Best Team In Chicago

[ClarkAddison]

Another post today got me thinking. The rinks in Chicago that I know of that have adult leagues are Hat Trick Hockey in Palatine, Mainstreet in Romeoville, Sportsplex in Homer Glen, Mt. Prospect Community Center, www.illinoisinlinehockey.com's program in Berwyn, North Avenue Beach in Chicago, Glen Ayre in Carol Stream, Sportsplex in Darien and the Dome in Elgin. Excuse me if I missed any or if any no longer exist.

Who are the best adult teams in the area that actually play in a league (Not just tournament teams). So far, the best I've seen are the Tour Mudcats in Mt. Prospect. How would they rate at the other rinks?



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[nayrbs]

Just an interest, Who plays on the Tour Mudcats team at your rink? Are they the real Mudcats or just a team trying to be the Mudcats?

nayrbs

[ClarkAddison]

I believe they are at least part of the real deal. I'm pretty sure I saw Dan Costanza with them.



http://www.eteamz.com/ChillDawgz/images/NPMikeShot.jpg

[nayrbs]

Do you know who runs the rink up in Mt. Prospect?

[ClarkAddison]

Brian Taylor and Joe Patterson is his assistant. It's the Mt. Prospect Community Center. The Gold games are Sunday's 9,10,11. They also have bronze and silver. I think they're Sunday nights. We've only played two games so far. It's run very well.



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[backczech]

They're not the Tour Mudcats, they just use the name Mudcats. But yes, Dan Costanza plays for them both, and his brother Marc plays in net in Prospect and plays backup net for the pro team.

[backczech]

It's hard to rate league teams in our area. Almost every season 2-4 players will switch teams and create totally different levels in skill on a particular team. I don't know any league team that has stayed even 90% the same for more than a year. That being said, no team can match the costanza's (dan marc and scott) here. You can beat them on any given day, but in the long term they'll get you.

[nayrbs]

So, the Constanza Brothers are dominating the league in Mt. Prospect? Maybe it is time that they get some competition from and old bunch of rivals. When does the next session start over at Mt. Prospect?

[ClarkAddison]

It only started a few weeks ago. There are 6 teams. From what I could tell. 4 are pretty competitive. 2 should maybe be in silver.

One team forfieted a game this past weekend because they had two guys thrown out the week before and weren't able to field a team. Maybe you can find out if its not too late to be thrown on their roster. I think it was one of the better teams. BackCzech may have more info then me.



http://www.eteamz.com/ChillDawgz/images/NPMikeShot.jpg

[backczech]

That team is a bunch of goons. Some of them are banned for life from other rinks around here. They do have talent, but winning isn't always their first priority.

[Steve19]

Sorry this is a little off your topic Clark but I was wondering if you ever(or have) play(ed) at the Naperville outdoor rink?

Just seeing if I might know you that's all, as I play there just about every night(when weather permits) :)

Steve

[ClarkAddison]

Steve,

I played there once about 4 or 5 years ago. The surface was falling apart. I heard they put tile over it now. How is it? What's the exact location and when is the best time to show up when people are there?



http://www.eteamz.com/ChillDawgz/images/NPMikeShot.jpg

[Steve19]

The good(well bad heh) ole' blue surface. They retiled the surface with plastic "waffle" tiles. People say it's a pretty slick surface but I've never had any problems with it(I think they were using pretty hard wheels compaired to my soft). As for the location It's off of Royce Road and Naperville Rd/S. Naper Blvd(almost the border of Bolingbrook) The best times to come would between April 7th all the way up until sometime in October or November. The "prime" hours last year were 630pm-10pm(10 is when the lights shut off) The best days were Tuesday, Thursday and Sundays for hockey. In the middle of Summer you can come pretty much anyday of the week at the times I gave you and it will be packed.

Some stuff to note:
1.If there's rain or a lot of humidity the rink surface becomes unskateable and usually needs 1 day to dry before it's ready again.
2.There's a couple of hackers there, shinguards are highly recommended.
3. Bring water, as Naperville hasn't put in a water fountain.(Although a 1/5 of a mile south theres a lot of stores that have bottled water/sports drinks)
4. If you use a Synergy/Response/Z-Carbon blade those won't wear out on that surface but I do have to warn you about the nails along the boards(those are to ancor the surface so it doesn't get thrashed with the weather) those will chip any type of blade on a stick or wheels on your skate.

If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Steve

[ClarkAddison]

Thanks Steve,

I may be out again this spring. Since we've got our own outdoor rink, I mostly play in Berwyn. I've got leagues there as well. Go to www.illinoisinlinehockey.com for more information. Most of the guys from the league will play rat as well.
Do the tiles go all the way to the boards? What about expansion and contraction due to weather?



http://www.eteamz.com/ChillDawgz/images/NPMikeShot.jpg

[jbeavon]

Just wanted to let all of you know that there is a brand new rink in St. Charles, IL. Sportsplex of St. Charles. We are in our second season and WE are hosting the Chicago NARCh regional this year. We have all types of adult and youth leagues too. Check out our site at www.sportsplexstc.com, or email me at [email protected]

[ClarkAddison]

I saw that Jason. We are planning on entering 8, 10, 12 & adult teams.



http://www.eteamz.com/ChillDawgz/images/NPMikeShot.jpg

[Steve19]

The tiles reach all the way to the boards, and in the corners and around the nets , there's some nails to anchor the surface down. As for expanding and contracting, I never really noticed the surface do that, although it could be doing that.

Steve