For the first time in Chargers history, we are proud to announce that we have been awarded a Girls affiliate license by AHAI, allowing us to field girls teams. We are offering teams at the 10U and 12U levels for the fall season. Led by Girls Director, Chris Lichterman, we are excited to build a girls foundation and become a destination club for our female players for years to come. You can find more information on Chris, as well as other members of our Girls staff, below in the Coaching Staff section. As we are considered a new Girls affiliate for the 2025-26 season, please review the "Player Movement Rules" page on our webpage for applicable information.
Girls Program Offerings
We believe in building our girls program from the grassroots by providing a complete developmental plan that mirrors our Co-Ed teams. Girls players will receive:
- One Skills session per week led by Skills Director Wayne Brown or Player Development Director Kevin Murray
- One Goalie clinic per week led by Stu Gould and the Gould Goaltending Goalie School
- Two team practices per week
- One home game slot per week
- One Dryland session per week led by Health Performance Institute - Mount Prospect (a division of Illinois Bone and Joint, located on the Nicholas Sportsplex campus)
- Team-specific tournament play, which the Head Coach will determine
- League playoffs and the AHAI State tournament
- Practice Socks and dry-fit t-shirt (dual roster girls only receive 1 set)
All home ice for Girls will be at the Nicholas Sportsplex in Mount Prospect and the new Rosemont Ice Arena.
League Participation
Our 10U and 12U Girls teams will participate in the newly rebranded Midwest Superior Girls Hockey League, which NIHL powers. Our Girls will compete in the National or American division. The season will begin with a series of relegation round games (seeding), followed by a regular season schedule, and conclude with playoffs and championship games. Some travel will be required, as Girls teams are competing against teams from around the Midwest area. However, travel will be confined to the Chicagoland area, as the "Peoria Rule" will be in effect. Please see the NIHL website for more information.
Midwest Superior Girls Hockey (NIHL)
(USA Hockey)
- Girls U10 (2015 & 2016)
- Girls U12 (2013 & 2014)
Rostering & Fees
Female players are free to double or dual roster if they choose to do so, and conflicts on home ice will be managed to the best of our ability (with some exceptions applying). Any player who elects to dual roster within the Chargers organization will receive a $2,600 discount off player fees and will subsequently attend only one of the Skills, Goalie, and Dryland session per week (girls will attend team practices for both teams as scheduled).
WE HAVE A TWO-STEP REGISTRATION PROCESS:
1. Tryout Registration - $295
(plus 3% cc fee)
Includes a series of pre-season skates, before the actual tryouts, which begin on August 15th. This is a mandatory fee regardless of the number of sessions attended and is non-refundable. On the first day of tryouts (August 15th), your credit card will be charged $1,000 (plus a 3% credit card fee) for a deposit towards player fees. If your player decides not to tryout for the Chargers, you must inform Chris Lichterman BEFORE August 15th so that we can cancel the season deposit transaction. Dual roster players must register and pay the $295 fee for both the Girls team and the Co-Ed team.
2. Season Registration - $4,600/$2,000
(plus 3% cc fee)
Once tryouts have been completed, each player will receive a link to a secondary registration form specific to the team to which they have been assigned. Player fees for the Girls teams are $4,600 if they are playing girls-only, and $2,000 if they are dual rostering within the Chargers organization. The discount takes into account that Girls will only be attending one Skills, Goalie, and Dryland session per week (girls will attend team practices for both teams as scheduled).
SEASON PAYMENT DETAILS
| Tryout Fee | TotalSeason Fee | *SeasonDeposit | FullPlan (1x) | Two-TimePlan (2x) | MonthlyPlan (5x) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Girls 10U | $295.00 | $4,600.00 | $1,000.00 | $3,600.00 | $1,800.00 | $720.00 |
| Girls 10U (Dual Roster) | $295.00 | $2,000.00 | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 | $500.00 | $200.00 |
| Girls 12U | $295.00 | $4,600.00 | $1,000.00 | $3,600.00 | $1,800.00 | $720.00 |
| Girls 12U (Dual Roster) | $295.00 | $2,000.00 | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 | $500.00 | $200.00 |
Equipment & Jersey Fittings
Our Girls teams will be outfitted in our Chargers custom jerseys, shells, and socks, just like our Co-Ed teams. Our first jersey and equipment fitting is scheduled for August 6th, from 5:30pm to 9:00pm at Jerry's Hockey - Mount Prospect, inside Nicholas Sportsplex. Please refer to the Equipment page located in the Tryout Information Packet more information on required items, costs, and a comprehensive FAQs section.
Coaching Staff
Chris Lichterman
Girls Director & Head Coach
Phone: (224) 478-9199
Chris Lichterman is a dedicated youth hockey coach committed to developing confident and resilient young athletes. As the Girls Hockey Director for the Northwest Chargers, he is spearheading the organization of its first-ever all-girls hockey teams, coaching both the 10U and 12U teams while also assisting with the co-ed 2016 birth year team. His goal extends beyond hockey; he works to create an empowering environment where female players can thrive both on and off the ice.
Starting his journey in Mount Prospect, IL, Chris played youth hockey before competing at the collegiate club level at Miami University in Ohio. He also has nearly 30 years of officiating experience, which has enriched his coaching career, allowing him to connect with players of all levels, from Mites to Midgets.
Chris’s coaching philosophy centers on emotional intelligence and long-term player development. He prioritizes a positive, supportive environment over wins and losses, believing that true confidence is nurtured through experiences on and off the ice. With a unique perspective gained from his playing, coaching, and officiating backgrounds, he is dedicated to building not just skilled players but great people with a bright future ahead for the athletes he mentors.
