High school hockey: Illinois state championships move to Allstate Arena
All roads lead to Rosemont for Illinois high school hockey state championship glory, as the Chicago Wolves and the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI) announced that the Illinois State High School Hockey Championships will be held at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.
The multiyear agreement moves the state championship games from the United Center to the Allstate Arena, starting with the 2026 Illinois Boys Combined and Red Division State High School Hockey Championships on Friday, March 6. The combined game starts at 6 p.m., followed by the red division at 8:30 p.m.
The 2026 Illinois Girls High School Hockey Championships will be played Sunday, March 15, at Allstate Arena, starting at noon.
“I think it’s a wonderful decision. Many of us are really happy with the change as the crowds likely will be much bigger,” said Bob Wagner, who has coached the co-op BG/H/W Stampede — a mix of players from Buffalo Grove, Hersey and Wheeling High Schools — for 25 years and is a member of the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame.
Crowds at the Allstate Arena should jump to 12,000 or 15,000 for the boys games, Wagner said.
“I think it is really cool that the state games got moved to the Allstate Arena,” said Tyler Seiwart, a junior forward for co-op Maine Township who attends Maine South. “It could benefit my team, if we made it that far with the Allstate Arena being so close to our home rink (in Park Ridge). I think more people would show up.”
AHAI’s high school state championships had been held at the United Center and Chicago Stadium for most of the past 35 years, and were played at suburban rinks before that.
“The Wolves remain committed to growing the sport of hockey in Illinois; we’re thrilled to host the AHAI High School State Championships starting this season at Allstate Arena in Rosemont,” said Wolves president of business operations Jon Sata.
AHAI and the Wolves will expand broadcast and streaming coverage of the state playoffs, beginning with “The Road to Mannheim Selection Show” on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 6 p.m. on Marquee Network. The boys and girls championships will be televised on Marquee Network.
New Trier Green is the three-time defending red division state champion and poised to make another run for championship glory. The Trevians are 13-5 in the 10-team Scholastic Hockey League (SHL) and with 36 points are in first-place ahead of Saint Viator (35), York (26), Loyola Gold (25) and Glenbrook South (24) — all of whom are state championship contenders. Lake Forest and Saint Ignatius are area dark horses for the title.
“If we make it that far, we’d be happy to play (the championship game) on an outdoor sheet (of ice) at a local park with picnic benches around, so no doubt the kids will be pumped to play at the Allstate Arena,” said Saint Viator head coach Tim Benz.
Co-op PREP, a mix of players from Prospect, Rolling Meadows and Elk Grove, is in first-place in the 12-team Varsity Champions League of the IHSHL North-Central Division. The co-op Warriors — representing Metea Valley, Waubonsie Valley, Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South — are the defending combined division state champions, and sitting in second place in the 13-team IHSHL West Division.
PREP, Maine Township, BG/H/W, Plainfield and the Warriors are the forerunners for the combined division crown, with Chicago North sitting as a dark horse.
“Illinois high school hockey is very blessed to have partners such as the Wolves, Allstate Arena staff and the Village of Rosemont to make an event such as the state tournament a capstone event for high school hockey in Illinois,” said Maine Township head coach Greg Mrofcza.
York head coach Evan Poulakidas is excited about the move.
“The Wolves continue to grow hockey at all levels, and capturing the state high school championship further demonstrates their commitment to the game and their dedication to supporting youth hockey,” Poulakidas said. “We are grateful for this continued investment in the game, particularly at the high school level, and believe their plan to market the game will have a positive impact on overall attendance and interest surrounding the state championship.”