Spring Travel (SQ/PW/BTM)

The Northbrook Bluehawks are excited to announce our 2023 Spring Hockey Program! This program will begin with evaluations to determine team placement. All players/teams will be on the ice approximately 3 times per week. We have restructured our program to include more tournaments/games this year. Each team will play 2-4 local games and participate in 2 tournaments. Our vision is focused toward optimal player development and unique competitive tournament experiences. Our practice schedule will have an emphasis on skills/positional drills, small area games/scrimmages, and team practices run by our elite hockey staff. Players planning on returning for the Fall 2023-24 season are strongly encouraged to play to continue his/her player development. GO BLUEHAWKS!

Please keep in mind that second year players in the fall will move up a level in the Spring. Birth years for spring as follows:

Squirt: 2013-2014

Peewee: 2011-2012

Bantam: 2009-2010

The season will run from March 8 through May 24. There will be nothing scheduled during Spring Break, March 24 to April 2.

While we strive to provide a consistent ice schedule, please know that the Sports Center also has other events that will impact the ice schedule each team skates that we do not have control over. As a general rule, here is when our teams and groups will be on the ice:

Squirt Travel: Tuesdays 7:00 & Wednesdays 7:00

Peewee Travel: Mondays 7:00 & Thursdays 7:30

Bantam Travel: Mondays 8:15 & Wednesdays 8:15

Additionally, we have incorporated what we are calling the "Blue-White Games" which will involve the use of small-area games in a 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 format designed to increase puck touches and creativity in our players. Each group can expect 4 or 5 of these either on Friday nights or Sunday mornings.

Each team will follow 3 weekly sessions:

Stick Spin/ American Development Model (ADM) with Bluehawk Staff / Positional Specific Training (Session 1): First skate of every week will consist of skill work. Cody Murphy, Hockey Director, will run his StickSpin clinics which focus on stick handling and puck control. StickSpin is a program with 10+ years of history in the North Shore, with alumni in the NHL/NCAA ranks. Here is a video testimony:

These sessions will include other skill based training such as power skating, shooting etc. Players will also be split into groups (Forward/Defense split) to focus on positional specific training.

Team Practice (Session 2): Each team will have a weekly team practice to help prepare for game play.

Blue & White Games(Session 3): Scrimmages 3v3, 4v4, 5v5 and small area games.

Developing and investing in our goaltenders is a huge part of the Northbrook Bluehawks Spring Program. All goaltenders will have at least nine on-ice goalie-specific training clinics with our Goalie Coach Rob Schmidt. During these on-ice sessions, goalies will master fundamentals and build a strong foundation. Each session will focus on skill development such as skating, angles, positioning, save selection, playing the puck, post integration, and more. Training tools such as mini pucks, white pucks, screen boards, deflection boards, vision goggles, the pro angle, and focus enhancers will be implemented in these sessions. Off the ice, goaltenders will develop a strong mental game, get individual feedback/reviews with Rob, have video sessions, and dryland training.

Each team will play in 2-4 local games (TBD) in addition to 2 tournaments. We anticipate sending the Squirt AA, Peewee AA, and Bantam AA teams to the Toronto May Madness and one of the local tournaments below.

Tournament Slate

Toronto May Madness: North York, Ontario (5 game guarantee)

Battle on the Boarder: Pleasant Prairie, WI

Glacier Invitational: Vernon Hills, IL

Krolak Cup (Bantam Only) : Northbrook, IL

Tournament schedule by team

Bantam AA - Coaches Luke Sandler & Fritz Pickard

• Krolak Cup - April 21-23
• Toronto May Madness - May 5-7

Bantam A - Coaches Allan Hirsch & John Kazarian

• Krolak Cup - April 21-23
• Glacier Invitational - May 18-21

Bantam A2 - Coaches Woody Steinken & Ron Carlstrom

• Battle of the Border - May 5-7
• Glacier Invitational - May 18-21

Pee-Wee AA - Coaches Cody Murphy & Sophie Skarzynski

• Battle of the Border - April 28-30
• Toronto May Madness - May 5-7

Pee-Wee A - Woody Steinken & Tom Harrison

• Battle of the Border - April 28-30
• Glacier Invitational - May 18-21

Squirt AA - Coaches Cody Murphy & Kip Poncher

• Battle of the Border - April 14-16
• Toronto May Madness - May 5-7

Squirt A - Coaches Bob Anderson and Eric Anderson

• Battle of the Border - April 14-16
• Glacier Invitational - May 18-21

Squirt A2 - Coaches Allan Hirsch, Cody Murphy, Kenny Johnson, and TBD



• Battle of the Border - April 14-16
• 7 Local Games