Chicago Blues Hockey

Chicago Blues ranked third in nation via My Hockey Rankings
There are hundreds of Tier II youth hockey organizations across the United States. So, where did the Chicago Blues rank for the 2009-10 season? How does No. 3 in the nation sound? www.myhockeyrankings.comis the premier ranking system for U.S.-based youth hockey teams from Squirts through Midget Major from coast to coast. Their calculations are based on a stringent mathematical formula from game results and strength of opposing teams. Based on where teams finished in the My Hockey Rankings season-ending rankings and rating the top four teams in each club, the Chicago Blues Hockey Club were third in the nation with a ranking of 8.75. “This is a great testament to our organization,” said Chicago Blues President Dan Kastholm. “It shows how well our director model is working along with our top-notch coaching staff. It points to how hard our players work. And it illustrates how many great volunteers we have. This ranking is something ever member of the club can be proud of." First in the nation was the Affton (Mo.) Americans at 4.75, second was the Rochester (N.Y.) Rattlers at 7.75 and the Chicago Blues checked in at third at 8.75. The Suburban Stars from Farmington Hills, Mich., were fourth at 11, followed by the Chesterfield (Mo.) Falcons at 12.25, Grand Rapids (Mich.) Griffins at 12.25 and Oakland (Mich.) Junior Grizzlies at 13.25. The top four Blues teams from last year were the Midget Minor CSDHL, Bantam Major CSDHL, Pee Wee Major CSDHL and Pee Wee Minor CSDHL squads. Only nine organizations had four or more teams ranked in the top 30, and the Chicago Blues were one of them.
- posted on 08-23-10
Chicago Blues to offer experienced director team for 2010-11
The Chicago Blues will once again offer a full slate of hockey directors for the 2010-11 season from the Learn-to-Skate to Midget Major levels. “The Chicago Blues provide a top-notch group of hockey directors," said Club President Dan Kastholm. “Our directors have a combined 50-plus years of hockey coaching experience. This is an experienced group. The job of our directors is to create a valuable hockey experience for all of our families, working in tandem with our coaching staff. I’m confident that these directors are up to the task." Jeff Jones Jeff has 21 years of AAA and AA coaching experience and has been a hockey director with the Chicago Blues since 2003. Prior to joining the Blues, Jeff coached with New Trier High School, Team Illinois and the Chicago Young Americans. His teams have appeared in 17 state championship games. He is a former NCAA Division I hockey player from Western Michigan University and has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Todd Finner Todd has 15 years of AAA and AA coaching and hockey director experience. He has been a hockey director for several organizations since 1994, including the Chicago Hawks, Chicago Huskies, Chicago Mission, Lake County Atoms and Orland Park Vikings. Todd came to the Blues in 2000 and has coached several teams to AA state championships, along with a Pee Wee National Championship in 2009-10. Todd played NCAA Division I hockey with the University of Illinois-Chicago and has a bachelor's degree in accounting. Marc Kapsalis Marc brings almost 20 years of coaching and directing experience at the NCAA and AAA and AA youth levels. He most recently served for three years as president of the Chicago Fury Hockey Club, where he also sat on the Tier One Elite League Board of Directors and Board of Governors. Marc also served as hockey director for the Naperville Wolves, Geneva Cyclones and Chicago Fury and as assistant director for Team Illinois. Marc is a local product who played high school hockey for York Township High School then went on to play NCAA Division I hockey at West Point, ending his career as team captain. Scott Maeder Scott has 12 years of AAA and AA coaching experience and has been with the Chicago Blues since 2005. Before coming to the Blues, Scott coached with the Chicago Flames and Team Illinois and also served three years as the hockey director at Center Ice of DuPage. His playing experience includes college club hockey at the University of Colorado and Illinois State, and he played his youth hockey from Mites to Midgets with the Chicago Huskies. Rob Newburg Rob Newburg has been the director of the Chicago Blues Pre-Hockey and Junior Blues programs since the 2009-10 season. He has also served as the director of ticket sales and youth hockey for the Chicago Steel Junior A hockey team since 2007 while also working as the marketing director and on-ice instructor for the Steve Poapst Hockey Academy. His playing experience includes college club hockey at DePaul University, and he played his youth hockey from Mites to Midgets with the Northern Express in Park Ridge. For more detailed resumes, check the Coaches > Directors link on the top-level navigation.
