Home
President's Update
MARCH 22, 2020
As you know, the COVID - 19 situation has become more serious in our community and throughout the State of Illinois. Governor Pritzker’s statewide stay-at -home order has shut down all non-essential business, travel and other activities until April 7, 2020. As a result, the Tribe Spring Program will now be suspended until at least April 7, 2020 and will remain suspended until it is safe to resume. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide you with most accurate information possible on the status of the WHA Spring Program. While it remains our intention to resume spring hockey as soon as it is safe, it’s also possible that the program could be modified or even cancelled.
We expect to provide a full spring schedule if we are able to start by April 20, 2020. If the delays continue past April 20 th , we may be required to modify the schedule or in the worst-case scenario cancel the spring program. If the spring program is reduced or cancelled, families will receive the appropriate refunds.
To help our players get some exercise and skill work during the shutdown, Hockey Director Tim Benz is creating some “quarantine” Video’s for the driveway or basement.
Tim is also issuing a series of player “challenges” during the shutdown. The first is the “100 shot challenge”, where players practice by taking 100 shots on goal in a 3-day period. If the challenge is not completed in the allotted time, you must start over. If your player completes the challenge send an e-mail to tjbenz12@gmail.com with the players name and “challenge 1 completed” and your player will be recognized at the first skills session.
The links for the first two videos are:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P81xa1woC1A&t=55s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S15jQvsRPbM&t=13s
Stay safe and healthy.
Rob Schelp
Tribe President
President's Update
March 14th, 2020
As we monitor the COVID-19 situation, our primary concern is the safety of our hockey players and families. We continue to monitor the situation in our community to assure that we make the best decisions for our program and the safety of our hockey families and the community at large.
At this time, we are suspending the Wilmette Tribe Spring Travel and House Hockey Programs until March 30, 2020. Prior to March 30, 2020 we will provide you with an update and revised spring schedule. While it is our intention to resume spring hockey as soon as it is safe to do so, it is possible the delay could last longer. If the delay continues into April, we are confident we can still have a full spring schedule. In the event of a shortened spring schedule, families will receive the appropriate prorated refunds. Regarding our Travel program, we are also in contact with the spring tournaments and will provide updates to the applicable families as information becomes available.
If your House or Travel player participates in any hockey activities while the Tribe Spring Programs are on hold, please ensure that they use their own water bottles and follow all the recommended safety precautions in and around the applicable rinks. Please note that the North Shore Ice Arena (NSIA) remains open and has instituted a sanitizing policy in the locker rooms and common areas.
Thank you for your support, patience and understanding as we navigate through these difficult and complicated circumstances.
Rob Schelp
Wilmette Tribe President
Coronavirus COVID-19 Update
Dear Tribe families,
We have just been informed that Centennial Ice rink will be closed and until further notice.
Please note, player, parent and coach safety is our top priority. With that said, the Tribe spring program has been temporarily suspended until further notice. We hope to resume the program as soon as possible. We hope to have a full spring program with the start being delayed. The WHA board of directors will be holding an emergency meeting tomorrow and will update you in the near future. As information develops, we will keep you posted with updates.
Tim Benz
WHA Hockey Director
Wilmette Tribe Hockey Club for Ages 4-8 (Mites)
Looking for Youth Hockey (Ages 9 & Up) visit the Wilmette Braves Hockey Association.
Spring Practice Times
Below are the times for the first few spring practices.
Mite 1
Week 1
Tuesday 3/17 - Practice 5:25pm @ Centennial
Wednesday 3/18 - Goalie Clinic 5:50pm @ NSIA
Friday 3/20 - Mite Skills 4:00pm @ Centennial
Week 2
Tuesday 3/31 - Practice 5:25pm @ Centennial
Wednesday 4/1 - Goalie Clinic 5:50pm @ NSIA
Friday 4/3 - Mite Skills 4:00pm @ Centennial
Mite 2
Week 1
Tuesday 3/17 - Practice 5:25pm @ Centennial
Wednesday 3/18 - Goalie Clinic 5:50pm @ NSIA
Friday 3/20 - Mite Skills 4:00pm @ Centennial
Week 2
Tuesday 3/31 - Practice 5:25pm @ Centennial
Wednesday 4/1 - Goalie Clinic 5:50pm @ NSIA
Friday 4/3 - Mite Skills 4:00pm @ Centennial
Spring Travel Rosters
Spring Travel Rosters can be found here.
