About

History/Philosophy

The Wilmette Cougars started in 2008 with 23 players. The goal was to have a team on which women could develop their skills, learn more about the game, make friends, and support each other. One of the things Cougars players most pride themselves on is a lack of drama among teammates. We might have drama in our personal lives, but that all stops when you get on the ice. Playing hockey is a way to get away from the stress of our daily lives and do something fun that's just for us and an awesome workout.

Players come from all over the Chicago metro area and have various skill levels and years of experience — some played in high school, others started playing as adults within the last five to fifteen years. A couple even started playing with the past year and are doing great! While we aim to win, our main goal is to help everyone improve their game, so even new Cougars can expect passes and puck play each and every time they hit the ice.

We  currently have two team levels within the WCHL (Women's Central Hockey League) - D4 and D5 . Practices typically begin once a week mid-September at Centennial Ice Arena in Wilmette, moving to Watts outdoor ice arena in Glencoe in mid-November. Our season includes roughly 16 practices and 16 games, wrapping up in March, unless we make the playoffs.

An hour long, practices are held on a Monday (D4) and Wednesday (D5) evening and focus on reinforcing basic skating and hockey skills while learning new skills and practicing plays in preparation for upcoming games. While we encourage everyone to make as many practices as possible, we understand that kids’ schedules, work schedules, and life in general gets in the way, so don’t feel you can’t commit to the team because you may miss one to two practices — or even games.

Home games are on Friday or Saturday evenings at Centennial Ice Arena in Wilmette, while away games are usually on Friday or Saturday nights at the home ice of the team we are playing, somewhere in the Chicago area. We typically set up carpools for away games to add to the fun and camaraderie of the evening, and may even head out to a local pub or eatery for a celebratory drink at the end of the game.

For the 2019-2020 season, we are currently looking for full-time and sub players for the level D5 team! Contact us using the form on the Contact Us page or directly via contact@cougarswomenshockey.com.