STAN MIKITA HOCKEY SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
JUNE 14-21, 2025
Bensenville, Illinois
OFFICIAL PLAYER REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
PLEASE FOLLOW BELOW INSTRUCTIONS TO REGISTER - STAFF LINK TO COME LATER
We are thrilled to invite you to register for the AHIHA-Stan Mikita Hockey School, taking place during the week of June 14-21, 2025. Registration for the camp is now open, and we encourage you to complete the registration process for your player. Additionally, for those accompanying the players, we kindly ask you to complete the necessary registration steps as well.
We understand you may have questions as you prepare for the camp, and we want to assure you that we are here to provide you with all the information and support you need. As the camp dates approach, we will ensure that you receive detailed guidance to make your experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
To kick-start your preparation, please follow these steps:
- Complete the registration through the registration link
- Book your hotel room for the dates of camp.
- Fill out the requested forms and links included on this page.
Before you begin, a few notes on registration:
- Before you begin you will need a current USA Hockey Membership number
- Please enter the players name as the main participant’s name.
- If the player does not have an email, please enter the parents’ email.
- Parent information – please enter the parent, guardian, sibling names in the guests’ names attending camp.
- The names provided will be the names on the name tags during camp.
- Annual banquet: you will be asked to provide the number of family members attending the annual banquet on Wednesday evening. Please remember banquet seating is reserved for registered guests of the players immediate family attending camp. We cannot accommodate additional guests.
Step 1 – Click REGISTRATION LINK BELOW to complete registration for camp.
Step 2 -Reserve your hotel accommodations:
Players/participants are required to make their own hotel reservation at the host hotel Hyatt Place Itasca through the hotel registration provided link. AHIHA has blocked rooms that are available first come first serve until May 1, 2025. Room rates vary between $139 – $149 per night plus tax/fees for a king room with a sofa bed or two double beds. All room types include daily breakfast. Note – players are required to stay at the hotel unless commuting from home in the local area.
Hyatt Place Chicago/Itasca,1150 North Arlington Heights Rd. Itasca IL 60143 (630) 875-1400
Step 3 -Please review and complete the participant release and code of conduct forms:
Players, or Parent if player is under 18 must complete the participant release and code of conduct. The links below will take you directly to the form to complete the electronic document. Both participant and code of conduct forms are required to be completed at time of registration.
Participant Release: Click HERE to complete
Code of Conduct: Click HERE to complete
All the above information must be completed before you arrive at the hockey school. If you have any questions, please email becky@ahiha.org.
Established by Stan Mikita – NHL Hockey Hall of Fame Member
In 1973, Chicago Blackhawks Hall of Famer Stan Mikita helped start a hockey school for young players who were deaf or hard of hearing the school was the idea of Chicago businessman Irv Tiahnybik, whose son Lex was discriminated against because he was deaf. Tiahnybik wanted to create a safe place for his son to play hockey, so he enlisted the help of his friend, Mikita. “Irv said to Stan, “Hey, what are you doing this summer?” And Stan said, “I’m playing golf.” He goes, “no, you’re not. You’re running a school.”The first AHIHA Stan Mikita Hockey School was a tremendous success. Thirty-one deaf and hard of hearing boys from several states ventured to Chicago for a week’s worth of instruction and fun. Tiahnybik was also instrumental in bringing the AHIHA organization into USA Hockey as a disabled discipline. Over the years, the hockey school has continued to attract new players with many of the early team members returning to the ice as well. The first benefit game between Mikita’s All Stars and the AHIHA Varsity Squad was held in 1975, the second year of the school, and has become a crowd pleaser every year since. In fact, Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita skated together again at the 1983 benefit game. Besides Mikita, many hockey greats have graced the camp with their time over the years such as, Cliff Koroll, Bobby Hull, Tony Esposito, Keith Magnuson, Grant Mulvey, Chris Chelios and Bobby Orr to name a few. The school helps athletes who are deaf or hard of hearing achieve goals beyond hockey by developing confidence and self-esteem through the game of hockey. Participants will experience a new outlook on life, the opportunity of making new friends, sharing a common bond of hockey, life experiences and a positive environment.