About
PREP Hockey Club is the combined hockey club representing three northwest suburban Illinois High School District 214 schools:
PREP fields teams at the Varsity and Junior Varsity levels and plays in the Illinois High School Hockey League North Central Division.
PREP High School Hockey Club, Inc. is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Donations to PREP are tax deductible.
New to PREP?
If you are interested in joining PREP Hockey Club and want to learn more, please reach out!
History
History and Highlights—The origins of PREP Hockey and the proud heritage we represent
2025
2013
PREP Hockey elects to field three teams for the fall/winter season. One playing at the Varsity level and two JV teams (Black and Gold).
2012
PREP Hockey is a key supporter in the development of the new Illinois High School Hockey League. IHSHL is the largest high school league in Illinois and includes both familiar rivals and some of the state's best teams.
PREP also hosts the first PREP Thanksgiving Showcase Tournament which will become an annual event.
2011
PREP launches a revamped website to provide information, schedules and pictures.
2009
Both JV and Varsity teams advance to the “Final 8” in state playoffs.
2010
Our JV team captures the JV Combined State title defeating a heavily-favored Rockford team.
2008
In a relatively short time, PREP Hockey developed to the point that its on-ice success matched its player and parent enthusiasm. The JV team finished 4th in the state playoffs.
2006
PREP Hockey becomes the official organization name; fielding a Varsity and JV team.
2005
PREP Hockey actually started its roots when the Palatine / Elk Grove team agreed to take on some players from Rolling Meadows.
Season Overview
A PREP fall season consists of approximately 50 games comprised of regular season league play, three tournaments, league playoffs, state playoffs and exhibition games. Players practice two to four times per week (usually 2–3 on-ice and 1 off-ice).
A PREP spring season consists of 8–10 games and one practice per week.
A list of events is shown below. Events with an * need parent volunteers to be successful. The Events page has more information.
PREP hosts the following events each fall season
- Pink at the Rink (October)
- Thanksgiving Showcase Tournament (November)
- Alumni Game (winter break)
- Winter Classic Outdoor Games (early January)
- Senior Night (late January)
- End-of-Season Banquet (March)
Each of these events is run by a committee of volunteer parents. Please contact one of our Board of Directors to volunteer for an event.
Pink at the Rink
PREP’s annual cancer awareness fundraiser event is held every October. All PREP teams play a home game at this event. A bake sale and raffle usually takes place at this event. The proceeds earned from this event are donated to a local cancer support group.
Thanksgiving Showcase Tournament
PREP hosts a hockey tournament during Thanksgiving weekend. Typically the tournament has three divisions and about twenty-six teams participate.
Alumni Game
Former PREP players that have graduated are invited back for a friendly game against PREP Varsity.
Winter Classic
Around New Years Day, all PREP teams play in an outdoor game. Teams are provided with food and hot chocolate.
Senior Night
Each season in late January PREP honors its seniors at a Varsity game. A reception is held before the game and all seniors dress for the game.
End-of-Season Banquet
After the season ends, PREP hosts a banquet for the entire club to celebrate the season’s accomplishments.
About High School Hockey
State
Illinois High School Hockey is run by the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI). Some high schools are big enough to have their own hockey clubs (sometimes referred to as “pure teams”), other high schools join together to create clubs (referred to as “combined teams”). PREP is the combined team of Elk Grove, Prospect and Rolling Meadows high schools in District 214.
Leagues
There are multiple high school hockey leagues in Illinois. PREP plays in the North Central Division league, which is the largest high school hockey league in Illinois.
Levels
Each league is divided into multiple levels based on skill. Smaller leagues have only one Varsity and one Junior Varsity level. Larger leagues have multiple Varsity and Junior Varsity levels.
The North Central Division has two Varsity levels and three Junior Varsity levels. PREP usually places one team in the top Varsity level, one team in the top JV level and one team in the middle JV level.
North Central Division League Play
The North Central Division fall season usually runs from early September through mid-January. There is normally an All-Star game in early January to showcase the top players at each level.
League Playoffs
North Central Division playoffs for all levels start in late January and last about four weeks.
Illinois State Championship
AHAI hosts the Illinois State Championship (also known as the Blackhawk Cup) in February and March each year. This is a single-elimination tournament to determine a state champion. There are separate brackets for high schools with their own teams and for combined teams. PREP plays in the combined team bracket.
Spring Hockey
PREP usually plays an eight week spring season in the West Meadows Spring Hockey League in April and May.