During a weekend showcase in Cleveland last January, Saint Viator played Academie Ste. Cecil of Windsor, Ontario, where Lions head coach Tim Benz talked hockey with his counterpart from the Canadian school, Robb Serviss.
“He informed that they play in the very competitive Midwest Prep Hockey League but are looking to join another league for more meaningful league games and overall structure,” said Benz, aware of the MPHL from his stint on the Loyola Gold bench. “I told him we would be very interested in that as well.”
The two stayed in contact and contacted other schools across North America to inquire about forming a new league.
This past May, the Great Lakes Prep Hockey League (GLPHL) was formed – and play starts this fall with six founding members: Academie St. Cecil, St. Francis (Buffalo, New York), Blyth Academy (Burlington, Ontario), Appleby College (Oakville, Ontario), Shady Side Academy (Pittsburgh) and Saint Viator.
There also will be some guest teams during some showcase weekends, such as St. Andrews College (Aurora, Ontario) and U18 AAA Pittsburgh Vengeance.
“Ecstatic would be an understatement,” Benz said of the GLPHL. “The level of play and exposure that our players will (get) will be second to none. The travel aspect and simple strength of the league will be difficult, but we hope to bring the speed, pace, physicality and overall level of play back with us to the SHL.
“(Our) goal of joining this league was to hopefully up our level of play to better prepare us to win a SHL and the Illinois State Championship.”
Many of the GLPHL teams allow postgraduates (PG students), but Benz is convinced the skill level in the league “will help us push our limits.”
The GLPHL will feature five showcase or league weekends, with one of the five being a playoff weekend. “It’s a good format, if you are going to travel you might as well get four games out of it,” Benz said. “Plus, all teams will be playing games in the same building. This is great for the exposure aspect. Many of the teams in the league have a long history of turning out high caliber players, therefore, (the teams are) on scouts and coaches’ radars. Bringing everyone together will only attract more eyes on all the players.”
Saint Viator will participate in four of the five GLPHL showcase events this inaugural season.
GLPHL showcase play kicks off September 27-29 in Pittsburgh.
The Lions will play host to Academie Ste. Cecil in mid-September in Mount Prospect.
Benz said the goal for the league this season is simply to gain traction and publicity. Next year, they will look to expand, he said.
“Most importantly, (it is to) get exposure for the players on all teams,” Benz said. “The league looks to place some players in high-level junior leagues next season.
“(We) look to get the (Viator) players who want to play beyond high school exposure. From a team perspective, we want to play a very high level of play in speed, pace and skill, so we can bring it back home to the SHL. We hope this will help springboard us to the top of the league.”
Viator will not host an all-GLPHL showcase event this season, though the Lions will host the second-annual SHL Showcase, an event that will feature 18 teams, up from 16 last year. All SHL teams will participate except Saint Ignatius and Fenwick.
Also participating in the SHL Showcase: Garbiel Richard (Riverview, Michigan), Grosse Pointe South (Gross Pointe, Michigan), Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colorado), Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colorado), Norwich Free Academy (Norwich, Connecticut), Brookfield Stars (Brookfield, Wisconsin), Notre Dame Arizona (Scottsdale), Waukesha (Wisconsin), Culver Academy Varsity A (Culver, Indiana) and Erie Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pennsylvania).
Benz, who has coached locally for 15 years and is in his eighth season on the Viator bench, is surrendering the head coaching role this season on an interim basis to John Sclafini, who has been with the club for four years. Benz, 37, who lives in Libertyville, will serve as the hockey director and assistant coach.
Benz wants to spend more time with his young kids: 2-year-old daughter, Brooke; and 5-month-old son, Reece.
“I will still be an assistant coach so will be around plenty just not to the capacity I was,” Benz said. “I will do everything I can in terms of preparation to prepare our boys for success on and off the ice.
“John will do great. He has great respect amongst the players which is key. He does a great job of bench management as well.”
Chris Benz (eighth season at Viator) and Steve Funteas (third season at Viator) will remain as assistant coaches on the Lions’ top varsity team.