Spring House
Spring House registration is open.
Click here to register. Go to the Spring House Home Page for more information regarding spring travel.
Wilmette Tribe Mite House Travel League is for players aged 4-8 (birth year 2012 and younger).
If your player is birth year 2011 or older, they are now considered Squirts. Please visit the Wilmette Braves Hockey Club for Squirts and other youth leagues.
Spring Travel
Spring Travel registration is open.
Click here to register. Go to the Spring Travel Home Page for more information regarding spring travel.
Wilmette Tribe Mite House Travel League is for players aged 6-8 (birth year 2012 and younger).
For Spring Devo and Mite House League, please visit the Spring House page. If your player is birth year 2011 or older, they are now considered Squirts. Please visit the Wilmette Braves Hockey Club for Squirts and other youth leagues.
Fall Travel Information.
Register here!
Sunday, August 25 (Mandatory)
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm: All Parents Meeting – Tribe and Braves
Wilmette Community Center, 3000 Glenview Rd, Wilmette, IL 60091
Introducing the Coaches and Presenting our operating guidelines to the parents.
Player Skill and Team hockey curriculum discussions will be scheduled (and method for distribution) shortly.
As a child enters hockey, our first priority is to build GENUINE confidence, basic fundamental skills and a love for the game.
Early on, we want kids constantly "graduating" --constantly collecting positive experiences in order to develop into passionate hockey players.
We always want to promote (as opposed to demote) in the early stages.
These positive experiences are essential. And patience is critical.
Entering travel fall/winter travel hockey too soon can often lead to a counter productive experience--sometimes resulting in early retirement from a player that was pushed too hard too soon. Hockey becomes consuming and frustrating rather then fun and productive.
Please keep in mind Fall/Winter Travel Hockey is much more competitive than spring.
If your child is highly ambitious but not ready for travel, choose House League Hockey and add other sports to his/her menu. This is a great and productive option.
Multi-sport experiences provide tremendous athletic, psychological and life-style advantages that provide big payoffs down the road. Hockey players with soccer, flag football and basketball experience gain athletic skills, develop a full range of coordination and learn concepts that apply directly to the game of hockey. Ask any of your hockey coach leaders. Down the road, the best hockey players are always the multi-sport athletes.
In sum, for the long term, you cannot lose. Or maybe more directly--your child will not "fall behind."
If a child is ready for travel--great! Let's go.
If a child is not ready for travel, House league hockey will get him/her there and you will have the opportunity to play and learn through other sports..
Both choices with pay off with a happy, productive young athlete with a great future in hockey.
If you have specific questions about your child, please consult with our House League Coaching Director Joe Heaton at the contact below.
Coach Joe is offering private and group skates, levels House to AAA, at Centennial from 6:00am - 9:00am most week days,(additional times available over the summer). Contact him directly for details; jmheaton81@gmail.com or find him on Facebook at Heaton Hockey.
We are also happy to announce that he has taken a position with the Wilmette Park District as a hockey instructor and is teaching many of the park district hockey classes (Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays at Centennial).
How Wilmette coach Brian Keane went from the Wall Street Journal to training NHL players
- By Scott Power, The Athletic 09/26/2017, 5:30pm CDT
Heads Up, Don't Duck
- By Joe Heaton 09/25/2017, 6:00am CDT
Announcing Our Travel Teams
- By Wilmette Tribe Hockey Club 08/31/2017, 4:30pm CDT
Mite 1 player Charles Dion represents the Wilmette Tribe during the National Anthem at the Blackhawks vs Ducks game
Mite 1 D2 Spring Glacier Invitational Champions
Mite 1 player Jack O'Dell represented the Wilmette Tribe during the national anthem at the Jan 5th Blackhawks vs Knights game.
Coach Rafe Aybar Being Honored by Wilmette Hockey for his years of contribution to youth hockey and his induction into the IL Hockey Hall of Fame.