- posted on 09-04-10
Chicago Blues to compete at all seven CSDHL levels in 2010-11
It's official. The Chicago Blues Hockey Club will compete at all seven levels of the Central States Developmental Hockey League (CSDHL) for the 2010-11 season. The Blues will be represented at the following levels: • Squirts • Pee Wee Minor • Pee Wee Major • Bantam Minor • Bantam Major • Midget Minor • Midget Major Stay tuned to www.chicagoblueshockey.org for all the information you need for the 2010-11 campaign, including registration information, USA Hockey insurance, tryout dates, the coaching lineup, etc. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Here are the CSDHL teams at all levels for the 2010-11 season: Midget Major Affton, Blues, Bruins, Chargers, Chesterfield, Express, Falcons, Huskies, Leafs, Sabres, Twin Bridges, Vikings Midget Minor Affton, Blues, Bruins, Chargers, Chesterfield, Express, Falcons, Hawks, Huskies, Sabres, Twin Bridges, Vikings Bantam Major Affton, Blues, Bruins, Chargers, Chesterfield, Falcons, Hawks, Huskies, Indy, Leafs, Sabres Bantam Minor Affton, Blues, Chesterfield, Hawks, Huskies, Indy, Leafs, Sabres PeeWee Major Affton, Blues, Chargers, Chesterfield, Falcons, Hawks, Huskies, Indy, Leafs, Sabres, Vikings, Winnetka PeeWee Minor Affton, Blues, Bruins, Chargers, Chesterfield, Cyclones, Indy, Leafs, Winnetka Squirts Affton, Blues, Bruins, Chargers, Chesterfield, Falcons, Huskies, Indy, Sabres, Wilmette, Winnetka The 2010-11 CSDHL scheduling meeting will be held on Saturday, August 7 at 10 a.m. at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville.
- posted on 08-21-10
Pee Wee national championship game recounted by USA Hockey
RESTON, Virginia -- Sunday's Pee Wee 4A championship game at the USA Hockey Nationals has been recounted in a game report via www.usahockey.com. Click HERE to access the coverage of the Blues' 5-4 double-overtime victory over Detroit Belle Tire.
- posted on 04-12-10
USA Nationals / 2010: Chicago Blues crowned national champions!
RESTON, Virginia -- It's not easy to win your last hockey game of the season. But that's exactly what the Pee Wee Major CSDHL Chicago Blues did at the USA Hockey Nationals. And they did it in dramatic fashion, defeating Detroit Belle Tire 5-4 in double overtime. The Blue Notes and Belle Tire alternated goals to make the score 2-2. Belle Tire then went on top 4-2, but the Blues fought back to tie the game at 4-4 when they scored with 4:40 remaining in the third period. The Blues' penalty-killers were particularly effective, killing off all six sin-bin sessions, including two in extra time, and giving up nary a goal in the process. The Blues scored the Nationals-winning goal midway through the second OT. The Pee Wee Major CSDHL team is the first team to be crowned national champions in the 14-year history of the Chicago Blues Hockey Club. Congratulations to the players, coaches and family members on this outstanding achievement. The national champion Pee Wees are Seamus O’Kane, Mario Senese, Conor Sullivan, Lucas Finner, Gunther Stange, Liam Eadie, Tim Kmet, Brian Rigali, Stan Jatczak, Sam Craggs, Nathan Szeliga, Vincent Caruso, Matteo Mangiardi, Frank Turk and Aaron Forman and netminders Matt Tanaka and Jonathan Paunove. The team is led by Head Coach Bill Craggs, Hockey Director Todd Finner, Assistant Coach Vito Senese and Team Manager Dave Jatczak. USA Nationals / 2010: Blues bite Sharks 4-3, advance to FINALS! RESTON, Virginia – Gimme an F! Gimme an I! Gimme an N! Gimme an A! Gimme an L! Gimme an S! What’s that spell? FINALS!!! It’s appropriate that we begin this missive with a cheer, as the chants of “Let’s go Blues!” and “Let’s go Sharks!” are still echoing in the rafters of the Reston Ice Arena NHL rink, following the colossal semi-final battle between the Chicago Blues and San Jose Junior Sharks. And when the final horn sounded, the finals of the USA Hockey Nationals Pee Wee 4A division is exactly where the Blues are headed after their memory-making 4-3 victory. “Both teams battled hard the entire game,” said a tired but happy Head Coach Bill Craggs. “San Jose is a very disciplined, well-coached team. We had our hands full. One thing I know for sure is that I’m real proud of this team, regardless of what happens tomorrow.” The Blues will face off against Detroit Belle Tire at 10 a.m. (Eastern time) on Sunday to decide the Pee Wee 4A national champion. With a Shark in the sin-bin for roughing, the Blues scored a game-winning breakaway goal in the third period and held on for the win. Blues, 4. Sharks, 3. And while the game might be over, you can still hear the echoes. “Let’s go Blues . . . Let’s go Blues . . .” USA Nationals / 2010: Blues top