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Offensive Superstar Hudson Schlie Overcomes Obstacles To Record-Setting Career

By Ross Forman, 01/29/25, 7:30PM CST

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Benet Academy Star Endured Hip Injury, Now One of the Top Forwards

Hudson Schlie, a four-year varsity center at Benet Academy and one of the best forwards in the state this season, knows quite a bit about perseverance, especially in his drive to be the top scorer in school history.

Earlier this season, for instance, Schlie scored in overtime against Saint Ignatius – while battling a 101-degree fever.

Then, in an October 2022 game against Fenwick, Schlie was going to get a puck and was taken down awkwardly. He went feet-first into the boards. “My whole lower body kind of just jammed and I ended up being pretty sore for days and noticed a little swelling at the top of my leg and my hip area, but I didn’t say anything about it because it was just a little bump and I could (still) skate,” Schlie said.

By December 2022, the pain in his left leg continued to get worse, to the point where he was hobbling around on the ice and couldn’t change directions well. After a holiday tournament, he told his dad, Andrew, that something was not right and that the pain had been around for a while, so he wanted to get it looked at.

In early January 2023, Schlie had an x-ray done and doctors reported it was just swelling.

“This was good news, but something kept telling me that’s not the whole story,” he said. “I convinced my parents to find (another) doctor so I could get an MRI (done) to (learn) the whole story.”

The MRI showed Schlie had a fracture in the hip area that did not necessitate surgery. He was off the ice for 2 ½ weeks.

“Since it was (approaching) playoff time, I tried my best (when back on the ice) to contribute as much as I (could),” said Schlie, who noted that rehabilitation was “an absolute grind.”

He was on crutches for those 2 ½ weeks.

“As soon as the season ended (in early 2023), I went to the head pediatric orthopedic doctor at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago and was checked out,” he said. “Luckily,

and way quicker than anyone thought, my bone had healed, but his concern was that my ball joint was too big for my socket because of how it healed. He also was concerned about all the inflammation I had in my hip area and how that had gotten bad. He first offered surgery but said it was a six-month recovery, three months to recover from the surgery and then three months in physical therapy.

“I didn’t want to miss the (2023-2024) season so he took a look at both of my hips and saw they were similar in size and that if my right hip was not really bothering me then maybe we can get the left to not bother as well.”

The plan was physical therapy for as long as it would make Schlie to be comfortable.

“I started physical therapy right away, three days a week along with at-home exercises,” he said. “My physical therapist was shocked with all my inflammation and the fact that I

continued to play hockey on that leg, let alone walk. She compared it to the injury someone would suffer in a high-speed car accident because that bone isn’t supposed to break.”

Schlie also had daily icing and weekly hot tubs sessions.

“I tried electric stimulation weekly, acupuncture and cryotherapy to help expedite the healing. I saw a chiropractor to help realign me. I saw a deep tissue massage therapist who helped me find strength in my muscles again. She found that my left glute and quad had completely shut down and my body was overworking other muscles to compensate, so she helped those muscles come back to life,” Schlie said. “I also did grounding, which is not very conventional but helped me turn the corner on my healing process and lessen my inflammation.”

He skated only five times over the summer before his junior season.

“Steady progress (was) apparent and as (my junior) season came closer, I became closer and closer to ready to play,” Schlie said. “Physical therapy continued the first couple weeks of the season. Towards the end of the summer and into the first bit of the season I met with a sports psychologist who helped me let go of any worry I had getting hurt again or having to go through this healing process again.”

Schlie admitted that the leg injury has hit him hard emotionally. When he learned he would be on crutches, for instance, Schlie cried for 20 minutes. “The last thing I ever wanted to hear was that I cannot play hockey,” he said. “It was a slow (recovery), but I was still shooting pucks in the off season and stick handling; maintaining those stick skills was crucial for me being able to return and contribute to the team and its success. Tryouts and those first few weeks of practice (last season) were rocky. Some days I would feel great; others I would feel like how I did in December of 2022. The biggest thing was finding a pregame routine that allowed me to be mobile on the ice and find my stride again. That was the toughest part, but once I felt comfortable and didn’t miss a step.”

Benet linemate and captain Jeremy DeWilkins was a huge help in Schlie’s return, he said.

“I attribute a lot of my success in my junior year to him,” Schlie said. “We had incredible chemistry on the ice, and he set me up on 75 percent of my goals that season.”

Schlie tallied 38 goals and 20 assists in 40 games last season.

In his first 28 games this season, he already has 21 goals and 23 assists. In his first 13 Chicago Catholic Hockey League games this season, he had 10 multi-point games.

He is a CCHL All-Star this season.

“It’s been a great start for the team; we have a lot of weapons that score goals up and down our roster. Teams have to look out for all our lines instead of just one or two like last year,” Schlie said. “My teammates are burying their chances and I have been working hard to set them up because I know how lethal guys like Carson Stone and Nikolas Hensel can be. Giving them the puck in a good spot to score has made it easy for us to have success. Our power play has been clicking, especially with Danny Quinlan and Hudson Hollweck scoring a lot. Jimmy Cannon quarterbacking the backend and has really found comfort dishing to the sides and starting plays.