Kailey Mleko
Girls Assistant Coach
Phone: (224) 242-5789
Kailey Mleko began her hockey journey at the squirt level with the Renegades Hockey program, where she discovered her passion for the sport. She then moved on to the Northwest Chargers to develop her skills over the next two seasons and finished her youth career with the Glenview Stars girls hockey program, where she served as team captain for three years.
After high school, Kailey played four seasons of NCAA Division III women's hockey at Trine University in Indiana. She excelled as one of the top scorers in her program's history, earning the title of Offensive Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons. As a captain in her senior year, she fostered a positive team culture.
Beyond playing, Kailey has coached at various girls hockey camps, contributing to the development of young female athletes. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Sport Management. Kailey is excited to bring her expertise to the Northwest Chargers girls hockey program, aiming to inspire players to reach their full potential on and off the ice.
Natalie Hogan
Girls Assistant Coach
Phone: (224) 763-3359
Natalie grew up in the Hoffman Estates area, where she played for several notable teams, including the Northwest Chargers, Glenview Stars, Chicago Young Americans, and Team Illinois. Following high school, she played at the collegiate level in NCAA Division III hockey for St. Norbert College. Over her impressive tenure, Natalie participated in 118 games, amassing a total of 103 points with 44 goals and 59 assists.
Her dedication and talent on the ice earned her recognition as a two-time NCHA All-Conference Team selection and two-time member of the NCHA Slaats Cup Playoffs All-Tournament Team. Additionally, she was honored as St. Norbert College's Women's Ice Hockey Offensive Player of the Year and contributed to the SNC Female Power Play of the Year Award. In her senior season, she played a pivotal role in leading her team to both regular season and conference championships, achieving a historic victory in the first round of the NCAA DIII quarterfinals—the first in the school's history.
Beyond her playing career, Natalie is committed to giving back to the sport she loves. She has worked at numerous girls' youth hockey camps and volunteered with Youth and Learn-to-Skate programs during her college years. Passionate about inspiring the next generation, Natalie looks forward to continuing her efforts to promote the game and empower young girls to pursue their hockey dreams.
Wayne Brown
Hockey Skills Director
Phone: (773) 358-0260
Wayne Brown is a native of Abbotsford, BC, Canada. He started skating when he was only 3 years old and grew up playing street hockey and on rinks in Canada. Wayne had the privilege of receiving early training from renowned instructors such as 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 spending three years in the BC Junior Hockey League, Wayne moved to the USA to play for the NCAA Division III, St. Norbert College Green Knights. He graduated in 2002 with a degree in Business Administration.
Wayne Brown found his passion for coaching and began as a volunteer assistant coach for various Bantam AA and Squirt AA hockey teams. This led him to spend four years mentoring and skills training over 2600 private and semi-private lessons at Diamond Hockey. From 2017 to 2020, Wayne was the lead skating and skills coach for the Winnetka Warriors, Jr. Warriors, and WarHawks hockey clubs. In 2020, Wayne joined the Northwest Chargers as the program's Hockey Skills Director, providing over 1,000 small-group and large-group skills training sessions for players aged 6-14.
When Wayne is not at the rink, you can find him spending time with his family, including his wife Tiffany, daughter Callie, and son Joey.
Additional Programs
Led by Girls Director & Coach, Chris Lichterman, girls of all levels and teams are welcome to drop-in for a pre-tryout skate. CASH, ZELLE, or CHECK at the door.
LEVEL & Cost Info
- ALL LEVELS (Girls-Only)
- Drop-in Skaters & Goalies: $20
Mount Prospect Ice Arena
| DATE | TIME | RINK |
|---|---|---|
| 06/17/25 | 5:10-6:10 PM | South |
| 07/23/25 | 7:30-8:30 PM | South |
Have Questions?
Chris Lichterman
Girls Director
Phone: (224) 478-9199
Players who participated in our Spring 2025 program may attend the Summer Skates at no charge. All other players are welcome to drop-in. CASH, ZELLE, or CHECK at the door.
LEVEL & Cost Info
- ALL LEVELS (COED)
- Drop-in Skaters: $25
- Goalies: FREE
Chargers coaches and counselors will be conducting a week-long hockey camp at Mount Prospect Ice Arena for Mites through Bantam-aged players. All players will receive a camp jersey.
LEVEL & Cost Info
- MITE, SQUIRT, PEEWEE & BANTAM (COED)
- Skaters: $295
- Goalies: $195
Registrations are Non-Refundable
Interested to see what we're all about? Join us for one of our FREE Girls-Only Clinics hosted at Mount Prospect Ice Arena. Open to current Chargers girls, and anyone interested in joining us in the future.
LEVEL & Cost Info
- U10 & U12 LEVELS (GIRLS)
- FREE
Full Gear Required
The Registration "Girls Hockey" is not currently available.
Mount Prospect Ice Arena
| DATE | TIME | WHO ATTENDS | RINK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04/17/25 | 5:20-6:20 PM | 2013-2016 | Center |
| 05/15/25 | 5:30-6:30 PM | 2013-2016 | North |
Please reach out to Pete Carcione if you have questions about if this clinic would make sense for your player.
With only 6 players competing on a large ice surface, players will improve their skating, stick handling, passing, shooting, and positional play. One game per week, please bring a light and a dark jersey. Groups will be assigned soon.
Cost info
- ALL LEVELS (COED)
- Skaters: $120
- Goalies: $30
Registrations are Non-Refundable
The Registration "Girls Hockey" is not currently available.
Tournament Opportunities
10U & 12U Girls Teams - Invite Only
Battle On The Border
Girls 12U Spring
Battle on the Border
2ND PLACE
Girls 12U Spring (Lichterman & Vesely)
May 30 - June 1, 2025 - Gurnee, IL
