51st Year - Stan Mikita's Hockey School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Returns

Founded in 1973 by Chicago Blackhawk and National Hockey League Hall of Fame member Stan Mikita and Chicago businessman Irv Tiahnybik, the Stan Mikita Hockey School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing- AHIHA is hosting its 51st annual week-long hockey school for deaf and hard of hearing athletes June 8-15, 2023 at the Edge Ice Arena, 735 E. Jefferson St., Bensenville, IL


The Stan Mikita Hockey School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing- AHIHA is one of the most unique training and development camps for young athletes in the United States. With current and former professional hockey players serving as coaches, the hockey school uses on-ice interpreters to convey instructions and advice to players via sign language. Players wear letters on their helmets to alert interpreters whether they are conversant in lip reading (“L”) or sign language (“S”). Approximately 74 young athletes from across the country are enrolled in this year’s hockey school and will skate on one of four skill-level based hockey teams— Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshmen, Girls and Beginner. The school does not charge fees for athletes to attend its hockey school, all expenses incurred by the team or players (ice, time, lodging, equipment, etc.) are paid for by critical donations the organization seeks each year.


In addition to rigorous daily on-ice training and practice sessions, AHIHA teams play evening games against Chicago area hockey teams and clubs. The organization also just completed organizing and hosting its inaugural Jeff Sauer International Deaf Hockey Series in Buffalo, NY.

This international series included top world class athletes from Czechoslovakia, Finland, Canada and the USA and Women’s teams from Canada and USA. Previous AHIHA teams have played in past World Winter Deaflympics and World games and will do so in the future.

“We’ve achieved a lot in the last 50 years and are excited for all the new avenues ahead of us to grow and expand our opportunities for this organization,” said Kevin Delaney, AHIHA president and also the skating and skills coach for the past 13 years with the NHL Chicago Blackhawks.

“Nearly 3,000 deaf and hard of hearing athletes have been coached and trained at our school, our teams have won gold, silver and bronze medals at major international winter sports competitions and the vast majority of our athletes have used our school as a springboard to successful high school, college and junior hockey careers. We are very proud of our accomplishments over the years and are looking forward to continuing to serve the deaf and hard of hearing community for many years to come.”

The Stan Mikita Hockey School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing – AHIHA, is the first and leading sports organizations in the United States serving deaf and hard of hearing athletes. The school’s mission is to instill confidence and self esteem in deaf and hard of hearing individuals, primarily through AHIHA-sponsored clinics, camps and related hockey activities.

Stan Mikita Hockey School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
ahiha.org
9345 Harding Ave. Evanston, IL 60203