Kennedy Cup Finals

Last night was the third and final game of the Kennedy Cup Finals pitting St. Rita against Fenwick in a best of three format. The first 2 games Fenwick had jumped out to 3-1 leads. In the first game St. Rita was able to spark a comeback and win 4-3, but the deficit proved to be too much for them in the second game as Fenwick held on to win 3-2. All this set up the final game. St. Rita scored first to take a 1-0 lead but Fenwick came back to tie moments later. Then after Fenwick started throwing their big bodies around something happened on the St. Rita bench. Twisted Sisters "We're Not Gunna Take It" comes to my head because St. Rita went on a run and scored the next two goals. One of them on a brilliant defensive play short handed by Jack Warren, who deflected a pass from the goalie Karl Langhans and pumped it into the net for the 3-1 lead. The second period started with Fenwick cutting the lead to 3-2 but after defense men Brendan Conroy got checked into the boards and skated gingerly to the bench where he sat for about a 7 minute stretch, St. Rita took control. Outshooting Fenwick during this portion and getting another goal to make it 4-2. The hits were starting to get a little bigger this period and the scrums in front of the net getting a little more heated. The refs were routinely slow in getting in to break them up but had no problem sending a played from each team to the box to make up for their lackadaisical effort. The third period was filled with much of the same as each team was sending guys to the box but in the end St. Rita held on to win the game 4-2 and win their fourth straight Kennedy Cup. During the handshake line you could see the respect each team had for one another and the warrior like mentality in which they played. Congrats to Fenwick on a great season and to St. Rita for your championship. The St. Rita seniors boast an extraordinary trophy case with four Kennedy Cups and one Blackhawk Cup.

BlackHawk Cup Finals

Both teams looked exceptional in the opening skate and an intensity filled the United Center as ten thousand people filled the stands. Troy Carroll looked ready to have the team jump on his back one more time and carry Glenbrook North back to a championship. Senior captain Greg Smart for New Trier had a fire in his eyes, as he had said winning the state championship was the goal of New Trier since the beginning of the year. The first period both Troy Carroll and Greg Ogard stood tall helping keep both teams off the scoreboard. The second period was a seesaw battle as both teams popped in two goals, leading into what was going to be an exciting third period. Both teams had some opportunities early in the third, but neither of these goalies were going to let their team fall behind. Then with just under 6 minutes to play New Trier crashed the net hard in front of Carroll, the puck was bouncing around and at one point was under Carroll but New Trier never giving up on the play was able to knock the puck in and grab a 3-2 advantage. As the minutes ticked off the clock Glenbrook North tried desperately to mount a comeback. Carroll skated away from the net with just over a minute to go and Glenbrook tried to get the equalizer in the final minute but New Trier was able to hold on and raise the state championship trophy. A truly exceptional game by both teams and both goalies had an amazing tournament. It was unfortunate to see either team lose because of the way these teams battled every minute of this game but when it was all said and done New Trier Green accomplished what it set out to due since day one of this season.

Blackhawk Cup Boys Semifinals

Monday night was going to start with a repeat of last years semifinal with St. Rita taking on New Trier. These teams match up so well against each other that you knew it would be a good close game. They skated to a 0-0 tie after one period. About midway through the second period with St. Rita on the power play, New Trier was clearing the puck out of their zone when the puck hit off the scoreboard, redirected down, and right onto the stick of Matthews for New Trier who skated in 1-1 with St. Rita's goaltender and beat him top shelf for a 1-0 lead. The stands were going crazy, half of them pointing to the scoreboard and the other half screaming for the goal. Since there's no going to Toronto to get the right call and none of the refs saw it the goal stood and it was now 1-0. St. Rita was able to get a quick third period goal to make it 1-1 but shortly after gave up a second goal to NT. Again NT held on to a 1 goal lead in the final period for the second game in a row. St. Rita had some difficulties getting the goalie off the ice and had made some valiant attempts to get the equalizer but New Trier was able to hold on and punch the first ticket to the state championship.

The second game of the night started out with Fenwick dominating in time of possession and shots but the scoreboard rang up at 0's as the first expired. Glenbrook North did a great job of figuring out the trap that Fenwick was using against them in the second and was able to mount some offensive possessions of their own. Some nice goals were scored by both teams and the third started off with the teams being knotted up at 2. Glenbrook North was able to pop in a goal to make it 3-2. All game long senior goaltender Troy Carroll (GN) was getting peppered with shots, but after falling behind Fenwick turned the pressure up. Carroll stood poised in the net and put up the performance of the tournament. Fenwick had gotten so many quality opportunities, many from right in front of the net and Carroll stood on his head and denied them. He finished the game with 48 saves on 50 shots according to our stats, but even our statistician believes he missed a few. Carroll put the team on his back and punched their ticket to the finals to play New Trier.

