September 2026 / Issue 14

Forward this email to your friends and tell them to click to register for TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE - it's an opportunity to share the great sport of ice hockey with the community! Registration closes 9/30 or when filled.

FALL in love with the ice this season in our Learn to Skate USA Group Lessons! We prorate, so you're not late. Start after soccer, football or cheer - the ice will be here!

Every Group Lesson skater receives our unique VIP Skate Card that offers 12 Fall Sessions at Public Skate, Stick & Puck, or VIP Practice Ice for figure skaters. That's a value of $144 per session. We believe routine practice is key to success, no matter which ice sport you pursue.

Ready to take your hockey skills to the next level? Whether you are in Hockey 2 through 4, or looking for another ice touch in addition to your Stingers or Junior Jacket schedules, Excel Hockey provides an opportunity to tune-up on hockey skating and skills. Our one-of-a-kind 45 minute specialty class takes place Tuesdays at 5:30pm and is the perfect place to work on all the fundamentals that can take your game to the next level.

Come out this weekend to support Yellowjacket Hockey on and off the ice. A full schedule of home games plus fantastic raffle baskets are on tap - "bee" there for all the fun!

Next week, skaters in figure Group Lessons will begin to learn Holiday Exhibition routines during free time. Skaters will have the choice to sign up to perform to one of three songs on November 22. For more information and to register, visit the Holiday Exhibition page on our web site.

Scott Skinger (Director of the Sticks & Stones Hockey League) and Justin Baugher (Commissioner of Gold Line Hockey) will be operating the new men’s league at the Crystal Ice House, replacing Midwest Hockey for the upcoming Fall/Winter 2026-27 season. Their goal over the next year will be to transform and rebuild the Adult Hockey Program at CIH to ensure that anyone interested in playing hockey in the area has a fun, safe, competitive league to play in…from beginners to life long players.

Coach Zane, Arina, and Anna made the trek to the Skating Club of Boston for the 2026 Excel National Festival and Final this July. Anna and Arina competed as Open Competitors in Aspire 1 and Aspire 4, respectively. In addition to the competition, they got to participate in off-ice classes and meet members of Team USA. If your skater is interested in competing, stop by the office to chat with Skating Director Kim Johnson about local competitions and the path to the Excel Series that Arina and Anna experienced.

Congratulations to Mati Martinez and Coach Susie Wynne on qualifying for U.S. Figure Skating's 2026 Solo Dance Final in Kalamazoo, MI. Mati has been training hard during our morning Unlimited Ice sessions, inspiring younger skaters with her dedication and skill in Solo Dance. Mati finished 10th in the nation in the Senior Solo Combined Dance category - well done!

Fall Hockey season is getting underway, and some YJ teams have already taken on local and travel tournaments. Congrats to YJ's 2016s on conquering Howie's Hometown Cup in Grand Rapids, MI, and to Landon Tipps on being named 200x85 Player of the Game in the Championship against the West Dundee Leafs!

Congrats to the YJ Summer 3V3 League teams who claimed victory this August.

Have the "Inside Edge" on a skating story? Click here to send us an email!

Wondering about the path from Learn to Skate USA to playing on a hockey team or competitive figure skating? Click on our Basic Skills (above) and Hockey (below) FUNdamentals graphics to get an idea of where group lessons can take you.

For the next few months, our usual Sunday morning Stick & Puck session will not be available. Please take note if you are a regular or use your VIP Skate Card from Group Lessons during that session. As soon as we can offer it again, it will be back!

Facility Update

As we encourage everyone to "FALL in love with the ice this season" you may have noticed our facility getting a little love in the form of fresh paint, new ceilings, and even new walls.

We removed the doors from our restrooms and created new walled entries to improve access and airflow. Door jambs were refinished and the north lobby walls were refreshed with white and black paint to complete the project.

Locker Room upgrades continued over the summer with ceiling, lighting, and ventilation replacement completed in the West and East rinks. Paint and finish work is next on the punch list.

As often happens with home renovations, our steps forward were met with a brief setback when two of our compressors failed just as the fall season was beginning. We worked fast to secure two new units, accomplishing the delivery and installation within one week. Fortunately, the repairs had no impact on rink operations and all scheduled ice slots were accommodated.

