At New Trier High School, classmates can go head to head in hockey games, because there are four boys' club hockey teams—three varsity and one junior varsity.

This abundance of hockey teams is unusual among most high schools, but it isn't new at New Trier. Having all those teams underscores the high interest in the sport at the school, and also gives more students a chance to participate.

Even for a school of over 4,000 students, however, filling four hockey teams can be a challenge. The JV roster has been difficult to fill the past three years, according to White team head coach Scott Sortal. But in 2005, the club had to cut 20 players after already picking 80 for the four teams.

Green varsity is the top performance level, and that team plays a prep school-like schedule that includes traveling out of state to schools in Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.

The Blue team ranks second best, followed by the White squad, and then a Junior Varsity team is filled. The teams are picked in order of talent, with Green coaches getting first pick. That means when teams face off, the players know that the other team is ranked either better or worse player for player. Upsets happen, but they're pretty rare, coaches say.

 In last Wednesday's game, for example, where Blue took on White, the higher-ranked Blue did get the win.