Hello Vipers Hockey Families,

I would like to officially welcome everyone to the inaugural spring season of Vipers Hockey.  As you know, in order to eliminate confusion surrounding the different Tier II (Travel) and Tier III (House) programs in our area, the Tier II program formerly known as the Maulers will begin skating under the new name “Vipers” beginning this spring.  We anticipate this program to be the travel program into which the following house programs feed:

• Maulers Tier III (house) run out of Rink Side
• Pleasant Prairie Patriots Tier III (house) run out of RecPlex
• Predators Mite House run out of Rink Side
• Eagles Mite Travel run out of RecPlex*
• Eagles Mite House run out of RecPlex

*Because Mite hockey in Illinois has fallen largely under AAU and not USA Hockey governance, the Vipers will not field a Tier II (travel) mite team. 

With access to 3 sheets of ice (2 in PP and 1 at Rink Side) and the foundation that the Maulers Hockey Association has built, which includes 11 NIHL teams and at least one of which that will be playing for a Gold A division championship this upcoming weekend, we are very excited to usher in this new era of youth hockey in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.  Not only have we made progress towards developing a truly elite hockey program, but we believe we have instilled a culture grounded in the philosophy of using sports teach life lessons and develop better citizens. 

With a view towards competing at the very highest levels of Tier II hockey, we have modified our spring hockey program this year such that it will be a travel only program in which we will form teams that will compete in tournaments only; we will no longer be competing in the North Shore spring league that we have in the past.  This aligns us with many of the other NIHL teams that have already transitioned to this format.  Our Hockey Director, Rodger Sykes, along with Brian Luburich of the RecPlex have put together a program that represents what I sincerely believe to be the best value for spring hockey anywhere in our area.  The details are as follows:

• 2 On Ice practices per week
• 1 BTE session per week
• 2 tournaments (teams will have discretion to enter a 3rd tournament on a team by team basis which would not be covered by spring dues)
• Vipers travel head coaches will lead all spring teams
• ​- Boys/Coed: $575 ($400 for goalies)
• - All Girls: $475 ($400 for goalies)  (No tournaments included in price)

Please note that both Rink Side and Pleasant Prairie will continue to offer house-level spring programs. 

I hope everyone is as excited as I am to take the hockey program we have all built together to the next level.  Please follow the link below to our spring hockey registration.

As always, thank you for your support and don’t hesitate to contact Rodger, Brian or me with any questions or comments.

Thank you,

Craig Bewick

President, Maulers (for now) and Vipers Hockey