coach will establish a slush fund at the start of the season to cover team expenses not included in player fees. The amount will be determined based on the number of local and out-of-state tournaments the team will attend. This fund can be used for tournament entry fees, referee and ice fees for scrimmages, and Illinois State Championship round robin entry fees. Additionally, it may cover head coach expenses such as travel (airfare/gasoline/tolls) and lodging for out-of-town league games and tournaments. The slush fund can also be used for team parties, coaches’ gifts, and raffle baskets. Each player is responsible for paying their share of the slush fund by the deadline set by the manager.



To help manage rising costs of youth hockey, the Cyclones are once again holding a raffle during Winterfest. All member families must participate by selling a minimum of $200 in raffle tickets per family. Your team manager will provide raffle details at the beginning of the season. The top prize for the most tickets sold is $500.

Failure to sell at least $200 worth of tickets or pay a $200 buyout fee will result in the player being in violation of the club's financial obligations and subject to applicable penalties.