Illinois

Illinois is a state in the Midwestern United States.
Its population is about 12,800,000.
The capital is Springfield and the largest city is Chicago.
==History of hockey in Illinois==
Ice polo was first played in Chicago in 1889. The Oaklands defeated the Lincoln Park Skating Club 5-2 on January 31. Two games were played between the North Chicago Shinny Club and the Hyde Park Shinny Club in late February, North Chicago winning by respective scores of 2-1 and 3-1. In 1895, the Chicago Spaldings faced some local teams, and went on a tour of Ontario in February, succeeding at beating St. Thomas and Brampton. The following winter, the Spaldings faced Tattersall's three times, and visited Pittsburgh in February, winning all four games they played in the city. Activities in Chicago were sporadic due to the weather. In 1901, the Chicago College of Dental Surgery hockey team went on a tour, visiting Buffalo, Toronto, and Hamilton, Ontario. Some of the main teams in the early years included the Lake Forest Winter Club, Highland Park Hockey Club, Prairie Avenue Hockey Club, Evanston Hockey Club, Riverside Hockey Club, Winnetka Hockey Club, Sepoys Calumet Lacrosse Club, and the Kenwood Country Club. Calumet won the city championship in 1904. The North Shore Hockey League was underway by 1904-05.
In 1908-09, the Illinois Athletic Club played two games against the Chicago Hockey Club, and visited St. Louis, where they defeated the Auditorium Club twice. The Chicago Ice Palace opened in the fall of 1910, giving the city an artificial ice rink, the first game taking place on October 8. The Chicago Hockey Association was formed, but the first few games, a rather informal schedule was played. The Illinois Athletic Club faced teams from Minnesota, Michigan, and Ontario this winter, and the Chicago All-Stars played the Berlin (ON) Professionals. The rink closed after the season, and hockey was not played in Chicago again until 1914-15. In 1915-16, the Illinois-Indiana Hockey League was contested. The Chicago Hockey Association was played on-and-off from 1917-1922 and the North Shore League was contested annually from 1921-1926.
The Chicago Black Hawks joined the National Hockey League for the 1926-27 season. The Chicago Cardinals also joined the American Hockey Association that winter, playing only one season in the league. The Chicago Shamrocks later competed in the AHA from 1930-1932. The Chicago Cougars played in the World Hockey Association from 1972-1975. The following teams have competed in the American Hockey League: Chicago Wolves (2001-present), Peoria Rivermen (2005-2013), Quad City Flames (2007-2009), and the Rockford IceHogs (2007-present). The Pekin Stars competed from 1964-1979 and the Chicago Cardinals were active as an independent/minor league team from 1971-1986. The Peoria Stars played from 1959-1965 and the Peoria Blades started out as an independent team in 1971-72. Team Chicago also played during the early 1970s. The Springfield Kings began play in 1974. The Midwest Senior Hockey League was contested from 1976-1979.
There were various amateur activities that took place from 1946-1951. The Chicago Area Amateur Hockey League was contested from 1952-1956. The Illinois Ice Hockey League was played from 1957-1964 and dominated by the Wagon Wheel Cardinals. The Tri-State Amateur Hockey League operated from 1962-1964. On November 28, 1965, the Elgin Blades beat the Chicago Chargers 7-4. They were set to face the Dundee Hornets on December 2. On January 18, 1968, the Blades thumped the Chargers 6-1. 
The University of Illinois Fighting Illini fielded a varsity hockey team from 1937-1943. The UIC Flames sponsored hockey from 1966-1996. The Chicago State University Cougars had a program in Division II from 1972-1979. The Lake Forest College Foresters have had a team playing in Division II/III since 1965.
;List of minor professional franchises
*Chicago Cardinals - (AHA) - (1926-1927)
*Chicago Shamrocks - (AHA) - (1930-1932)
*Fox Valley Astros - (USHL) - (1965-1966)
*Chicago Cougars - (WHA) - (1972-1975)
*Peoria Prancers - (IHL) - (1982-1984)
*Peoria Rivermen - (IHL) - (1984-1996)
*Danville Fighting Saints - (AAHL) - (1986-1989)
*Springfield Capitols - (AAHL) - (1988-1989)
*Chicago Wolves - (IHL) - (1994-2001)
*Quad City Mallards - (CoHL) - (1995-1997)
*Peoria Rivermen - (ECHL) - (1996-2005)
*Quad City Mallards - (UHL) - (1997-2007)
*Rockford IceHogs - (UHL) - (1999-2007) 
*Chicago Wolves - (AHL) - (2001-present)
*Peoria Rivermen - (AHL) - (2005-2013) 
*Chicago Hounds - (UHL) - (2006-2007)
*Danville Pounders - (NEHL) - (2006-2007)
*Bloomington Prairie Thunder - (IHL) - (2007-2010)
*Quad City Flames - (AHL) - (2007-2009)
*Rockford IceHogs - (AHL) - (2007-present)
*Chicago Blaze - (AAHL) - (2009)
*Chi-Town Shooters - (AAHL) - (2008-2011)
*Quad City Mallards - (IHL) - (2009-2010)
*Bloomington Prairie Thunder - (CHL) - (2010-2011) 
*Quad City Mallards - (CHL) - (2010-2014)
*Chicago Express - (ECHL) - (2011-2012)
*Bloomington Blaze - (CHL) - (2011-2013)
*Danville Dashers - (FHL) - (2011-2021)
*Bloomington Thunder - (SPHL) - (2013-2014)
*Peoria Rivermen - (SPHL) - (2013-present)
*Quad City Mallards - (ECHL) - (2014-2018) 
*Quad City Storm - (SPHL) - (2018-present)
*Vermilion County Bobcats - (SPHL) - (2021-present)
Category:States