Now that the State Tournament Finals are all in the books and our Showcase Team is warming up for their trip to St. Louis, we will take a deep breath and start evaluating the past season. The High School Committee will meet in the near future to examine where we made progress this season and where we should be aiming for the future. The elimination of the White Division and the new brackets that were put into effect this year will be reviewed. The status of combined hockey in both boys and girls, the use of the 7 up - 7 down rule and its effect on competition are being discussed. Double and dual rostering will also be examined.

 

Once the committee discusses these subjects, a survey will be constructed that will most likely be sent to the presidents and hockey directors of our High School clubs. That information will come back to the committee and suggestions as well as new ideas will be discussed and proposals for rule changes will be brought forward.

 

Similarly, there will be a girls High School only meeting again this summer to see where there is room for expansion and examine the combinations that make up the majority of the girls teams. We’ll look at the existing geography and the proposals for viable new teams. We will make a concerted effort to protect the viability of existing clubs while expanding the footprint to include more schools.

 

Enjoy the Spring and Summer and get some sunshine and fresh air.

New Trier was ready to break it open, already leading 2-0 in the 2019 Illinois High School Hockey Girls State Championship Game. Sabrina Shvartsman and Ella Huber each tallied for the Trevians, who were looking to stop No. 1-ranked Fenwick, a co-op club representing Fenwick, OPRF, Trinity, Guerin Prep and York.

“We didn’t play particularly well in the first 10 minutes of the game and found ourselves in a hole,” said Fenwick head coach Mason Strom. “But no one panicked, or got unsure of themselves. Instead, I think we got more confident, even when down two goals.”

New Trier Green sat in the locker room March 3 at the North Shore Ice Arena in Northbrook, having just lost 2-0 to Loyola Gold in the Scholastic Hockey League Championship Game.

Every Trevian was sad, disappointed. The Trevian coaching staff was sad, disappointed. Head coach Bob Melton looked around the room and reminded everyone that tomorrow is a new day – and the team’s ultimate, season-long goal of winning the state championship was still obtainable.

The co-op Waubonsie Valley hockey team returned to the ice from winter break on Jan. 3, with a 4-1 victory over Naperville Central. But then the team lost its next three games, falling to Glenbard, Wheaton West and Naperville North.

Waubonsie regrouped with back to back wins: 5-3 over Maine on Jan. 19 and 5-2 over Neuqua the next night. They then lost 6-3 to Hinsdale Central on Jan. 21. Waubonsie was done losing at that point – for the rest of the season.

Matteo Garland has played the past four seasons for the Saint Viator JV team and “since day one he has been a leader on and off ice,” said JV head coach Vince Conenna.

Garland, 17, was an assistant captain as a sophomore and the captain each of the past two years.

Hayes-Suburban Division

By Ron Abels - The Hayes-Suburban High School League brought their season to a close with the awarding of the league’s championships in their various divisions. Brooms were out in full force for the finals in in all three of the leagues divisions. All of the Championship series were decided in two game sweeps. Click button below to read the full Hayes-Suburban League Championships wrap-up.

MB Ice Arena is proud to host a showcase highlighting local and regional talent for juniors and seniors in high school and current junior hockey players. The goal for this event is to educate and create an opportunity for players to showcase their interest and talents in front of top ACHA Programs. With 10 of the top ACHA schools already committed, and more to come, this event will be unlike any other event in the area. Players will have multiple opportunities to showcase their skills to various programs on and off the ice.

By William Douglas - McKendree University goalie Jazmin Malinowski gives people the side eye when they dismiss her team and others like it as playing glorified beer-league hockey."They hear 'club hockey' and they're, like, 'You just go out there and mess around,' but there's no messing around," she said. "We practice Monday through Friday, we have three 6 a.m. practices, we work out three times a week and we travel for games almost every weekend. We're serious."