Wilmette Wing Kellan Payne Driven For Hockey, Soccer Success

By Ross Forman
Kellan Payne, a left wing for the Wilmette Jr. Trevians, has a direct approach to the game: “to be better today than I was yesterday,” he said.

Payne, 12, who lives in Wilmette and is in sixth grade at Highcrest Middle School, played for the Jr. Trevians peewee 1 team this past season and is looking to skate for the club’s peewee major team in the fall.

He formerly skated for the Hudson Valley Riverhawks and the West Point Junior Black Knights, both in New York. He wears jersey No. 28 and was a CSDHL squirt major champion during the 2024-25 season. That season, he also scored a key game-tying goal en route to the championship.

Payne is an aggressive, fast skater who said beating the Vipers for the first time in the playoffs this past season was a season highlight.

Payne, who also plays soccer for FC United, said scoring a hat trick against the Blues was a career highlight.

Slapshots With … Wilmette Jr. Trevians WinG Kellan Payne

Off Ice: Plays soccer and bike jumps at a park in Evanston
It Helps: Soccer footwork drills
Superstitions on the Ice: “Never unbuckle side straps on my helmet.”
Long-term Career Goals: Play hockey or soccer in college
Favorite NHL Team: Washington Capitals
Favorite NHL Player: Alex Ovechkin
Favorite Sports-themed Movie: GOAT
Favorite TV Show: Blackish
Motivational Song: Let ‘Em Know by T.I.
Favorite Pre-game Meal: Breakfast bagel sandwich
Favorite app: Spotify
Celebrity You’d Like To Meet: Alex Ovechkin or Bukayo Saka