Clinic & Tryout Registration

The Chicago Blues Hockey Club is a competitive Tier 2 travel hockey organization that fields multiple teams at every age level from Mites to Midget. We have a clinic and tryout process that is designed to be beneficial and rewarding for all participants.



• The Blues skate out of one of Illinois' best hockey facilities, the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville.
• We offer a network of five professional hockey directors with a combined 74 years of youth hockey instruction.
• Our head coaches work hand-in-hand with our directors to create the ultimate youth hockey experience for our players.
• Expert goalie coaching focuses on overall fundamentals while also aligning with each goalie’s particular skill level and physical attributes.
• Off-ice training programs appropriately designed for each age level by Goodman Elite Training (Squirt-Midget)
• Multiple in-season tournaments (if available).
• Every player receives a warm-up suit.

The Chicago Blues hold tryouts at each age division (Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget) for each of our Central States Development Hockey League (CSDHL), Northern Illinois Hockey League (NIHL) and Chicago United Hockey League (CUHL) teams. Players for each team are selected based on the assessments of the coaches and hockey directors for each level. They determine both the player's ability and the players "fit" for a particular role on the team being selected. Players should attend the team tryout of the particular team they wish to reasonably make. It is also reasonable for players to tryout for the next highest-level team of where they expect to be placed.

Pre-season conditioning clinics are held in August. Please note that while participation is highly recommended, participation has no bearing on the tryout selection process.

Tryouts are structured over a four-day period. Tryouts for CSDHL teams are scheduled on the first and second day of tryouts. NIHL tryouts are typically scheduled on the third and fourth day of tryouts. We encourage players to attend all tryouts.  

Cuts may be made after successive tryouts in the interest of allowing the coaches the best chance to review the prospective players for each team. Upon completion of a respective team’s tryout, the director assigned to that team will send an email (within 24 hours of the completion of the last tryout for that specific team) advising you if your son/daughter has been invited to join that team for the upcoming season. Upon receipt of that email, you will have 48 HOURS to accept that invitation and to register your son/daughter for that team for the upcoming season (there will be a registration link in the email you receive from the director). If you decline the invitation or if you do not accept the invitation within the 48-hour time period, your son’s/daughter’s roster spot will be given to another player and your son/daughter will not be eligible for placement on any other Blues team for the current season.  

Season fees can either be paid in full via Credit Card or ACH, or the option 4 equal split payment plan.

Payment plan dates are as follows:

• Acceptance of roster spot (immediately after tryouts end)
• September 30
• October 30
• November 30

For Registration or Crossbar questions please contact Sara Gerardi at saramccabe30@gmail.com