Coaching

Jimmy Warrick is in his first year as Hockey Director at Winnetka. Since 2019, Warrick has served as the Assistant Hockey Director at the Winter Club of Lake Forest, IL where he has coached teams at every age group, developed and expanded the learn-to-play program, and managed day-to-day operations of the club. 

Warrick has also served as a Head Coach of the Lake Forest High School Junior Varsity Blue team and Assistant Coach of the Varsity Gold team. He joined the program in 2020.

A native of the Chicago North Shore, Warrick started his youth hockey career with the Skokie and Northbrook youth programs before going on to play high school hockey at Shattuck St. Mary School in Faribault, Minnesota. He went on to play junior hockey for the New York Aviators of the USPHL, where he led the league in scoring and earned MVP honors in the 2015-16 season.

After completing one season at the NCAA Division 3 Aurora University Spartans, he embarked on a career in coaching and player development with the Chicago Young Americans (now the Windy City Storm). He also scouted local youth hockey talent for the Johnstown Tomahawks of the NAHL and the London Knights in the OHL.

Coach Widmar is the Assistant Hockey Director for the WHC. He is in his 7th year of coaching (5th at Winnetka). In addition to coaching with the Club, he has spent three seasons coaching with the Loyola Academy High School program and currently serves as Assistant Coach on the New Trier Green Team. Prior to coaching, Charlie played his youth hockey split between Eagan, MN and Northbrook, IL.  Following his junior hockey years, Charlie went on to play college hockey at St. Olaf College (NCAA Division 3).

Coach Davis is entering his 15th season with the WHC. In that time, Jimmy coached at the Squirt, Pee Wee, and Bantam levels. Prior to the WHC he was the Hockey Director for the Niles hockey club. Jimmy played his youth career with the Glenview Stars and Chicago Blues.

This will be Coach Schaefer's 6th year coaching hockey, and the first at Winnetka. He coached the last four years with the Chicago Jets CSDHL teams and one year with Wilmette Hockey. Coach Schaefer has had the pleasure to coach alongside two NHL Players (Jeremy Morin, Brian Noonan) and many great coaches within the state. He grew up in Deerfield, skated for the Northbrook Bluehawks (played with both Directors of Hockey, Jimmy Warrick and Charlie Widmar), Wilmette Braves, and played four years of varsity hockey on the Loyola Academy Gold Team, and one year of Junior Hockey in the EJHL. 

Coach Vail is entering his 10th season as a coach with the Winnetka Hockey Club, spending all 10 of those seasons with the Peewee age group (5th season as a Head Coach). Coach Vail grew up playing his youth hockey for the Warriors, followed by a successful high school career where he played three years on the New Trier Green Team. He led the team as captain in both his junior and senior years, helping earn a state and national championship.

Coach Chelios has a long background in the game as both a player and coach. He grew up in Chicago, IL where he played his youth hockey. He then played junior hockey and professionally for 16 years. Following his playing career, he turned to coaching where he is entering his 14 season as a coach.

See Jimmy Warrick - Hockey Director's Bio above

Coach Clark is in his seventh year of coaching, and his fourth year with the WHC. He is from Morton Grove, and played youth and high school hockey in the area. He is now an engineer for a professional electronics manufacturer in Skokie.

Coach Murray is entering his 3rd year coaching after a long break, as he spent a year as a goalie coach while playing as a teenager. He grew up playing CSDHL in the Chicagoland area and was on track to play at higher levels before having his playing career sidelined by health and injury issues. Over his last two years of coaching, he helped run an Independent team that went on to earn a spot in the CSDHL. He also runs his own goalie development school, and is currently a scout for the Decatur Blaze of the USPHL. 

See Charlie Widmar - Assistant Hockey Director's Bio above

Sam enters his second season as the head coach of Mite 2 for the 2024-25 season. This is Sam's second year as a head coach in the program and he previously coached skills sessions prior to taking on his own team last season where he led Mite 2 to the league championship. Sam was raised in Northfield with his 2 younger brothers and played for the Winnetka, New Trier, and Milwaukee AAA programs as a player. Professionally, Sam previously served as a Teach For America math teacher in Philadelphia and currently works as a consultant in Chicago and holds degrees from DePaul University and the University of Pennsylvania. Away from the rink, Sam enjoys attending country concerts with friends, exercising, trying new restaurants, and sits on the Board of Directors of a health and fitness nonprofit in Chicago. 

Coach Martin has been coaching for 35+ years (3rd with the WHC). Bill grew up playing his youth hockey in Oak Park, and then for the Fenwick High School team where he became the head coach a couple years later. Coach Bill is a level 5 coach who has coached with all ages from beginners to high level Juniors (Omaha, NE - USHL). Over his coachimg career, Bill has won three state titles and three of his teams have qualified for nationals, Fun Fact: Coach Bill has coached nine players who went on to play in the NHL.

Coach Crovetti grew up in Highland Park playing youth hockey for the Falcons and Ice Dogs. He finished his first year of coaching for the Highland Park High School's Giants hockey program where he played his last four years of hockey before becoming a coach. He joined WHC this past spring and made a big impact with our Mite teams. Coach Crovetti believes that family and friendships are what made him fall in love with the game and that is why he always has a smile on when he has skates on.

Coach Brummitt grew up in Niles and played his youth and high school hockey in the Chicagoland area. After high-school he pursued a career in education, and is a full time Physical Education Teacher in Niles. He has been coaching youth hockey for 6 years and has been with Wilmette and North Shore Hockey Club for three of those seasons at the Bantam level.

Coach Hawkins is entering his 21st season with the WHC. In addition to helping hundreds of former Warriors achieve their goals, Coach Hawkins is currently the Head Coach for the Glenbard High School Hockey team, a position he has held for 19 years.

Coach Schlesinger has 25+ years of experience coaching in the Chicagoland area. He has coached at all ages and levels. This is his second year coaching Bantams for North Shore Hockey Club.

Coach Panoutsos grew up in the Chicagoland area where he played his youth and high school hockey. After high school, Panoutsos pursued his engineering degree from Michigan State. This is his third year coaching for Wilmette and North Shore Hockey Club.

Being a volunteer coach is a great way to get involved on the ice with your child. All house league teams are coached by parents and there are opportunities for parents to be assistant coaches on travel teams as well. Reach out to Hockey Director Jimmy Warrick if you are interested.