The Chicago Blues Hockey Club was founded in 1996 and has since become one of the premier Tier II travel hockey programs in the United States. Our club teams compete in the Central States Developmental Hockey League (CSDHL) and the North Illinois Hockey League (NIHL) for Squirts through Midgets and the Chicago United Hockey League (CUHL) at the Mite level. The Blues skate out of one of Illinois' best hockey facilities, the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, Illinois, in Chicago's western suburbs.
The Chicago Blues were created through a merger of the McFetridge Patriots and the Saddle & Cycle Club hockey teams on Chicago's northwest side. The Blues fielded seven teams in their inaugural 1996-97 season. However, without a home rink, the Blues played most of their games on the road in their first season. The Chicago Blues found a home of their own when Johnny's Ice House opened a few blocks east of the United Center.
The 1999-2000 season was a big one for the Blues, as the club moved to the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville and merged with the Oak Park Eagles. The club's player ranks grew by 70% with 13 teams. The Blues continued to grow through the 2003-04 campaign, which saw the adoption of the hockey director program and increased collaboration with the Village of Bensenville.
Along the way the Blues have garnered a number of USA Hockey, Blackhawk Cup, CSDHL, NIHL and Silver Stick banners and hardware. Here are a few of our many accomplishments over the past decade: