The bell sounds as the clock hits 10:53 a.m.
Instead of going to his next class, senior Joseph Widmar heads to his car and drives down to The Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, Ill. for yet another hockey practice.
Widmar was drafted by the Chicago Steel with the 19th overall pick of the 2012 United States Hockey League (USHL) Draft. The Steel is one of 16 teams in the USHL, a league that has produced 192 NHL players to date.
“It’s the best [amateur] league in the United States, so all of the good Americans who play in the NHL usually play [in the USHL],” Widmar said.
Widmar, who needs five credits to graduate high school, takes early bird gym and two academic classes before leaving school every weekday to participate in team activities. Teammate Brian LeBlanc, who already graduated high school, commends Widmar for balancing both school and hockey.
“I can only imagine [going to school while being on the team],” said LeBlanc. “He’s barely ever at school. Keeping up with schoolwork must be an absolute nightmare.”
Along with weekday practices, the team plays games on the weekends, when it has to travel as far as Nebraska and South Dakota. Scott McConnell, head coach of the Chicago Steel, said although there have not been any conflicts between school and hockey so far, he understands that multitasking is not easy.
“I think it’s really difficult,” said McConnell. “I think it’s a big testament to [Widmar] with his ability to balance [school and hockey] because I know that what we ask you to do here at the rink is quite demanding.”
Since he began playing hockey at four years old, Widmar has gone from the Northbrook Bluehawks to the New York Capital District Selects before coming to the Steel for this season.
“I was really excited when I was drafted by the Steel because I then knew I was going to be able to graduate from GBN and live at home,” Widmar said.
Unlike Widmar, LeBlanc and many other teammates live with a host family in order to play in Chicago, something Widmar had to do when playing with the New York Capital District Selects in the Eastern Junior Hockey League last season.
According to Widmar, only he and three other players on the team still attend high school. Despite being one of the youngest kids on the Steel, McConnell said Widmar has a “unique skill set” that allows him to contribute to the team.
“I think he’s outstanding,” said McConnell. “He’s a big kid that can skate very well, he’s got skill to be able to make plays, and I think he’s a very, very good hockey player.”
McConnell said his most memorable moment with Widmar came in their 7-4 win against the Sioux Falls Stampede on Nov. 3.
“We were missing five guys off of our roster and we needed some kids to step up and step into their roles,” said McConnell. “[Widmar] I think had his best game of his USHL junior hockey career on Saturday night, and got rewarded with a couple points.”
As of Dec. 3, the USHL has 233 players committed to playing hockey in college. Even though Widmar said he has received offers from numerous East Coast colleges, he has not yet chosen a school.
“I don’t feel like I’m ready to make that decision because I don’t really know what I want out of a college yet,” Widmar said.
Regardless, McConnell thinks Widmar has the ability to do well at the next level.
“If he just stays true to himself and plays his own game, I think he’s going to be an extremely effective college hockey player with the opportunity to potentially play past that if he wishes,” McConnell said.