ClearRink

Top 16U AAA teams are more similar than you think.

Here is how the 2025-26 season actually shaped up for Team Illinois and Chicago Reapers at the 16U level.

Two of the top programs in the country, and when you break down the schedules side by side, the gap is smaller than most families expect.

Out of state games, estimated hotel nights, schedule strength, and the caliber of opponents each team consistently faced throughout the year.

➡️Send this to a friend in the hockey community if you learned something new!

More FREE data-driven breakdowns at ClearRink.com (link in bio)

AAAHockey

97% of the sampled youth hockey teams have a practice-to-game ratio below what USA Hockey recommends.

USA Hockey’s senior director of player development puts the target at 3 practices for every 1 game. The reason is straightforward: a player touches the puck for roughly 60 seconds in a typical game. In a properly run practice, that number is closer to 30 minutes.

The ratios on ClearRink are calculated using practice hours vs. games played rather than raw session counts, so you’re getting a more apples-to-apples picture of where development time is actually going.

Ice costs and rink availability are real constraints for clubs in this market, so a lower ratio isn’t always a choice. But it’s a good question to ask before tryouts: what will the practice-to-game ratio look like for this program next season?

Leave anonymous club feedback so they know what to work on before next season!

➡️Send this to a fellow hockey parent or player if you learned something new!

➡️Save it for reference during tryout season!
Always FREE at ClearRink.com(link in bio)

Here is how the 2025-26 season actually shaped up for Chicago Mission and Chicago Reapers at the 14U level.

Two of the top youth hockey programs in the country, compared side by side.

Out-of-state games, estimated hotel nights, schedule variety, and the opponents each team faced most throughout the year.

➡️All schedule data sourced from club websites and verified game results. Comment who you want to see next or share if you learned something new!

Always FREE at ClearRink.com(link in bio)

27 Illinois youth hockey clubs made the cut for CSDHL 2026-27. But the league didn’t just grow. It reshuffled.

We pulled the full approvals list and compared it against the last two seasons. Here’s what makes that more interesting: CSDHL teams have to apply every single season. Selections are based on playing records, roster strength, coaching staff, and ice time allocation. The committee evaluates everything when making their final decision!

Swipe to see how your club is trending!

➡️ Send this to a hockey family weighing their options for next season!

Check out more FREE data-driven insights at ClearRink.com!

Shared ice sounds like a downgrade. The research says it can be a development tool.

We pulled practice data across hundreds of Illinois teams. At Mite and Sq**rt, high shared ice means 2x more puck touches. But the research flips at Peewee, and some Bantam clubs are still running 50-75% shared ice. ClearRink is here to provide you with the data you need for FREE to ask the right questions to club leadership.

➡️Send this to a hockey family evaluating clubs right now!

Check out more FREE data-driven insights at ClearRink.com!

AAA travel is intense. But does AA actually keep up?

We pulled the schedule data and compared Team Illinois AAA to one of the most-traveled AA club at the same age. The gap is real, but what’s even more interesting is the range within AA itself. Same level, same age group, nearly 2x swing in hotel nights depending on which club you choose.

➡️Send this to a hockey family if you learned something new!

Check out more FREE data-driven insights at ClearRink.com!

Some bantam hockey teams travel way more than others…

Out of state games, estimated hotel nights, schedule variety, and the opponents each team faced most throughout the year.

1️⃣Share this with a family who is weighing their Bantam options for next season!

2️⃣Save this post for later if you found it helpful!

3️⃣Keep an eye out for some more fun insights coming this weekend!

All schedule data sourced from club websites and verified game results. Comment who you want to see next! Always FREE at ClearRink.com

On the road again! Your kid starts the 8U season potentially visiting 7 states. By 16U, it’s 22.

We mapped the full travel arc of Illinois AA youth hockey by analyzing over 8,500 games across 20 clubs. Mite through Midget.

See more details broken down for FREE at ClearRink.com!

Before you pick a club, understand how an actual season looks for your age group.

➡️Send this to the hockey family starting a new age group this season!

One Illinois hockey club sends 67% of its out-of-state games to a single state. Most parents had no idea.

We pulled every game log from a sample of 20 Illinois hockey clubs across the 10U–16U travel seasons and the concentration tells an interesting story. The only real question is how far your weekends go.

Maybe Michigan driving distance works perfectly for your family. Maybe you want to plan around other destinations. The states with the highest concentration give you a real preview of what your season will look like over time with a club.

❓Which club surprised you the most?

❓Think your club’s travel schedule is balanced?

➡️Send this to another hockey parent before tryouts. The numbers tell a very different story than most families expect.

See more for FREE at ClearRink.com (link in bio)

🏒Peewees (12U) played more out of state games than the Bantams (14U) ???

Check out the Peewee Major travel and schedule comparison for Team Illinois and Windy City Storm!

Out of state games, estimated hotel nights, schedule variety, and the opponents each team faced most throughout the year.

➡️Swipe to check out all of our data driven insights gathered for this age group!

➡️Share this with a hockey family who would find it helpful!

➡️Comment which clubs you want to see next or what surprised you most!

*All schedule data sourced from club websites and verified game results. More at ClearRink.com (link in bio)