The Chicago Hawks Hockey Club (“Club”) is committed to developing individuals with “leadership, commitment and outstanding character” on and off the ice.  To that end, we will require strict adherence to the following social media and electronics communications policy by all Club members, coaches, and their families as a condition of their participation in the Club:

The Club will not tolerate its members participating in any form of electronic communication that is deemed by its Rules and Ethics Committee to be derogatory, hateful, vengeful, or otherwise disrespectful to the Club, any member of the Club, any coach of the Club, or any other person(s) associated with any other hockey club or organization. This includes, but is not limited to, communications deemed harmful to the goodwill or reputation of the Club, any member of the Club, any coach of the Club, or any other person(s) associated with any other hockey club or organization.  This further includes, but is not limited to, sending a text or email about the Club, any member of the Club, any coach of the Club, or any other person(s) associated with any other hockey club or organization that is intended to abuse, bully, humiliate, or harass.

Any communications that are deemed to violate this policy will be reviewed by the Club’s Rules and Ethics committee for possible sanctions up to and including expulsion from the Club and further reporting to AHAI.

Each Hawk Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, and Midget family is required to donate eight (8) hours of their time at Chicago Hawks Hockey Club event(s) or pay a buy-out fee of $300. NOTE:  If a family has a Peewee, Bantam, or Midget player AND another player at either the Mite or Squirt level, that family must complete eight (8) hours to fulfill the Volunteer Obligation Policy. Families agreeing to fulfill the Volunteer Obligation Policy agree to make a separate $300 credit card deposit through the link provided by the Chicago Hawks after team selection is finalized no later than September 30th, 2023. The $300 credit card deposit will be refunded within 30 days after the volunteer commitment has been fulfilled. If a family does not complete the full eight hours of service by March 31st of 2024, they will forfeit the entire $300 deposit and no refund will be issued. All volunteer hours must be completed by March 31, 2024. Volunteer slots are added throughout the season. The volunteer commitment and fee are per family, not per player. Volunteer hours are awarded for support of the Hawks Hockey Club programs and not for team specific functions. DIBS hours are not transferable to other families. Volunteer slots must be fulfilled by adults. The only exception to this requirement is Learn to Skate “on ice” help, which ONLY PeeWee-Midget level Hawks players are eligible to assist. If you have any questions regarding volunteering, please consult the CHHC Volunteer Policy or email our Volunteer Coordinator, Suzy Ravasio at  secretary@chicagohawks.com, with any questions.

The Chicago Hawks logo is the property of the organization.  Club approval is required for its use.  All Chicago Hawks logo merchandise must be coordinated through our Spirit Wear Coordinator, Erin Blanco, who will coordinate through the CHHC Board of Directors.  If there is a desire to create an item for fundraising and/or team gifts, managers should contact Erin and she will assist you with the request.  She can be reached at spiritwear@chicagohawks.com.  Items cannot conflict with Spirit Wear items the club sells.  Items also cannot conflict with what other Chicago Hawks’ teams are selling.  Any sales outside of Spirit Wear are not the responsibility of the Chicago Hawks Hockey Club.  When selling any items, the team needs to properly identify the level and team name selling the product.

Any player, who in the opinion of a coach, athletic trainer, or physician exhibits any signs, symptoms, or behavior consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from play and practice.  The player may not return to play and/or practice without written clearance by a qualified healthcare professional.

The Chicago Hawks require red helmets for players on all teams (excluding In-House, Silver Mites, and goalies).  Players who do not have the required red helmet by 10/01/2020 will not be allowed to play in league and/or tournament games.  For the 2020-2021 season, matching shells/covers will be provided to go over the player’s pants.

