Summer Skates 2020

Lake Zurich-Mundelein-Wauconda HS Hockey is pleased to announce Summer Skates 2020!  Due to the proximity to our upcoming fall/winter registration (currently under construction) we are asking that you use the SignUpGenius link below to indicate your intent to participate for Summer Skates 2020.  Payments can be made in person or contact us a lzmhshockey@gmail.com to arrange an alternative payment method.  Summer Skates 2020 will be a great opportunity for our players to return to the ice and experience some high-intensity skills training with our NEW Coaching Director and Varsity Head Coach, James Brooks.

The exact format of these skates will be subject to Restore Illinois Guidelines for Youth Sports as determined by IDPH.  The Phase 3 guidelines are currently limited to 10 skaters or less (plus a coach) and are no-contact while maintaining social distancing on ice at all times.  As we move into Phase 4 we expect to be able to move forward with larger groups on-ice.  That said, continued emphasis on maximizing player-family safety will be the guiding principle from the time the players arrive at the rinks until the time they leave.  We will relay any/all protocols and/or on ice group assignments necessary prior to the 1st on-ice session.

Dates and Times are as follows:

• Sunday July 12, 1:00-3:00pm
• Sunday July 19, 1:00-3:00pm
• Sunday July 26, 1:00-3:00pm
• ALL ice times are at Barrington Ice Arena

Fee (must be paid by July 12, 2020):

• $150, includes all sessions (Goalies, NO CHARGE).

Please SignUp to indicate your intent to participate by using the following link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4FAFAD2BA7FC1-summer

Please also download the waiver/acknowledgments packet found below and return all three pages (in person July 12 or scan and email to lzmhshockey@gmail.com ). These must be completed for all players (including returning players) in order to participate.

During these Summer Skates we will be finalizing the registration process for the fall/winter season.  The details are forthcoming but it’s safe to say that there will only be a small break between the end of these Summer Skates sessions and the beginning of our player evaluation sessions for the fall/winter season’s team selections.  Those should be underway by the 2nd week of August and we will be posting details online soon.

LZMW Hockey is very excited to announce several new additions to our coaching staff for this fall that will significantly enhance the quality, intensity and vision of our high school hockey program.

James Brooks will be joining LZMW Hockey as our Coaching-Director and Varsity Head Coach.  James is very familiar with our club and our league, the Illinois High School Hockey League-North Central Division, after serving as Head Coach-Varsity Hockey with St. Patrick’s High School in Chicago.  For the past four seasons James led their program, both on and off the ice, and was focused on instilling a hockey culture into St. Patrick’s High School Athletics.

James grew up on Chicago’s northwest side and has an extensive hockey background.  As a teenager James played high school hockey with Loyola Academy and also played with the Chicago Blues in the CSDHL before attending Robert Morris College to study Business Management and play Division II Hockey in the ACHA.  Before going pro James did an international stint with Hammerby IF of Sweden’s J20 Super-Elite League which then led to playing his first pro hockey with Sweden’s 2nd Division for Karlskoga HC.  James would later return to the USA and represent several teams while playing in the AAHA/AAHL and FHL/FPHL.

As Coaching-Director, James will be directing all LZMW Hockey coaches and will be responsible for developing all aspects of player-development.  He will manage all team rosters, develop all practice plans, develop off-ice conditioning programs, manage player recruitment and serve as our Varsity Head Coach.  This will ensure greater synergy between our Junior Varsity and Varsity programs.  James will bring to our high school athletes the same high-intensity, discipline and sportsmanship that clearly contributed to his own hockey success.

Joining James and our returning Junior Varsity Head Coach, Matt (Gurklis), will be two new coaching assistants Matt (Lundgren) and Ryan Geils.  Lundgren is an alumnus of Mount Carmel High School where he was a 3-time All-Star before going on to play Division II Hockey at Robert Morris and DePaul.  Ryan grew up playing for the Chicago Blues and represented Team Chicago in international competitions in Norway, Sweden and Germany before helping the Hinsdale Central Ice Devils play in back to back High School Championships. Lundgren and Ryan both assisted James over the past four seasons and will also bring high levels of intensity, enthusiasm and vision to LZMW Hockey.

We will post details in the coming days regarding a limited enrollment high-intensity “Return to the Ice and Meet LZMW’s New Coaching-Director and Varsity Head Coach” summer program for July.  Be on the lookout for the registration link!

Please join the LZMW Board of Directors in welcoming our new coaches!

LZMW is a combined High School organization representing  Lake Zurich, Mundelein and Wauconda school districts.  We are part of the Illinois High School Hockey League - North Central Division  

Our mission is to promote, and develop High School Hockey in the communities of Lake Zurich, Mundelein and Wauconda through core values including sportsmanship, integrity and the pursuit of excellence through competition and teamwork. It is our goal to develop our players, both as athletes and individuals. We strive to compete with any high school and midget program in the state.

LZMW Hockey is a 501(c)(3) corporation under the governance of USA Hockey and AHAI and is responsible for its own revenues and expenditures. 

The Fall/Winter season runs from August through March.  We target an average of two practices and two games a week per team as well as 2-3 tournaments. In the Spring and Summer LZMW runs sessions including spring league games and scrimmages with an emphasis on practice and skills.