USA Hockey Adult Hockey

Special to USAHockey.com

File this under the heading of a team that has a dual identity.

For every month of the year except February, the women who play their Women’s Central Hockey League games in the International Ice Centre in Romeoville, Ill. are known as the Rampage. But ever since 2009, in February they’re called the Chekahoes. The name is a takeoff on the Chinook word “cheechako,” which means newcomer.

“Newcomer” definitely was appropriate in 2009, the first year the team played in the Labatt Blue/USA Pond Hockey National Championship in Eagle River, Wis.

According to team manager Maria Lizotte, she almost had to twist a few arms in order to persuade enough women to make the trip.

“We had women that didn’t want to go because they were afraid they would freeze or maybe it would be too cold to play,” Lizotte said. “Fortunately, we were able to persuade some of our new players.”

Needless to say, the Chekahoes were hooked.

“After we returned home, everybody couldn’t stop talking about what an amazing experience it was and what a great time they had,” Lizotte said. 

The women who were on that initial team made such a favorable impression on their teammates and friends that the organization has since fielded at least two teams at each tournament, Checkahoes 1 and Checkahoes 2.

Checkahoes 1 and 2 usually play in the Bronze Division (30-and-over). But in 2010, the younger women played in the Silver Division (21-and-over) and reached the semifinals. That was the best finish for either team, but these women are trying to improve upon that.

“I always tell our players ‘Don’t sandbag it,’” Lizotte said. “If you want to play, play the right way. My challenge as team manager is to keep up morale.

“You want the experience to be as challenging as possible. Challenge yourself, yet have a good time. Obviously, you want to bring home a trophy. But at least bring home memories that you will cherish.”

There was very little to cherish in the middle of the previous decade, when the team initially called the Penguins disbanded because of a big differential in talent levels among the players in the WCHL. But when the International Ice Centre opened in 2006, most of the same women signed up for a season and called themselves the Hounds.

Then, because so many women wanted to play, two teams were formed and were named the Rampage.

“Fortunately, we were able to find a place for any woman who wanted to play,” Lizotte said. “And by holding evaluations, we were able to equalize the talent.

“There was a learning curve. But it’s proven to be a lot of fun.”

Making the trek to Eagle River for the Pond Hockey Championships has proven to be a lot of work for Lizotte, who served in the Marines for 10 years and was honorably discharged in 2000 as a major.

“It nearly takes a year to plan the trip because of all the logistics,” Lizotte said. “Given my military background, it only was natural for me to assume the role that I did.

“The women wanted some form of structure, and that’s what I provide.”

By that Lizotte means all the players on the two teams want to worry about is playing pond hockey and not the Xs and Os that go into making travel and rooming arrangements for the trip.

“Every women who’s been [to Eagle River] invariably has said that, once she stepped on the pond [at Dollar Lake], it almost took away her breath,” Lizotte said. “Now, everybody loves it and looks forward to making the trip every year.”

That’s a far cry from the prevailing attitude in 2009.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.