St. Viator’s high school hockey title shows sport’s growth in Illinois

For years, there was New Trier Green and then everyone else in Illinois high school hockey. The Trevians won 17 of 27 state championships since 1998, with none played in 2000 or 2001.

The Trevians remain a force, but parity has drilled a slap shot to the high school game in Illinois.

“There are more powerhouses on the scene,” said Saint Viator head coach Tim Benz, who led the Lions to the school’s first Illinois high school hockey state championship in its 54-year history.

More teams are now hovering near the top spot in Illinois high school hockey, which shows “how much the game has grown at the high school level,” Benz said.

“There was a time when teams like Loyola and New Trier played an independent schedule to get competitive games,” he said. “Now they are in the Scholastic Hockey League and getting competitive games every night.”

The 10-team SHL is, unquestionably, the best league in Illinois. In fact, the rankings for the annual state tournament were the SHL’s first-to-eighth-ranked teams.

“More and more players (are) leaving (club teams to play) high school hockey. This leads to more teams, more depth on teams, and more parity,” said Chris Waters, head coach for BG/H/W, which includes players from Buffalo Grove, Hersey, Wheeling and Schaumburg high schools.

“More players are playing for their high schools (as opposed to) club teams, strengthening high school hockey overall,” Benz said. “The skill level of the players this season was off the charts. So much talent, so many players with high hockey IQs.

“More teams are (competitive); scores are less lopsided; more players want to play for their (high) schools.”

Stevenson head coach Dan Wood said the overall skill level of the high school game is higher than ever and benefiting from the boom of the Chicago Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup titles.

All eight state tournament teams, in the pure and combined divisions, were true title contenders, Waters said. In years past, there were two or three in each division that had a realistic chance to win state.

“There have always been great hockey players in high school hockey,” Waters said. “Today, we are doing a better job marketing high school hockey as an option — and we are getting (more) players from club teams, which leads to more depth.

“Plus, there is just cleaner, better hockey (played) in all (high school) divisions.”

Waters played at Glenbrook North from 1997-2001 and has coached high school hockey since 2008.

“In the past 30 years, I think the biggest change is that hockey went from being North Shore and Chicago Catholic Hockey League focused to now encompassing top players from the entire Chicagoland area,” he said. “There are great players and teams at public and private schools in every direction.”

Minooka was a new pure JV team this season. DePaul College Prep will debut a team when hockey resumes next September.

Stevenson’s Wood said many high school teams have long had two talented lines. That’s not the case anymore, he said.

“I see third- and fourth-line players who are incredibly talented and can have a serious impact on the game,” he said. “That used to be a luxury only a few of the top programs had. Now, more teams can roll three or four lines.

“So much emphasis has been put on skill development when the kids are younger; it’s translating so much as they get older,” Wood said.

Many schools now have two varsity teams. The SHL boasts the nine-team Academic Hockey League of second tier varsity teams.

Nick Panos, head coach for co-op PREP, which features players from Prospect, Rolling Meadows, and Elk Grove high schools, said players have improved significantly because they have access to far more development resources.

“There are more opportunities for specialized training, skills instruction and skating development,” he said.

The SHL Network broadcasts high school games on YouTube throughout the season, with more than 3,700 subscribers and more than 550,000 all-time views since the start of the 2018 season. Viewers have watched from 14 countries and more than 25 states.

This season, SHL Network broadcasts surpassed 2,100 total views per game, exceeding last year’s audience, even with eight games airing simultaneously on the Marquee Sports Network.

“Broadcasting games on YouTube, the Marquee Sports Network and social media have really helped,” Benz said. “People around the world are tuning in to these games to see how talented our players are and how exciting these games are.”