• Northern Illinois Hockey League (NIHL) Slush Fund Policy - The parent/guardian of the player agrees to pay their player’s portion of the team's slush fund.  The slush fund can cover a variety of team expenses including, but not limited to, scorekeepers for regular season games, playoff-related expenses like Blackhawk Cup and NIHL Blackhawks Tournament games, scrimmage games, referee costs, coaches' gifts, practice jerseys, team parties, and tournaments.  The parent/guardian also agrees to pay their portion of tournament-related expenses.  Please be prepared - some teams may choose to participate in tournaments early in the season, as early as the end of September.  Tournaments can be either local and/or out of state/country which will be determined by the majority of the team or head coach.  The parent/guardian is responsible for paying their portion of the tournament fees and head coach’s hotel room(s).  If the team has a non-parent assistant coach, the assistant coach’s hotel room(s) will also be covered by the team.  (Maximum of two coaches’ hotel rooms per tournament).  Parent/guardian will pay their portion of the slush fund regardless of whether their player is able to participate in the tournament(s).  Payment will be made to the team manager. 
• Northwest Hockey League (NWHL) Slush Fund Policy - The parent/guardian of the player agrees to pay their player’s portion of the team's slush fund.  The slush fund can cover a variety of team expenses including, but not limited to, scorekeepers for regular season games, playoff-related expenses, scrimmage games, referee costs, coaches' gifts, team parties, and tournaments.  The parent/guardian also agrees to pay their portion of tournament-related expenses for at least two tournaments of the team’s or head coach’s choice.  Please be prepared - some teams may choose to participate in tournaments early in the season, as early as the end of September.  At least one tournament will be local. The second tournament can be either local or out of state which will be determined by the majority of the team or head coach. The parent/guardian is responsible for paying their portion of the tournament fees and head coach’s hotel room if they do not have a player on the team.  If the team has a non-parent assistant coach, the assistant coach’s hotel room(s) will also be covered by the team. (Maximum of two coaches’ hotel rooms per tournament).  Parent/guardian will pay their portion of the slush fund regardless of whether their player is able to participate in the tournament(s).  Payment will be made to the team manager. 
• Central States Developmental Hockey League (CSDHL) Slush Fund Policy - The parent/guardian of the player agrees to pay their player’s portion of the team's slush fund.  The slush fund can cover a variety of team expenses including, but not limited to, scorekeepers and trainers for regular season games, playoff-related expenses like Blackhawk Cup and playoff games, scrimmage games, referee costs, coaches' gifts, practice jerseys, team parties, and tournaments.  The parent/guardian also agrees to pay their portion of tournament/league game-related expenses.  Please be prepared - some teams may participate in tournaments/league games out of town early in the season, as early as September.  Tournaments/league games can be either local and/or out of state/country which will be determined by the league, majority of the team, or head coach.  The parent/guardian is responsible for paying their portion of the tournament fees and head coach’s hotel room(s).  If the team has a non-parent assistant coach, the assistant coach’s hotel room(s) will also be covered by the team.  (Maximum of two coaches’ hotel rooms per tournament/league games). Hotel expenses will also apply to league games out of town.  Parent/guardian will pay their portion of the slush fund regardless of whether their player is able to participate in the tournament(s)/league games.  Payment will be made to the team manager. 
• For All Players - If at any time during the current season the parent/guardian cannot/will not pay the slush funds due to the manager, their player will NOT be able to practice or play in any scheduled games.  The player will not be able to participate until payment has been made or an arrangement has been approved by the Chicago Hawks Hockey Club Board of Directors.  If a head coach is a parent, grandparent, or other relative of a player on the team, the team is not required to pay for the head coach’s hotel room(s).  This shall be the case so long as the head coach and respective player share a hotel room. 

The Hawks injury policy allows a proration of fees to any player who is off the ice for a period greater than six weeks due to an injury that occurs on-ice during a Hawks game or practice.  A note from a medical doctor confirming the injury is required.  COVID-19 diagnoses/absences are excluded  and therefore not eligible for a refund under this policy.

For purposes of the refund policy, we assume that the season starts September 1 and ends on the last day of February – so a 181-day season.  For example, if a family paid $2,000 for their player for the season, it breaks down to $11.04/day.  If the player is injured and misses seven weeks of hockey, you are entitled to a $540.96 refund (49 days X $11.04/day).   If you have any questions, please contact Heather Alpe, Treasurer, at treasurer@chicagohawks.com.