The United Center— a place where every Chicagoland kid dreams of playing someday, yet only a few ever get the chance to skate out onto the ice to live the dream. The home of the Chicago Blackhawks is one of the most iconic and historic arenas in all of hockey. For the Lake Forest JV Gold Hockey Team, that dream became a reality when they won the JV State Championship.

As kids, we would all go to Blackhawks games and look up to players like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, our heroes who won three Stanley Cups in six years. Being able to play on that sheet of ice is a wild thought for most hockey players, but luckily for some high school players, they can play in the AHAI State Championship on that ice. 

At the start of every high school hockey season, every team is out there trying to prove that they should be playing at the United Center in March for the State Championship. Unfortunately, many teams will never even come close to playing there, as it is a very hard feat to accomplish. Every team qualifies for state under six different divisions: Varsity Combined Division, Varsity Red Division, Girls Varsity Division, JV Combined Division, JV Blue Division, and the Downstate Varsity Division. 

In the Combined Divisions, multiple schools group up to make a team because as a single school, they do not have enough players. For example, BGHW consists of Buffalo Grove, Hersey, and Wheeling High Schools. In the Varsity Red and JV Blue divisions, teams are comprised of one school only, so the Scouts are in those divisions with teams like New Trier Green and Loyola. 

How Do You Get There?

In recent years, the Chicago Blackhawks organization has started to incorporate more games into its Championship Day slate. Previously, this day used to be comprised of only varsity teams, but in recent years, the JV divisions have started to have their Championship games there. This year, there was a total of six games played on March 16.

Varsity Combined Division

BGHW 2 : 3 Waubonzie Valley Warriors

(OT)

Varsity Red Division

New Trier Green Trevians 1 : 0 Benet Redwings

Girls Varsity Division

Barrington Broncos Girls 4 : 5 New Trier Trevians Girls

(OT)

JV Combined Division

Rockford JV 3 : 2 Plainfield JV

JV Blue Division

Lake Forest JV Gold 2 : 0 Providence Catholic JV

Downstate Varsity Division

Pekin 4 : 0 McClean City

Making it to the championship at the United Center is incredibly difficult, considering every team qualifies for State, so there are about 32 teams in each division trying play there. Seeding is determined by all the coaches in a division, where they each vote for who should go where on the bracket. It takes a total of five wins to become champions, which might not sound like a lot, but when each game gets harder and harder, it begins to take a toll on you. Each team you play is better as you keep winning and eventually, you can make it to the United Center.

“Our biggest game in the tournament was against Loyola, a strong and well-rounded team. However, they proved no match for Lake Forest, who secured an intense overtime victory. Throughout the tournament, we focused on one game at a time. Which was key to our success and ultimately winning the State Championship,” sophomore Bobby Rolek said.

The Player Experience

For the players, it was an unbelievable experience. The Blackhawks put an inflatable tunnel onto the ice for the players to skate through, and there were some exciting player introductions. The Blackhawks organization did their best to make each championship game feel like a Blackhawks playoff game, with lots of special effects and traditional game-day music from the jumbotron.

“It was a fun experience, and there were a lot of people from Lake Forest there. It was fun, and everybody had a great time. The locker room was a cool experience because everyone was a Blackhawks fan growing up, and it was a dream to suit up in there,”sophomore Wyatt Nelson said. “The player intros were very nice for everyone as well.” 

Being able to skate on NHL ice is pretty crazy to think about considering it is much better ice than they have ever skated on. Being on an NHL bench and being able to feel like a pro is what the State Championship is all about. 

The United Center staff treated the championship day almost as if it were a regular Blackhawks game. Almost every concession stand was open in the arena and the security staff was roaming the arena. 

“It was a great experience. The United Center staff did a great job making everyone feel like a true professional. The best part about it was being able to experience it with all of my teammates. One of my favorite hockey memories that I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” sophomore Graydon Rother said. 

One of the most magical things about the whole experience is how much the staff puts into making people feel special on their championship game. These games aren’t just regular matchups, but are the best of the best going up against each other for the whole state to see. Being able to feel like a pro player, even for a day, is one of the best feelings a high school hockey player can experience.

The Fan Experience

For the Varsity games, the entire lower bowl of the arena is filled with fans and is a loud experience. Students go to watch their friends play and there can be some pretty big student sections for some games. As a viewer, you get a general admission ticket on the Blackhawks website and you can stay to watch every game throughout the whole championship day, which is one of the coolest things to see each new set of fans take their seats. 

It’s crazy to sit there and think about how many pro games you have seen, then look at the ice and see your friends in the same position.

“It was an amazing experience watching all of my friends play at the United Center and it is something I will never forget,” sophomore Logan Marsch said.

Even for the Junior Varsity games, there are many friends and family there to support the players, and many people will clump up in big groups. Being able to watch a championship game at your hometown arena is one of the coolest things a parent or friend could ask for. 

“It was a great fan experience at a hockey game filled with electric energy, thrilling plays, and the excitement of celebrating goals with fellow fans in a lively United Center,” sophomore Connor Corpier said.

The Championship Day is a day to remember for anyone who attends, whether you are a fan or a player. It is an experience unlike anything else and it comes once-in-a-lifetime for most players. It is truly a whole-season experience filled with grit and hard work ethic that eventually boils down to who wants it more in March during playoffs.