Buffalo Bisons 5-3 in quarterfinals RESTON, Virginia -- And then there were four. The Chicago Blues Pee Wee Major CSDHL team is in rare air at the moment after advancing to the semi-final round at the 2010 USA Hockey Nationals. The Blues defeated the Buffalo Bisons 5-3 in thrilling fashion on Saturday morning to advance to tonight's semifinal clash against the San Jose Junior Sharks at 7 p.m. (Eastern time). "It was surely one of our toughest games of the season, but the boys jumped out to a big lead, held tough when they had to in the third period and we got out with a big win," said Head Coach Bill Craggs. "It was an exciting game, to be sure." The Blues outshot the Bisons 17-3 in the opening period. After a short-handed goal midway through the second stanza, the Blues led by a healthy 4-0 margin. But Buffalo, the hometown of Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane, did not go quietly. Relentless pressure from the Bisons led by Nick Passafiume resulted in three unanswered goals to make the score 4-3. Passafuime talled two goals and an assist during the charge of the Bisons to tighten the collective collar of the Blues and their faithful. The tension was palpable when the Bisons yanked their goalie late in the third stanza for the one-man advantage. But the Blues scored an empty-netter to cement the 5-3 victory. Game. Set. Quarterfinal match. USA Nationals / 2010: Game 3 versus Middlesex (Mass.) Braves RESTON, Virginia – The Chicago Blues Pee Wee Major CSDHL team is headed for the USA Hockey Nationals 4A quarterfinal round. The Blues will meet the Buffalo Bisons at 11:30a.m, (Eastern time) on Saturday. Like the Blues, the Bisons also finished 2-1 -0 in the round robin with defeats over the Old York Road (Penn.) Raiders and the Lancaster (Penn.) Firebirds and a 7-5 loss to the Arapahoe (Colo.) Ice Warriors. The Blues advanced to the quarterfinals on the strength of their 17-0 game three victory. Yes, you read that correctly. The Blue Notes erupted for two touchdowns and a field goal against the Middlesex (Mass.) Braves. “We wanted to take care of business to ensure a spot in the quarterfinals, and that’s what happened,” said Head Coach Bill Craggs. USA Nationals / 2010: Game 2 versus East Coast (Conn.) Wizards RESTON, Virginia -- As Miss Scarlett O’Hara said at the conclusion of “Gone With the Wind," the epic 1939 film masterpiece: “After all, tomorrow is another day." That optimistic philosophy rang true for the Chicago Blues Pee Wee Major CSDHL team at the 2010 USA Hockey Nationals, who moved past their game one defeat and staged an epic performance of their own with a 7-0 shutout victory over the East Coast (Conn.) Wizards on Thursday morning. "We definitely shook off the rust from our first game,” said Head Coach Bill Craggs, referencing Wednesday's 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Central Connecticut Capitals. “We worked hard for all three periods, and we feel we’re in good shape for game three on Friday afternoon.” The Blues peppered the Wizards’ net with 45 shots and never gave the opposition a chance to make a game of it. USA Nationals / 2010: Game 1 versus Central Connecticut Capitals RESTON, Virginia -- The 2010 USA Hockey Nationals got off to a rough start for the Chicago Blues Pee Wee Major CSDHL squad, but as Head Coach Bill Craggs said after the game, "There's still a lot of hockey left." The Blues lost to the Central Connecticut Capitals 5-2. "The kids were a bit rusty," said Coach Craggs. "We started off strong the first few shifts, then things turned the other direction. Central Connecticut is a very good team. There's still a lot of hockey left, and the boys will be ready for our next game on Thursday morning."
- posted on 04-20-10
Blackhawk Cup / 2010: Blues finish with eight Final Four banners
Congratulations to all of the Chicago Blues Hockey Club teams that participated in the 2010 Blackhawk Cup State Tournament. We were once again very successful as an organization with eight top-three finishes. Here’s a recap: • Pee Wee Major CSDHL (Bill Craggs) – Pee Wee AA state champions and a berth at the USA Hockey Nationals • Pee Wee NIHL 1 (Stan Luberda) – Pee Wee A state champions • Pee Wee NIHL 2 (Rob Emme) – Pee Wee B state champions • Bantam Major CSDHL (Scott Treiber) – Bantam AA second place • Bantam NIHL 1 (John Doherty) – Bantam A second place • Pee Wee Minor CSDHL (Tom Kelly) – Pee Wee A second place • Midget Minor CSDHL (Bill McDonnell) – Midget Minor third place • Mite NIHL 1 (Bob Black) – Mite AA third place With six teams in championship games this year, the Blues had more teams competing for state titles than any other Illinois organization.
- posted on 06-23-10