While on the subject of aging equipment, we are still actively raising money from families and friends of the Ice House in support of Firewagon Hockey's Ice Resurfacer Fund. Every gift makes a difference in this impending large expense.

Finally, as fall hockey season picks up and we host tournaments like Yellowjackets' Camp Crystal Lake Tournament and 200x85's CCM World Invite, we ask all of our families to help us put our best foot forward, in both action and appearance. Please extend respect to fellow patrons; remind your children not to play floor hockey or throw balls in the lobby, rinks, or locker rooms; help us keep newly painted walls clean; and treat your home rink like you would your home. Together we can keep our spaces clean and safe for everyone, and focus on what we do best - provide a space to celebrate ice sports in our community.

David Lichterman

General Manager

Give to the Ice Resurfacer Fund

With hockey season underway, you may want to add a session of private coaching to your player's schedule. When taking private lessons, the skater pays the Coach (a private contractor) and the rink (for ice) separately.

Hockey skaters taking private lessons with a Coach need to pay for their ice time in advance ONLINE. This is the preferred method of payment for ice. Simply visit our web site and click REGISTER and choose "Private Hockey Ice Working with a Coach" for the specific date needed.

Private hockey ice is available in half hour increments at $14 per half hour. Contact the Rink Office for information on pros who offer private hockey lessons.

Live Barn allows you to watch events at the Crystal Ice House and many other facilities throughout the country. It provides a great opportunity for relatives who can't attend in person to watch their loved ones skate. Save 10% when you sign up with code: 050d-330d

Thank You To Our Advertisers!

Every advertising spot at Crystal Ice House helps us keep ice affordable in our community. Please show our advertisers support around town!

The Woodstock Independent

Encore Memory Care

Sticks & Stones Hockey League

Pro Stock Hockey

Jason the Mason

Karina Hiselman - Realtor

At Crystal Ice House, advertising is more than a billboard. We offer lobby table set-ups, social media shoutouts, and opportunities for advertisers to be a part of our community events. When you advertise with us, you're part of the family. Reach out today to get started!

Spirit Wear Shops

Tell your friends at Chicagoland hockey clubs that Yellowjackets are hosting the 1st Annual Camp Crystal Lake Tournament October 23-25, 2026. Scare up some teams, encourage them to register online, and be ready to come out and cheer for your favorite black and yellow teams.

8/24/26 - 11/21/26 - Fall Group Lesson Session (we prorate for missed classes)

9/25/26 - 9/27/26 - YJ Weekend (Home Games & Raffle Baskets)

10/3/26 - Try Hockey for Free

10/12/26 - WWFSC Test Session

10/23/26 - 10/25/26 - Camp Crystal Lake Tournament Weekend

11/6/26 - 11/8/26 - CCM World Invite Tournament Weekend

11/22/26 - Holiday Exhibition

11/26/26 - Closed for Thanksgiving Day

11/30/26 - 3/6/27 - Winter Group Lesson Session (we prorate for missed classes)

12/4/26 - WWFSC Test Session

12/24/26 - 12/25/26 - Closed for Christmas

1/1/27 - Closed for New Years

2/17/27 - Ice Show Tryouts

3/8/27 - 5/20/27 - Spring Group Lesson Session (we prorate for missed classes)

3/13/27 - 3/14/27 - Illinois High School Competition at Crystal Ice House

3/28/27 - Closed for Easter

4/11/27 - Ice Show Picture Day

4/16/27 - 4/18/27 - CCM Chi-Town Shuffle Tournament Weekend

5/7/27 - 5/8/27 - WWFSC Excel Competition

5/21/27 - 5/23/27 - Spring Ice Show

5/29/27 - 5/31/27 - Closed for Memorial Day Weekend

6/7/27 - 8/11/27 - Summer Group Lesson Session (we prorate for missed classes)

We’re not your average ice arena! Most rinks in our area are owned by corporations or park districts. Crystal Ice House is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fire Wagon Hockey, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Fire Wagon purchased the Crystal Ice House in 2011 from its original owner to further our mission to make ice sports accessible in our community. As the only ice arena in McHenry County, we hope you feel welcome every time you set foot inside our facility. You’re part of the family!

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