“I just try to come ready to play each night and not take any night for granted, being my senior year. A big goal for me this year is to be a good influence on the younger players, such as freshman Owen Ryle, because I can sympathize with the spot he’s in and believe I can help him be a phenomenal player for Benet’s future.”

KENNEDY CUP & STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GLORY

Benet’s first goal this season was, well, the same as every season: win the Kennedy Cup. Saint Ignatius has had a stranglehold on the CCHL prize as the three-time defending Kennedy Cup champions.

“To win the Kennedy Cup in my final year as a Redwing would be truly special,” Schlie said. “I have been to every Benet Kennedy Cup win dating back to 2013. We have really put an emphasis on league play and playing for that trophy. Our record has shown that, when it is a CCHL game, we will come ready, and we will be tough to beat.”

Schlie, 18, who lives in Hinsdale, is a left-handed shooting center, in uniform No. 8. He formerly skated for the Chicago Mission and Chicago Hawks and has had a boatload of hockey accolades. Just consider:

  • CCHL MVP and All-State selection;
  • AHAI Player Development selection in 2020;
  • Best plus/minus on Benet;
  • Benet Playmaker Award (twice);
  • Benet Top Forward (twice);
  • Benet MVP; and
  • CCHL All-Star (three times).

“I am a two-way center who can lock down on the penalty-kill or score goals. I can play in any situation that the coach needs me to and will have success in either. I am a smart player, can read the ice very well and can control the play when the puck is on my stick,” said Schlie, a gifted goal-scorer.

“I have good hands that allow me to find space and extra time to make a play. Vision and creativity drive my game by finding passing lanes and creative ways to give my teammates space.”

Benet was a perfect 14-0 in CCHL games in 2024, outscoring their foes 71-20. Saint Ignatius (10-3) is 10 points behind Benet.

“The season has been pretty good,” Schlie said. “I love the spot we have put ourselves in and winning 14 league games in a row is something truly special.”

Schlie said skating for the CCHL in the annual All-Star Game against the Scholastic Hockey League was “truly an honor,” he said. “I’m lucky to have played in the All-Star Game for three straight years; it’s always a special time.”

However, CCHL lost, 9-2.

“It was much closer than the score says,” Schlie said. “We had chances to tie the game; a few more passes here and there would have made that game much closer if not in our favor. I’m incredibly proud of the Benet guys on the CCHL All-Star Team. Goalie Ben Ciesla was easily the best goalie on the ice; Luca DiCosola and Jimmy Cannon contributed to it being a one-goal game halfway through.

“Jimmy is always lockdown on defense and he continued that in that game. Luca is one of the best skaters in the state and that was on display throughout the game; he’s a great two-way center and has been all season.”

So, how far can Benet go this season?

To the United Center in March, he said without hesitation. “(No one) should be shocked if we make it to the United Center. We have a special group that finds ways to win,” he said. “It has been the dream to win state since my dad started coaching at Benet. I was there in 2015 when Benet was a bounce away from the state championship. Ever since watching that game, I knew I wanted to play high school hockey and make it to the United Center. It would be incredibly special to do it with this senior group as they have been close friends for four years and even the underclassmen have bonded with us. We are a family, and I would love to experience that with them.”

Whenever Schlie skates his last game in a Redwing uniform, he’ll be one of the best forwards ever. In fact, the best in many offensive categories in club history, including scoring and assists.

“It’s a surreal feeling to break records that I watched get set,” Schlie said. “Benet has had special talent and the fact that I watched those guys when I was in elementary school … now be in those players’ shoes, such as Matt Ernsting and Tommy Feldman, it is a really cool feeling.”

Schlie has tied the single-season goal record with Matt Ernsting (51), and he broke the all-time assists record previously set by Tommy Feldman, among other honors.

SLAPSHOTS WITH … Benet Forward Hudson Schlie

Influences: “My dad has been an influence on my career. I’ve copied his style of play, and he always helps me learn and grow as a player each time I skate.”

Hobbies: Golf, working out and video games.

Career Goal: “I want to work as a trainer for a professional hockey team and help guys loosen up and come back from injury. Being around so many doctors and medical practices, my interest in the physical therapy world or, (as a) team trainer, has peaked (my interest); I would love to do that.”

Favorite NHL Team: Chicago Blackhawks

Favorite NHL Player: Nick Schmaltz

Favorite Sports-themed Movie: Miracle on Ice

Favorite TV Show: Suits

Motivational Song: Glorious by Macklemore

Favorite Pre-game Meal: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with popcorn and 16 ounces of water

Favorite app: Instagram

Celebrity You’d Like To Meet: Mike Eruzione

In The Classroom: He is an Illinois State Scholar and has only received three B’s at Benet. He was a straight-A student as a junior.

Best Hockey Tip: “Always be a student of the game and the best attribute you can have been to be coachable.” His did, Benet head coach Andrew Schlie

Best High School Uniform (other than Benet): York’s ‘The Hurst’ third jersey this year

Fact-Finding: Is a Level 4 hockey referee, a golf caddie, and volunteers at a local food pantry.