Building the Future

The Chicago Wolves have made a major commitment toward helping cultivate youth hockey in Illinois and to that end, the organization hosted the AHAI Illinois State High School Championships on March 6 and March 15, respectively, at Allstate Arena.

In January, the Wolves and the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI) announced that the American Hockey League franchise is the new host of the boys and girls state championships and when the dust settled, it was clear the events were a rousing success with players, coaches and fans.

Hosting the championships gave the student-athletes an opportunity to compete on the same ice used by the Wolves throughout the AHL season, elevating the experience for both the boys and girls competing for state titles. That atmosphere was felt across all three championship games, as players took in the full professional setting—from the pregame introductions to the in-game presentation.

Included in the festivities was a special appearance by two-time Olympic gold medalist for Team USA and PWHL star Kendall Coyne Schofield, who dropped the ceremonial first puck prior to the Girls State Championship on March 15, won by New Trier over Fenwick.

“It’s important that both the boys and the girls are playing in the same building,” Coyne Schofield said. “For a lot of the kids growing up here, they’ve been to Allstate Arena plenty of times and seen those fiery paws (from mascot Skates) before Wolves games. I remember that profoundly from my childhood. For a lot of the kids, it’s very awesome to be able to play in this building and it’s awesome for the Wolves to step up and host them and make it feel better than their daily games.”

On March 6, the boys took center stage with two championship games. In Game One, BGHW–featuring players from Buffalo Grove, Hersey and Wheeling–defeated Maine, with players from Maine East, Maine South and Maine West for the Combined Varsity title.

“This was a great game-day experience,” BGHW coach Chris Waters said. “The scoreboard, the lights around the banners, the pregame experience. This is the first time we’ve done it here. It was a great experience for the players, the coaches, and the fans. To do it here in this environment makes it that much more special.”

The second boys event featured the Red Varsity championship, which St. Viator took home by topping New Trier.

“Incredible—just incredible to give them the pro experience,” St. Viator coach Tim Benz said. “The way we were treated (at Allstate Arena) was second to none, so it was fantastic for these kids.”

For many players, skating in a professional arena made the moment even more memorable. For seniors especially, it provided the chance to close out their high school careers, competing for a state championship in an unforgettable atmosphere.

“They’re in a big, professional arena, so it makes it special. And it should be special, it’s the State Championship games,” Coyne Schofield said.