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UPDATED: 06/19/23

Hockey Directors

Tim Benz

Tim Benz

Hockey Director

Phone: 847-502-4399

We officially welcome Hockey Director, Tim Benz, to his first Fall Season with the Northwest Chargers. Tim comes to the organization with an impressive hockey background spanning more than twenty years as an athlete, coach and director. Tim has held various director, coaching and player development roles at Wilmette Hockey Association, Loyola Academy, Glenview Stars, Glenbrook South, Glenbrook Girls, Delaney Hockey, and Ultimate Athlete. In addition to his role with the Chargers, Tim also serves as Hockey Director and Varsity Head Coach with the Saint Viator Lions. Tim is a recognized leader within the hockey community and we are excited to have him leading the Northwest Chargers organization for the 2022/23 season and many more seasons to come.


Wayne Brown

Wayne Brown

Skills Director

Phone: 773-358-0260

A  native of Abbotsford, BC, Canada,  I started on skates at 3 years old, and grew up on street hockey and rinks north of the border.  I received an early foundation for skating with instructors Marv Waller (2x BC Hockey Development Award in Coaching), Dwayne Lowdermilk(NHL Alum) and Power Skating Pioneer Laura Stamm.  After playing minor Hockey for the  AAA Abbotsford Hawks and 3 years in BC Junior Hockey League, I came to the USA  to play for the NCAA Division III, St. Norbert College Green Knights.  I graduated in 2002 from SNC with a degree in Business Administration.

I started coaching and assistant coaching various Bantam AA and Squirt AA hockey teams.  This led me down the path to spending  4 years skills training and mentoring over 2600 private and semi-private lessons at Diamond Hockey.  The last 3 years I have been the lead skating and skills coach  for the Winnetka Warriors,  Jr. Warriors, and WarHawks hockey clubs.   In this role, I have provided over 1000 small group and large group skills training sessions for players aged 6 -14.   When I'm not at the rink,  you can find me devoted to spending time with my family: wife Tiffany, daughter Callie and son Joey.  I'm very grateful and excited to be working with the Chargers Program.


Good As Gould Goalie School

Good As Gould Goalie School

Goalie Instruction

Phone: 847-344-9072

What started in 1992 as Great Saves Goalie School has developed into a highly established goaltending academy. Our clients come from across the United States and Canada for our expert services.  Over the years, we have had the pleasure of coaching numerous pro goaltenders including Al Montoya, Mike Zacharias, Rob Madore, Ty Conklin, Richard Bachman, and Gerald Coleman.

Good As Gould Goalie School believes in allowing goaltenders to develop and improve their own style of goaltending. We also believe that while each goaltender is unique in his or her technique, each one also has a universal need for tactical development, concentration, strength, flexibility, and control of game situations. The school strives to combine a broad development of all goalies' knowledge of the game with a focused enhancement of each goalie's particular technique. This goal is achieved by providing a balanced curriculum of off-ice training, classroom instruction, on-ice training, and video analysis with the best teachers available. We feel that goaltenders learn best in small groups, as they receive more time with our staff. Because of this, we feature a 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio for beginners and a 2:1 ratio for more dedicated goaltenders. 


Peppi Laboy

Peppi Laboy

Future Chargers Director

Phone: 630-390-8265

Born and raised in Chicago, I started skating at 8 years old.  I grew up playing all sports, hockey and football in the winter and baseball and swimming in the summer.  I started playing at McFetridge Sports Center throughout my youth and went on to play High School Hockey at Niles West.  

I have been coaching for many years and turned my focus to hockey 8 years ago.  I’ve coached Mites thru Bantam and am currently coaching the Northwest Chargers. I was also the Hockey coordinator for the Mount Prospect Bolts, Little Blackhawks Program, and Hockey Tots (learn to skate).

My goal as a coach is to see skill development, personal growth and fun throughout my practices.  With that goal in mind I have done private skates and small group trainings to be able to teach kids of all ages and skill levels. As a coach, I’ve found that there is no greater reward than to see my players develop and love the game even more.  

Outside of the rink, I have spent that last 10 years as a Youth Minister. This has given me the opportunity to show my love for God and to show people what loving others truly looks like. I’ve even been able to combine my passions for God and hockey by coaching for Hockey Ministries International (HMI), Youth Bible camps, and more. 

God, my family, and hockey are my passions in my life.


UPDATED: 07/11/23

2023-2024 Coaching Staff