Blackhawk Cup Quarterfinals

An exciting year of hockey was capped off with an exciting two days of playoffs leading up to the championship game. The match-ups were all set with Fenwick vs. Barrington, Loyola vs. Glenbrook North, New Trier vs Stevenson, and St. Viator vs. St. Rita. The day started off with the number 1 overall seed Fenwick taking care of business against Barrington. It seemed Barrington couldn't figure out the trap that Fenwick was using on them to get the puck out of their own zone and Fenwick made them pay early and often and won the game 8-3. Following that game defending state champions St. Rita handled St Viator pretty comfortably themselves. Between Ticonsik and Roman St. rita was able to get a cushioned lead and hold on for the 6-1 victory. Following up an early session of some blowouts New Trier Green and Stevenson took to the ice. New Trier jumped out early in this game and going into the third looked like the 3-1 score was going to be enough. Then Stevenson found their skating legs and got some fortunate opportunities in this game and got it to 3-2. Stevenson looked to be mounting a huge comeback. They out shot NT in the closing minutes and after pulling their goalie had a great effort out on the ice trying to get the equalizer. Unfortunately Greg Smart and Tyler Pecka seemed to be too much for Stevenson and helped NT hold on for the 3-2 final. The excitement had been building in the arena as now there was a close game. Then the fourth and final game started. Loyola jumped out early over Glenbrook North 2-0. Glenbrook mounted a comeback and took an eventual 4-3 lead. With time running out on Loyola, they pulled their goaltender and went 6-5 with Glenbrook North. As the seconds were ticking off the clock in the third period it looked as if GN was going to hold on when Loyola snapped off a shot from just inside the blue line, bodies were flying everywhere, sticks making mad dashes at the puck and with about 30 seconds left the ref made the signal for the goal. Tied at 4 going into overtime it seemed either of these teams could end this at any second, but then something amazing unfolded in front of us. A goaltender battle for the ages. Both teams had breakaway chances, traffic in front of the net, and one time chances, and both goalies stood on their heads and defended their crease with such unbelievable saves it was a shame one team was going to lose. Finally in the THIRD overtime, Loyola was controlling the puck in their own zone when Jack Day of GN picked the pocket of a Loyola player, turned around and let a wrist shot go from between the circles to beat Loyola's goalie top shelf for the game winner. This was going to set up the match-ups between St. Rita vs. New Trier Green and Fenwick vs. Glenbrook North.

New Trier Varsity Girls vs Naper Valley Varsity Girls

Tonight's matchup pinned two of the top teams in the metro girls division against each other as the Naper Valley girls held a 2 point lead in the standings. Both of these teams are positioning for the playoffs and New Trier really wanted to play well against the defending state champs and set themselves up for a deep playoff run. Naper Valley was looking to solidify themselves as the top team in the division and set up an easier spot to repeat as champs.
Early on New Trier came out with a lot of offensive pressure, keeping the puck deep in the Naper Valley zone and really doing a great job keeping the puck out of their zone. Then captain Kelly Seymour, Naper Valley, got the puck deep in the New Trier zone and fired a shot for a 1-0 Naper Valley lead. That was the score after the first period.
The second period started off with some back and forth play and then finally New Trier was able to get on the board and tie it at 1. The score remained that way for most of the period until Kelly Seymour let one rip from the right wing dot and went top shelf over Cirrincione for a 2-1 Naper Valley lead.
The third period was dominated by New Trier. Carolyn Hickey squeezed a shot past Monzel on the short side to tie the game at 2. Then Carolyn Fuwa let a wrist shot fly from the top of the right wing circle that made it through some traffic to light the lamp for New Triers first lead of the game. New Trier was able to add on another goal and then held on to a 4-2 victory and some very important points in the girls metro division.
Lucky for us we were joined after the game by four of the New Trier girls, senior captain Mackenzie Martin, senior forward Carolyn Fuwa, junior alternate captain Hannah Merens, and junior goaltender Alexis Cirrincione. To hear the interview with these girls go to www.sportstownchicago.com and download the game and post game for free.

Glenbrook North vs St Viator Recap

Glenbrook North had an outstanding performance from their goaltender Carroll as he blanked St Viator on Saturday night 2-0. Glenbrook North was able to score off a great rebound that they put top shelf against Schmidt to take a 1-0 lead early in the second. As the second period winded down St Viator was able to earn a critical 5-3 as the period expired, but could not capitalize on fresh ice and Glenbrook North killed the 5-3 with only allowing a few shots. Both teams defenses were able to keep the other team out of sustaining time in the offensive zone but there were a lot of turnovers in the neutral zone. With a little over a minute left in the game St. Viator pulled their goalie for the extra attacker and won a face-off in the Glenbrook zone and fired a shot that was deflected around in front of the net. Glenbrook North was able to control the puck send a lead pass to Day who popped in an empty netter from almost center ice to seal the 2-0 victory for Glenbrook North.

Statistically both teams were pretty much even except for on the scoreboard where it counted. St. Viator played a very good game just came up short but definitely showed why they are one of the top teams in the Metro North. Their defense was quick and fought for a lot of pucks and were able to clear the zone just fell victim to a nice rebound right to Glenbrook North.

Glenbrook North continues their dominance in the goal crease. Only allowing 20 goals in division play and continue to dominate the second and third period on the scoreboard. Carroll got the nod but between him and Ramsay the Spartans have two solid goaltenders who can take over any game. Depending on the outcome of Stevenson's game Glenbrook North is now on top or in second by 1 point in the Metro North and look to gain the top spot.

Glenbrook North vs St. Viator

Tonight we will be covering a match-up of number 2 St. Viator vs number 3 Glenbrook North. Both teams have 28 points coming into this game and it is really a game that could go either way. St Viator has a 13-3-2 record while Glenbrook North is 11-1-6.

St. Viator will be looking for a big game from their leading scorers, Divito, Gattone, and Renner. They are currently second in the metro north standing in goals for and hope to continue to light the lamp tonight against one of the toughest teams to score against.

Glenbrook North will depend on their goalies tonight who have only allowed 20 goals over 18 games. If they have another great game tonight and get big production from Day, Washburn, and Sanipass, then Glenbrook North should be able to pull out a victory tonight.