Sjoukje Brown McCudden
TI Girls Program Director
referette@sbcglobal.net

Sjoukje Brown McCudden brings a vast and diverse hockey background to the Team Illinois family. She wears many hats in Illinois hockey, and has been involved in the growth of Illinois hockey in many capacities. She played in the Barrington area during her youth, and on a college club women’s team at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

As an official, Sjoukje was the first female in the United States to officiate at the Junior ‘A’ level in the USHL. She achieved this position in her third year of officiating. Additionally Sjoukje has worked numerous college league championship games in the ECAC, Hockey East, and was employed as a full-time referee with the WCHA. She has officiated three NCAA Frozen Four tournaments as a referee, and worked countless pre-Olympic exhibition games for the 1998 Olympics in Nagano and the 2002 games in Salt Lake City as a linesman.

Sjoukje started and developed the Crystal Lake Leafs Girls Program in 1997, and maintained her position as Girls Director with the Leafs until March, 2007. As an administrator she hosted and directed two Blackhawk Cup playoff tournaments. She is co-owner if Ice Company Hockey Schools, a year-round hockey skills development program in the Chicagoland area. Though she is currently more involved with Ice Company as an administrator, her past role was as a power skating and skills instructor.

Sjoukje’s coaching history includes various girls’ teams in Crystal Lake from 1996-2000, numerous spring and tournament teams, and power skating with the Shooting Stars, Flames, Huskies, Crystal Lake, Barrington, and Team Illinois (’95-’97).

A Letter From The Director To the Team Illinois Girls’ Hockey Parents

I am very excited to become a part of the Team Illinois family. It is with great anticipation and the desire for a cooperative and industrious playing environment that I come to Team Illinois, and I look forward to seeing where this year and the years to come will take us as an organization.

I have been involved in girls’ hockey in Illinois for the past 20 years as a coach and official, and as a player prior to that. During that time I have seen tremendous growth in girls’ hockey, and many players have developed beyond the expectations set for them. This is a phenomenon that I will continue to generate with the resources, staffing, and direction of the Team Illinois Girls’ Program.

The first order of business that I feel is imperative for a productive and competitive season is top notch coaching. I am confident that the coaching your daughter will receive in the Team Illinois Girls’ Program will instill work ethic, individual and team skills, and a competitive edge that will aid her in achieving the next level of ability in our scaffolding of success.

Communication is also a key mechanism to the running of a superior program. As many of you already know, my door is always open for communication. I welcome support, feedback, and questions, and feel that no question is too small to ask. I will be present to answer questions and address any concerns that may arise, and look forward to working with you and your daughter to ensure exposure and continued success.

I believe that active representation and an involved director are two vital components to an organization’s success. Additionally, the creation of a girls’ directorship position shows a vested interest in girls’ hockey on behalf of Team Illinois, and I am proud to take on that role.

I am honored to represent Team Illinois Girls’ Hockey and cannot wait to see the progress of our teams and our individual players. I anticipate much growth in our organization, and look forward to serving your daughters’ hockey needs.

Respectfully,

Sjoukje Brown McCudden
TI Girls Program Director
referette@sbcglobal.net