November 17, 2020

IceCat Hockey Club Families:

As we are sure you are aware, our Governor has relegated the entire state to Tier 3 mitigation.  As such organized group recreational activities (sports, indoor sports and activity facilities, etc.) have the following mitigation requirements:

• Pause all indoor group sporting and recreational activities including youth and adult recreational sports, individual training may remain (with facility reservation)
• Includes park districts and travel leagues
• Outdoor sports and recreation allowed
• Participant groups and practices outdoors limited to 10 persons or less with social distancing
• Face coverings required for all activities at all times
• Locker rooms should be closed

While we understand this is not what anyone desires, we will get through this moment in time as seamlessly as possible.  Per the Governor's press conference all regions will be individually re-evaluated in 14 days.  To comply with the Governor’s order, we will pause all Icecats activities from November 20th to December 4th.  In the best-case scenario, our rinks would re-open on December 4th.   We are aware that this pause will affect committed ice slots. Our intent is to make adjustments, such as additional ice slots, extending the tail end of the season.

As you can imagine, we are doing our best adjust to the news today. Our intent is to continue to assess the situation and return to hockey activities as quickly as possible. Our hope is to be back on the ice in some shape or form in the near future.  Our plan is to re-evaluate and provide further guidance as we approach December 4th.

Wishing every family a wonderful holiday and please stay safe.

IceCats Hockey Club Board of Directors

IceCats Players and Families,

We are extremely grateful for your continued faith and support, as we plan for the upcoming season.  The IceCats organization is excited to create a memorable high school hockey experience for all our players.  We recognize that as an organization we have communicated only minimum information regarding Governor Pritzker’s orders, but we have been working diligently in the background trying to explore all possibilities for a way to play competitive hockey.

This is an unprecedent time and we recognize that it is a fluid situation and that we will need to adjust as government, AHAI and USA Hockey provides recommendations and policies that need to be followed.  Currently, we believe there will be a season with games and decisions are being made based on this belief.  The State of Illinois has a mandate regarding game play and at this time we are not allowed to have games, but that we can continue with practices and conditioning.  Our commitment is to provide the same amount of ice time that we have had in previous seasons and that we will utilize the ice time for practices and skill development until we can have games.  The coaches will work together to provide a competitive, controlled environment that helps each player grow.

We have had several questions asking why the fees continue at the same rate if there are no games.  As a reminder, the IceCats is a non-profit organization, and club fees go towards our top-level coaches and the cost of ice. These costs are fixed and do not change if there are / are not games being played.  No fees go towards administrative costs and everything is put towards making a great high school hockey experience.  Within the IceCats’ fee there is a $300 charge for volunteering which will be refunded to each family if there are no volunteering needs this year.  Also, if the worst-case scenario happens and we are required to stop practices and/or it is determined there will no games played this season, we will determine what type of refund may be provided to parents.

As an organization, we need to be as flexible as possible moving forward.  Our intentions are that we will have a season and that until we are allowed to play games, we will continue with our program and the coaches will design practices to position our organization to be game ready and to push our players to continue to develop their skills.  We believe that allowing the players an outlet for physical activity and some normalcy is of great benefit, along with the comradery, fun and friendships they develop while on the ice.

As government policies change, we will reevaluate and communicate to parents and players any changes.   We all need to work together to ensure that our players can have the best season possible in the current circumstances. The IceCats Hockey Board and coaches take the health and safety of all the players very seriously.  We are looking forward to an awesome year and can’t wait to get the players back out on the ice.  If there are any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at: icecats@d128.org

Thank you,

LHS/VHHS IceCats Board of Directors

Based on updated Illinois guidelines the IceCats will transition to skates with no-contact, skill based practices and trainings when the Illinois guidance is implemented on August 15th. We will continue to follow Glacier ice rinks safety requirements stated on their website which include wearing masks while not on the ice. All Hockey below college is under the same guidance including high school and travel. More information from AHAI and the league is expected next week and the IceCats will provide an update as soon as we have more information.

Thank you

IceCats Board of Directors

For more information on the new Governor Pritzger sports guidelines, follow this link.

Players and parents,

Please remember that we are still in Phase 4 of our governor's COVID-19 plan.

Social distancing is still required and expected at the Glacier Ice Arena.

• Masks are required to be worn by ALL players, coaches and parents entering and exiting the rink. Players may remove their masks when heading out to the ice if they would like.
• Social Distancing while dressing is mandatory for our players
• ALL players MUST bring their own water bottles and may only drink from their own. There is no sharing of water bottles allowed. Players wouldn't hit the ice without skates or a helmet, a water bottle is now part of their required equipment.

Please remember that we are renting our ice from Glacier and we MUST abide by the rules or we may be asked to leave the rink. We all want to have a fun and productive summer program and if we follow the rules we will.

Most importantly, we do not want to see any of our players, staff or parents test positive for COVID-19. This is for all of our safety.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

See you at the rink.

Thank you.

IceCats Board of Directors

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