The inaugural SHL Showcase – set for November 10-12, with games played on all three rinks at the Mount Prospect Ice Arena – should provide some of the best high school hockey played locally, if not nationally, this season.
The eight SHL teams that qualified for the playoffs last season will battle eight of the best high school teams from across the country, including several defending state champions. Every team will play four games.
No champion will be crowned. No coveted SHL points are on the line.
This is, as the name says, a way for SHL players to showcase their skill against some of the best high school players from across the country – under the watchful eyes of scouts and coaches from the ACHA, NA3, PJHL, NCAA Division III, USPSHL and elsewhere.
Some of the 25-plus confirmed attendees are Brad Stoffers, Northern Illinois University head coach; Mike Hernbrott, Illinois State University head coach; Steve Ortman, Peoria Mustangs head coach; Sean O’Malley, Lake Forest College head coach; and Justin Cohn, coach for the Decatur Blaze, among others.
“The SHL Showcase is a great thing for the league, so coaches and scouts can see first-hand how strong the SHL truly is,” said Adam Cheris, head coach of defending Illinois state champion New Trier Green. “The reality is, Illinois (high school) hockey is really strong. Teams are fiercely competitive; kids are leaving AAA to come play (at the high school level) and the high school game is just getting better and better and better. It’s not what it used to be.
“This SHL Showcase is a great opportunity for all of the SHL players to be seen against some very strong competition.”
Very strong would be an understatement.
Let’s start with Valor Christian High School of Colorado, which won the 2023 state championship, marking its third title in the last four years. Valor is led by George Gwozdecky, named the Colorado Coach of the Year in 2023 and senior Cooper Robinson, a first team All-State goalie last season.
Then there’s Norwich Free Academy from Connecticut, in its second season, though the team finished last year with an overall record of 34-15. Norwich faces, arguably, the top four SHL teams so far this season: Glenbrook North, New Trier Green, Loyola Gold and Saint Viator.
North Broward Prep skates into the SHL Showcase as the two-time defending Florida state champion after a 20-0-1 regular season a year ago. North Broward outscored its final two state tournament foes 15-1.
“We have seen some of these teams, so we know how good, how strong these teams are,” Cheris said. “We want to match up against great teams from across the country – to see how we do against teams of this caliber. I’m sure that’s how all SHL teams are approaching the SHL Showcase.
“I’m sure teams will be watching many other games, too. This SHL Showcase will create good relationships and friendships.”
And the 2023 event is, likely, the building base for similar future events. Tim Benz, the head coach of Saint Viator who spent countless hours researching high school teams across the U.S. to fill the list of participants, said the SHL Showcase likely will be larger next season, with all SHL team participating, and perhaps multiple similar showcase events throughout the season.
Next season, the SHL Showcase likely will move to December, which should attract teams from Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and elsewhere, Benz said.
The SHL Showcase also could be played at multiple ice rinks in 2024, Benz said.
“The SHL Showcase is going to be a higher level,” of play than SHL regular season games, Cheris said. “(It’s) going to be a strong test for every team. I’m not sure how to look at (predicting game outcomes). The SHL Showcase is a great idea and something for our program that we absolutely wanted to do.”
Cheris said his plan is simple: roll all four lines and the Trevians’ set defensive pairs. Everyone will see plenty of playing time, and he said all SHL teams likely will do the same.
“If we end up losing games here, I really don’t care. I’m kind of OK with it. I really want to give the kids a chance to see how they measure up,” Cheris said. “I think all of the (SHL) coaches are thinking the same.”
The other out-of-state participants are Jesuit College Prep (Dallas), Cathedral Prep (Erie, Penn.), Medina High School (Lakewood, Ohio), Notre Dame Prep High School (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Regis Jesuit High School (Aurora, Colo.)
“All of these (out of state) teams are going to provide a huge challenge. We saw Valor last year at Nationals. I thought they were awesome,” Cheris said. “I expect every one of the eight (out of state) teams would be a top team in the SHL.
“This SHL Showcase is another great step for the SHL. The games will be super competitive and it will simply be a great event for our league and great for our players.
“We couldn’t be any more excited than we are for the SHL Showcase, and I think that goes for all SHL coaches and players.”
There are eight games scheduled for Friday, November 10 – four on the North Rink and four on the Center Rink. Glenbrook South kicks off the action at 1:20 p.m. on the Center Rink against Jesuit College Prep, followed by York versus Media High School. Glenbrook North opens North Rink action Friday at 2:30 p.m., against Norwich Free Academy, followed by New Trier Green versus Valor Christian High School.
“We did our research on the caliber of play from the out of state teams. All should be great, thus a perfect showcase, a great way to get our kids’ exposure,” Benz said.
Games start Saturday and Sunday, November 11-12 at 8 a.m.
