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Chi-Town Shuffle Helps Bring Youth Hockey Back

This past weekend, 200×85 helped roughly 3,000 athletes, families and coaches get back to a sense of normalcy with the 2020 Chi-Town Shuffle. Originally scheduled for the spring and postponed due to COVID-19, this year’s rescheduled event crowned 22 different champions over the weekend. Closely abiding by the state of Illinois’ COVID-19 guidelines and protocols, the Chi-Town Shuffle played a small part in bringing the game of youth hockey back after nearly four months without any form of competitive action.

 

In the 2012 Elite Division, GTS HKY defeated International Stars 9-4 in the finale on Sunday. GTS went on a 5-0-0 run through the tournament, narrowly defeating Style Big 4-3 in the semifinals before winning the championship.

 

The 2012 AAA Division also saw Battery Hockey Academy go a perfect 5-0-0, as they won high-scoring affairs. Four of their five contests saw a total of ten goals or more, including the championship game, 8-2 over Jets Top Gun.

 

North Shore and Yuro Stars began action in the 2011 Elite Division on Friday with a 3-3 tie. So when the two teams met again on Sunday for the championship, the rematch proved to be just as tight. It would be North Shore coming out on top though, with a 5-3 win and a 5-0-1 record to end the weekend.

 

The 2011 AAA Division concluded with a matchup between two 5-0-0 teams in the Southside Warriors and Battery Hockey. In an exciting back-and-forth type of finish, it was the Warriors who would leave Chicago with an unblemished record, edging out Battery 6-5 to claim first place.

 

In a battle of the unbeatens, the Chicago Jr. Blackhawks and Method Development faced off in the 2010 Elite Division championship. The Jr. Blackhawks offense proved to be too much though, as the offense scored six or more goals for the sixth straight game for a 7-2 victory.

 

STL 10 posted its second shutout of the tournament with a 3-0 decision over the Junior Falcons in the 2010 AAA Division. With three straight wins — beginning with a 5-4 victory on Saturday night — STL 10 closed out the weekend strong to claim the championship.

 

In the 2009 Elite Division, the Minnesota Blades knocked off fellow North Star State residents Minnesota Machine 6-0 in the semifinals to reach the championship game. In the finale, the Blades continued that momentum with a 6-2 victory over Pizza Kings and a perfect 6-0-0 record.

 

The 2009 AAA Division was another close finish, this time between HD Engine and Rapid Athlete Development. Two of the top teams in the division, HD Engine had just enough to outlast Rapid Athlete with a 6-4 finish in the final.

 

The hometown Chicago Speed faced its toughest challenge of the weekend in the 2008 Elite Division championship matchup against the Minnesota Machine. Leading up to the finale, the Speed had outscored opponents 4-1 until meeting Minnesota, where they edged out the Machine with a 3-2 victory and the championship banner.

 

In the 2008 AAA Division, the Southside Warriors reigned supreme, handing not one, not two, but three teams their first losses of the weekend. Jets Top Gun was undefeated heading into the championship, but the Warriors hung on to the ‘W’ with a 5-2 decision en route to a first place finish.

 

In the 12U Girls Division, CCM Selects and Illinois Team squared off twice in the span of 24 hours. First, Illinois won 2-1 on Saturday morning to conclude pool play. Then, CCM Selects got its revenge in the final, avenging their only loss with a 4-3 victory and the championship.

 

The 12-team 2007 Elite Division started with a Minnesota Machine victory on Friday morning and ended with one on Sunday as well. Functioning like its namesake, the Machine dominated their way to a championship with a 7-1 win and 6-0-0 record to take the title. 

 

Rapid Athlete Development posted three — count em — three shutouts in their six-game run to a championship in the 2007 AAA Division. One of those blankings came in the final, a 6-0 finish over the Naperville Lancers.

 

A narrow 3-2 victory in the semifinals by GelSTX Selects set the stage for the 2006 Elite Division championship matchup with CCM Selects-Novy. Both teams entered unbeaten to that point, but it would be GelSTX coming away with the 5-2 win and the title.

 

The 2006 AAA Division pitted 5-0-0 Junkyard Dogs against 4-0-1 CK Selects on Sunday afternoon. By compiling six goals in a game for a fourth time this weekend, the Junkyard Dogs’ offense proved to be too much, as they won 6-2 to reach first place.

 

The 14U Girls Division also proved to be a rematch between CCM Selects and Illinois Team. This time, Illinois completed the sweep, both by a score of 2-1, completing a perfect 6-0-0 record and championship run.

 

West-Michigan AAA dropped its first game on Friday in the 15U Elite Division, but bounced back to go 3-1-0 the rest of the weekend. That run was capped off by a 4-0 shutout victory over Blue Star Selects in the championship on Sunday morning.

 

Similar to the 15U Elite Division champs, Hockey Sense lost its opening game 5-2, but rattled off five straight wins in the 15U AAA Division to take the championship. Hockey Sense outscored their opponents 27-13 during that run, including the 5-3 victory over C2 Hockey in the final. 

 

The 16U Elite Division final was a rematch of an earlier matchup during the weekend between International Stars and the Titans. The first meeting was a 4-4 tie and revisiting the matchup two days later proved to be just as snug. International Stars had just enough steam to win the title with a 6-4 championship victory.

 

Great Lakes Hockey allowed just seven goals against in six 16U AAA Division games. However, Jets Top Gun accounted for four of those, and three tallies came in the championship game alone. As good as Great Lakes’ defense was, its offense was even better, racking up an 8-3 win to cap off its dominance in the division.

 

Mish-Mash and Chicago Stars started the weekend’s action in the 16U Girls Division and concluded it on Sunday as well. The first match went 1-0 in favor of Mish-Mash and when the two teams met 48 hours later, Mish-Mash proved to be the better again with a 2-1 victory and championship.

 

PBR Selects reigned over the 18U AAA Division, scoring a tournament-high 38 goals over the weekend. That offense was on full display in the finale; a 7-0 decision over previously undefeated Power Play Hockey.

After a lengthy hiatus from hockey, 200×85 was pleased to be back in action across 13 rinks throughout the Chicago area. We look to be at the forefront of regaining a sense of normalcy during these trying times, as sports can provide participants, coaches, officials and families with great hope for the future. Join 200×85 for your next tournament and register today for one of our upcoming events HERE.

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