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History of the MCYHA

McLean County Sharks long history in the area

The McLean County Sharks have been around for over 50 years in the Bloomington Normal area. MCYHA was established in 1971, and sanctioned in the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States. They have been known as the Blue Badgers, the Beer Nuts, the Phantoms (in-line), and the inaugural season as the Sharks was in 1991.

Robert Fay was the first President when helping organize the McLean County Youth Hockey Association.  Emil Ludy was vice president, Dave Maxwell was secretary, and Robert McAdam was treasurer. The first season was in 71-72, where they had 90 players ages 6-18. Robert Fay had helped organize a youth association in Champaign in 1963  who were in the Central Illinois Youth Hockey Association with Pekin, Peoria, Decatur, and Springfield.  The Sharks high school hockey still currently plays Champaign, Pekin, Decatur, three teams in Peoria, and three teams in Springfield.

MCYHA originated at the rink at Four Seasons Club, where, with the help of sponsors, they purchased boards, nets, jerseys and socks, helmets, etc. and played there until Four Seasons closed the ice rink in 1980. For a couple of years, MCYHA entered teams in the Peoria house league, until 1982 when the Skatium rink was built in Normal. (Willow and Beach st.). Currently the Arc) In 1983, the Twin City Stingers played an exhibition game against the ISU Icebirds and some of the proceeds went to MCYHA. MCYHA called the Skatium home, running mite through high school for the next year and a half, when the Skatium was converted into the recreation center for Illinois State University students. At that time MCYHA was reorganized to run a high school program known as the Beer Nuts. After losing the Beer Nuts sponsorship a few years later, they became known as the Sharks The Bloomington Normal Sharks fielded it's first team in the 91-92 season.

In 2000, MCYHA added inline hockey activities while still having players travel to Peoria for ice hockey. A facility was leased, and a MCYHA owned rink was installed at the Interstate Center for a house league, and a travel league. When levels grew to 300 players in house, and 70 in the "Phantom" travel team, a second rink was installed at the Interstate Center. The inline programs flourished until the City of Bloomington owned Pepsi Ice Center and attached arena was built in 2006. A lot of players, coaches, and board members were involved in speaking in front of the city board and attending board votes on passing the arena and ice rink. Participation declined in the inline rinks and they were dismantled and sold in 2008 to concentrate on ice hockey once again.

 In 2005, the ice teams "split" into two varsity teams under the MCYHA Umbrella, the pure team from NCHS called the Ironmen, and the Wildcats team that had players from Normal West, Bloomington, U-High, and Olympia. Both teams played in the former Central Illinois Prep Hockey League (CIPHL).

The "Bloomington Normal" Sharks logo, which was a modified San Jose Sharks logo, changed to a player drawn logo for the 2014-2015 season. This is still the current logo, and was drawn by then player Miranda Prosser.

This is a new tab on this website. If you have any historical information, please feel free to share by contacting us.

Good news articles to explore:

"Youth Hockey Program getting up steam" Nov. 19, 1972 The Pantagraph

"Icebirds to face Stingers in benefit" February 8, 1983 ISU Daily Vidette

"Ludy, Stingers set high goals" Nov. 11, 1983 The Pantagraph

Twin City Stingers hockey program at McLean County Courthouse Museum Library

"Sharks make most of ice time" April 6, 2001 of the Pantagraph

“McLean Co. boasts two youth clubs” November 3, 2005 of The Pantagraph

“Ice center ready for opening” May 25, 2006 of The Pantagraph

“McLean County Inline hockey looking for a new home” Jul 1, 2008 of The Pantagraph

“Love the process” January 2023 of The Pantagraph

zoominfo - MCYHA Sharks