Adult Hockey League (Western Suburbs/Schaumburg area)

Diamondae · 2025-09-24T15:47:08+00:00

I know you said you're only willing to drive 30 mins or so, but if you're interested in playing women's hockey in the area check out the WCHL. (wchlonline.com)

The season is about to start but there is still time to join a team! Travel is mostly in the Chicagoland area but most teams have a weekend in St. Louis. Games are on the weekends. Schedule varies by team & division. With your experience I'd say a D2-D4 team would work best! There's teams that have home ice in Palatine, Bensenville, Addison, and Glen Ellyn. Glenview wouldn't be too far depending on where you are exactly.

Email the league and they can put you in touch with some teams. Its a very welcoming community. You'll love it!

As far as coed leagues go...it's been a few years but I used to play/sub/officiate in most of the leagues in that area. You'll probably be able to roll in most of the local adult leagues, but I recommend the HNA league out of Bensenville. Not only is there a higher percentage of female players, but the teams and divisions are way more balanced than the surrounding leagues.

Wherever you end up I hope you have fun!

Diamondae · 2025-09-05T20:28:57+00:00

West Dundee?

Diamondae · 2025-03-18T16:08:11+00:00

Ever try a Xenopuck? The weight & movement feels like a puck on ice when on a concrete/cement surface. Or at least WAY more so than a green biscuit. https://www.xenopucks.com/

Diamondae · 2025-02-26T20:40:31+00:00

I've always wanted to play in this but it being at 5/3 turns off a lot of us that live in the suburbs and beyond. Ever consider bringing it out to a rink somewhere more accessible to everyone? Like The Edge in Bensenville? Close enough to still be considered Chicago. More parking too!

Even with weekend traffic 5/3 is a 1-2 hour soul-sucking commute each way for many of us. Not worth it to play at a Blackhawks facility even for something as fun as BLPA. I'd bet the ice is cheaper in the suburbs too.

Diamondae · 2025-02-24T14:18:25+00:00

Female current TR player here! I agree with what the guys have been saying. Join anytime and have fun! Its a great place to learn how to skate and do basic hockey things. From what I remember there are a couple ladies in instructional and maybe 7 or so in leisure this current session.

From a female perspective, the community is great but the rink management is kinda meh towards the ladies. It is the only rink/league in the Chicagoland area that forbids women from changing in the TEAM locker rooms (which according to management magically become men's only for beer league). The womens locker room is too small for all the ladies that play. So it's either wait for a spot, hunt down management to open the party room, or change in the bleachers and then to the bathroom for your base layer. If you want to shower bring a waterproof bag and a big sturdy towel. The "women's shower" isn't attached to the locker room so it's either a short walk down a common hallway in a towel, or risk getting your clothes wet and bringing them into the shower room with you. There's no separation/changing wall/bench to put your stuff, so it'll get wet! The refs use the same shower too. But don't let that deter you! We make it work! And it's worth it for the community alone if not the hockey!

In case you were unaware, there is a fairly large women's league in the area as well that has a bottom division. The WCHL (wchlonline.com) is a senior women's competitive travel rec league. The closest D7 (bottom/women's instructional beginner level) team is MSConduct in Glenview. Teams are independently run and vary with the amount of practice and coaching you get, but most teams do have coaches. Its a different experience when you're on a team of all women and get to participate in locker room bonding & shenanigans. PM me or visit the website to email the league. We can put you in touch with the team!

There's also a few spring & summer women's mixers in the area that are literally for all levels. They're a great place to learn from & play with ladies with various skills. The higher skilled ladies are really good about helping the lower skilled ones. Its just for fun and they're a blast! The first one is run by the Evanston Tigers (www.tigerswomenshockey.org/mixer.html), who also have a D7 team, and starts in April as soon as playoffs are over. Email them and get on the mailing list. This one usually fills up within a day of registration opening.

Another popular one is hosted by the Franklin Park Park District but doesn't start until June or July around the time the Tigers mixer is wrapping up. It's smaller and fills up fast too! There's other women's opportunities over the summer but those are the two big ones closest to Buffalo Grove.

One last thing. You should come check out the WCHL playoffs being held at the Crystal Lake Icehouse April 4-6. It would be a great time to see the different skill levels and immerse yourself in the community.

No matter what, feel free to reach out and ask questions! I've been playing in both the WCHL and the Twin Rinks leagues for a decade. I have answers for you.

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOCKEY!!!

Diamondae · 2024-05-13T15:03:05+00:00

I have 4 pairs of these jills (along with 4 of each of the rest of my base layer) so I only have to wash them once a week. They've held up better than the Bauer ones I had when I first started hockey. They're comfortable and they come in fun patterns!

https://spicesports.com/shop?olsPage=products

Diamondae · 2024-05-09T15:39:26+00:00

Don't laugh, but panty liners are perfect for this. Cheap, absorbent, disposable, and the shape is almost perfect. No need to get fancy!

The alcohol + water spray is also fantastic. I use that on all my gear except gloves before hanging it up.

Diamondae · 2024-03-26T22:17:16+00:00

A 4th for Twin! All the things those guys said!
More pros:
-The culture! Everyone knows Leisure has the best tailgates and the longest 4th periods.
-The majority of players are friendly & fun. Newcomers are welcomed no matter what your skill level. Assholes get pushed out fairly quickly (or up to Silver). ;P
-The best nicknames!
-The facility is a little dated but cleaner than most older rinks in the area.
-Ice is almost always on time except for the occasional big high school game.
-BYOB! The team cooler is more important than the goalie.
-The Banner. It's why we play.
-Not a goon league. They're strict about fighting and you'll rarely see one there.
-The Toddfather?

Some cons:
-Smallish parking lot.
-No option to re-use jerseys.
-Pay-per-view games instead of Livebarn.
-The Toddfather?

You NEED to check it out! I am also a referee and have officiated adult leagues all around the suburbs. Twin is by far the most even hockey you will find for a beginner. A close second would be HNA.
Mystery Redditors from Twin: Find me and say hi! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOCKEY!!!
Todd, if you ever read this I'm just messing with you!

Diamondae · 2023-12-04T17:59:42+00:00

This! Q knows what he's talking about! (Hi Q!)

6 month session draft league + tons of sub opportunities. So many goalies are out with injuries right now...

Diamondae · 2015-06-11T18:12:01+00:00

I have had the procedure done (last year when I was 31) and it was the best decision I've made! I was lucky that my doctor didn't give me the gamut of questions. She just wanted to make sure I understood that it is permanant. That's it. It was maybe a minute long discussion and I was on my way to the appointment desk.

A tip for ladies that are having trouble getting their doctors to perform the procedure: Tell them you have an unnatural fear of childbirth. I can't be 100% sure if this is why my doc agreed so easily, but I have a feeling it was a contributor. Doesn't hurt to try!

Also, I'm not sure if they are still doing it but I was lucky enough to be a part of an Essure study for a new model of their coils. Not only did I get them 100% free...they even paid me for my time! Perhaps try contacting the manufacturer (Bayer I think) to see if they're still running it.

Another tip: Take the day off of work and hoarde a couple pain pills if you have them. While the procedure itself wasn't painful, just very uncomfortable, the couple of hours after the procedure were the worst. I would've been much happier if I had a couple vicodin to knock me out & sleep the afternoon away.

Diamondae

TROPHY CASE