Weekend Recap: 2023 CCM Girls Windy City Elite
Over 100 Girls Hockey Teams Face-Off In Chicago
Chicago hosted some of the nation’s best girls’ hockey teams this weekend, with 108 girls’ youth hockey teams participating in the CCM Windy City Elite. We extend our gratitude to all the players, coaches, and families who joined us in Chicago for 238 games of intense competition and plenty of fun. Check out the division breakdowns to see which teams came out on top.
JUMP TO DIVISIONS: 12U | 14U | 16U | 19U
12U Divisions
12U Supertacks Division
Champion: Chicago Mission
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Kate Jessup, #71
The Connecticut Jr Rangers entered the championship match undefeated and on fire, with back-to-back shutout victories against Fox Motors and the LA Lions in the playoffs. Despite being the presumed favorites, their opponent, the Chicago Mission, also entered the final with an undefeated record and back-to-back shutouts. In a defensively strong match, the Mission secured a 1-0 victory, breaking the shutout streak and claiming their championship banner.
12U Jetspeed Division
Champion: Traverse City Northstars
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Alivia Rice, #59
A 3-2 victory over the KV Rebels to conclude the round robin was exactly what the Glenview Stars needed to secure the fourth and final seed in the semi-final round. They joined the Traverse City Northstars (3-0-0), North Shore Warhawks (2-1-0), and Belle Tire (1-1-1). The Northstars concluded the Stars’ weekend with their third shutout victory. In the other semi-final match, Belle Tire narrowly upset the Warhawks 3-2 to advance. Belle Tire faced a daunting challenge in the final against the undefeated Northstars, and they exerted considerable effort. In the end, the Northstars prevailed 3-1, completing their undefeated and undisputed 5-0-0 weekend.
14U Divisions
14U Supertacks Division
Champion: LA Lions
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Reagan Rivera, #41
Regulation concluded with a 0-0 draw between the Chicago Mission and the LA Lions. This outcome was not unfamiliar to these teams, as the Mission had one tie and the Lions had two in the round robin. However, this match occurred in the quarter-final, prompting the commencement of a shootout. The Lions emerged victorious, earning the right to advance and face the Lovell Academy Lions in the semi-final. The Lions’ battle also ended in a 0-0 draw, with LA once again prevailing. Their opponent, Team Illinois, was also coming off a shootout victory in the semi-final. The championship match did not require extra time; the LA Lions defeated Team Illinois 4-2 to maintain their undefeated status for the weekend and claim their banner.
14U Jetspeed Division
Champion: Sno-King Jr. Thunderbirds
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Annabelle Yoo, #87
Sunday kicked off the semi-finals with three of the four teams still undefeated. The North Shore Avalanche (2-1-1) was the only team that was not undefeated, but that did not stop them from upsetting the Montgomery Ice Devils 4-1 to advance to the final. The Hockey Club Fairbanks and the Sno-King Jr. Thunderbirds battled in a tightly contested semi-final that resulted in a 4-3 victory for the Jr. Thunderbirds. The Jr. Thunderbirds entered the championship as the favorites, not only because of their undefeated record but also because they had previously defeated the Avalanche in the round robin. History repeated itself in the final, with the Jr. Thunderbirds defeating the Avalanche 3-1. The Jr. Thunderbirds earned their banner and left the Windy City with a perfect 6-0-0 record.
16U Divisions
16U Supertacks Division
Champion: Stratford Aces
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Emma Gray, #22
Regulation concluded in the early semi-final, and the undefeated Culver Academy found themselves tied 2-2 with Team Illinois. An undefeated record meant nothing at this point, as Talon Sorce of Team Illinois netted the game-winner in the shootout to advance to the final. In the other semi-final, the Stratford Aces defeated the Florida Alliance 2-0 to add to their undefeated record and advance to the final. Team Illinois and the Aces had previously met in the round robin, where the Aces won 4-1, and the final unfolded similarly. The Aces completed their undefeated, undisputed weekend to earn their title.
16U Jetspeed Division
Champion: Glenview Stars
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Reese Reynolds, #30
The Glenview Stars were the only undefeated team remaining come Sunday. They maintained their winning streak with a 3-1 victory over the North Shore Warhawks. The Sno-King Jr. Thunderbirds defeated the South Pittsburgh Rebellion 2-1 to secure the other spot in the final. The championship was tightly contested and ended 2-2. The shootout commenced to determine the victor. Players hopped over the boards to make their attempts, and in the end, the Stars prevailed. Glenview completed their undefeated, undisputed 6-0-0 weekend and earned their championship banner.
19U Divisions
19U Supertacks Division
Champion: Florida Alliance
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Madisyn Ryan, #6
The semi-final stage was set with some familiar foes, as each game would be a rematch of those played earlier in the round robin. In their first match, Lovell Academy Lions (4-0-0) defeated the Dallas Stars Elite (3-1-0) with a final score of 1-0. The Stars Elite would not be shut out in the rematch, as they netted one goal, resulting in a game-tying situation and necessitating a shootout. The Stars Elite got their revenge in the shootout, defeating Culver. The other semi-final featured Culver Academy (4-0-0) versus Florida Alliance (3-1-0). Although Culver won their round-robin match 1-0, the Alliance flipped the script and shut out Culver 1-0 in the semi-final. The championship was a battle of southern hockey titans, and the Alliance and the Stars Elite did not disappoint. In an excellent contest, the Florida Alliance won 3-1 to claim their banner.
19U Jetspeed Division
Champion: Glenview Stars
Howie’s Hockey MVP: Margaret Mulcahy, #76
The Chicago Hawks narrowly defeated the North Shore Warhawks 2-1 to advance and face the Glenview Stars in the championship. The Stars’ offense came to play earlier in the day, netting five goals versus the Grand Rapids Griffins, and they were looking to carry that momentum into the final. However, the offense did not continue to roll in the championship. The final was a highly contested defensive effort from both squads, ultimately coming down to a single goal. The only goal of the game earned the Stars their fourth shutout victory of the weekend and, more importantly, the championship banner.
It was an exciting weekend at the CCM Girls Windy City Elite in Chicago, filled with countless memories. As we approach the middle of the 2023-24 season, there are still limited spots available in certain divisions for our upcoming events. To view the complete lineup for the 2023-24 season, click here.
