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www.pdop.org
youth sports
Learn to Play Hockey
FUN + Fundamentals
e Park District of Oak Park is putting the fun back in hockey with a focus on game play! We have aligned our
program with Learn to Skate USA and USA Hockey, the industry leaders. Our class offerings will now focus on
three important areas: skating, stick handling skills and FUN! e result will be stronger skaters with the skills
and training they need to reach their goal of playing for the Ice Bears in the Northwest Hockey League. And we
hope that along the way they will make friends and teammates and develop a love for the sport.
Beginning players will learn to play with other kids their own age. e new levels will first focus on building that
skating foundation. Once players pass Mini Cub 2 or Mighty Cub 2, they should add Skills and Drills and Ice
Bear Prep League to their repertoire. Skills and Drills will teach additional stick handling and skating skills, while
the Ice Bears Prep League will teach players rules and etiquette of hockey, as well as how to transition on and off
of the ice. Power skating will then help players with speed and agility, as well as how to create power in a game.
While players are encouraged to take Skills and Drills, Mighty Cub and IBPL at the same time, if time does not
allow, they can alternate sessions as the work toward the requirements to play Ice bears.
What kind
of day is this
today?
It's a great
day, we get to
play hockey!
–Paul Hruby, Founder of Hockey
at Ridgeland Common
ICE BEARS NORTHWEST HOCKEY LEAGUE www.pdop.org/icebears
e goal of every player at Ridgeland is to wear the blue and white jersey of the home team, the Ice Bears. Aer completing the required
training (see chart on opposite page), coaches will make recommendations for players to join the Ice Bears. Aer being recommended
by their coach, new players must attend a pre-evaluation. If players do not show up to a pre-evaluation, they will be removed from the
roster and the first waitlisted player will receive their spot. e Fall Ice Bears season begins in September and playoffs wrap up in March.
e Spring season is a shorter season and runs April through playoffs in June. While regular season games participate in the Northwest
Hockey League, many teams give the option to travel to an out-of-state tournament each season. ere are no 'cuts' or tryouts for this team.
Registration is taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more details, contact: Bryce Miller (bryce.miller@pdop.org) or Dan Seltzer (daniel.seltzer@pdop.org)
Rink passholders will
receive $5 off Summer
2020 skating and
hockey classes.
