Ice Dogs CSDHL Travel Hockey
Everything we do is rooted in long-term player and athletic development. The Ice Dogs experience is intentionally designed to help players improve season after season while maintaining the joy of the game that brought them here in the first place.
Development first. Built for the long game.
The Ice Dogs Hockey Association is a Tier II youth hockey club based out of Glacier Ice Arena in Vernon Hills, Illinois. We welcome new and returning families to the 2026-27 Fall Travel Hockey season as we continue our commitment to providing a complete youth hockey experience built on healthy development, meaningful competition, and a strong club culture.
Our club is built for families who value:
- Long-term growth over short-term labels
- Coaches who teach and mentor
- Smaller rosters and meaningful opportunities to grow
- Character development alongside skill development
- Team-first culture
- Multi-sport participation
- Family time and life balance
- Players who continue to love the game of hockey years from now
The Ice Dogs Way
The Ice Dogs Way isn't a destination. It isn't a standard we claim to have fully achieved. It’s the culture we continuously pursue as a club.
The Ice Dogs Way is a growth mindset that shapes how we coach, compete, and support one another.
The Ice Dogs Way is about showing up every day, with every team, for every season, with a commitment to doing the hard things, doing them with full effort, and doing them while demonstrating respect for all.
The Ice Dogs Way teaches our players to always:
Respect
Represent our club with pride and integrity.
Play with class and respect everyone.
Compete
Compete with fire in your heart and mind.
Embrace adversity and continuous improvement.
Lead
Lead by example.
Put the team above self and elevate those around you.
Our player development model
FALL SEASON | TEAM DEVELOPMENT & COMPETITION
SPRING SEASON | SKILL DEVELOPMENT & CONFIDENCE
SUMMER DEVELOPMENT | ATHLETIC GROWTH & PREPARATION
We understand every family's hockey journey is different and that players develop at different speeds. Youth hockey is not a race. Early labels and rankings don't define long-term potential. We think beyond each season.
That’s why our year-round development approach balances competition, skill development, and long-term athletic growth.
Upcoming Dates
May 22 Fall Registration Opens
August 17-23 Pre-Season Training Camp
August 23 Ice Dogs Kick-Off BBQ
August 24-25 CSDHL Major/Minor Tryouts
August 26-31 CSDHL Prospects Tryouts
First Week of September Team Practices Begin
September 18 CSDHL Regular Season Begins
September 18 Ice Dogs Golf Outing
November 14 Big Dog Bash
CSDHL Divisions and Team Placement Process
CSDHL DIVISIONS
The Central States Developmental Hockey League (CSDHL) organizes teams into three divisions:
- Major Division: Typically consists of older players within a level (e.g., squirt, peewee, etc.)
- Minor Division: Typically consists of younger players within a level
- Prospects Division: All other teams within a level that are not in the Major/Minor Division
CSDHL TEAM PLACEMENT PROCESS
Minor and Major Divisions: CSDHL currently requires an application process for placement of any team into major/minor CSDHL divisions. This process happens in the spring prior to the upcoming fall hockey season.
Prospects Divisions and Tiers: All other teams not competing in the CSDHL Minor/Major Division compete in the CSDHL Prospects Division. Within the Prospects Division there are three separate levels (RED, WHITE, and BLUE) with each level contains three possible tiers (Tier 1, 2, and 3).
The IDHA Board and Glacier Hockey Office submit a recommended placement for each IDHA team’s prospect level placement (e.g., IDHA Squirt AA will compete in Prospects RED Division, Tier 1). These recommendations determine the Division and Tier each of our IDHA teams will compete at during the 8 game seeding round. At the conclusion of the seeding games, CSDHL will make necessary adjustments for the most competitive seasons as possible within the various Prospects Divisions and Tiers.
Ice Dogs Coaches
Coaching matters. Not just what is taught, but how it’s taught. Our dedicated Ice Dogs coaching staff creates an environment where players are challenged, supported, and encouraged to grow both on and off the ice.
Our coaching lineup for the 2026-27 Fall Travel Hockey season will be announced soon.
2026-27 Fall Tryouts $350
Ice Dogs coaches take a team-based approach to tryouts, ensuring that player selection is thoughtful, well-rounded, and based on a wide range of insight and experience. To maximize development opportunities for each player, we strive to offer smaller roster sizes. Final roster sizes are contingent on registration numbers and are part of the overall team evaluation process.
Our goal is to place every player in an environment where they can thrive alongside their teammates.
PRE-SEASON TRAINING CAMP
August 17-23, 2026
TRYOUTS
August 24-25, 2026 CSDHL Major/Minor Tryouts
August 26-31, 2026 CSDHL Prospects Tryouts
2026-27 Fall Season Fees
For the 2026-27 Fall Travel Hockey season, all Ice Dogs teams receive:
- 3 on-ice practices per week
- Off-ice training every other week
- Access to supplemental off-ice training
- CSDHL season, playoffs, and state tournament games
- Smaller roster sizes
- Experienced coaching staff
- Practice jerseys
Fees and additional details are provided below. If your player gets selected for a Major/Minor team, an additional $750 fee applies.
Squirt 10U CSDHL Prospects
COST: $5,250 SKATER / $4,150 GOALIE
- 35-40 games
- 2-3 slush-funded tournaments
Peewee 12U CSDHL Prospects
COST: $5,600 SKATER / $4,200 GOALIE
- 40-45 games
- 3-4 slush-funded tournaments
Bantam 14U CSDHL Prospects
COST: $5,750 SKATER / $4,450 GOALIE
- 40-45 games
- 3-4 slush-funded tournaments
Midget 16U CSDHL Prospects
COST: $6,200 SKATER / $4,650 GOALIE
- 40-45 games
- 4 slush-funded tournaments
Ice Dogs Uniform Kit $350
The Ice Dogs uniform package includes premium custom gear designed to inspire pride throughout the club:
- Home and Away sublimated game jerseys
- Game socks
- Warm-up jacket and pants
- Hockey bag
- Shells
All new players are required to purchase a custom Ice Dogs uniform kit. Returning players may purchase replacement items, as needed.
FALL 2026-2027 Season
IDHA Squirt-Bantam Registration. Birth years 2012-2017
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