Huntley striving for more

Huntley goaltender John Goorsky makes a save in the second period Sunday at Leafs Ice Centre in West Dundee. (Lauren M. Anderson – landerson@nwherald.com)

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WEST DUNDEE – Finding success continues to be a work in progress for the Huntley boys hockey team.

The program, which began a co-op with Lake Zurich this season, has endured the difficulties that accompany a team with a limited roster that is comprised of players who had not played with one another before this season.

“For us, it is about trying to find combinations that work between the lines,” Huntley senior forward Adam Vance said, who leads the Red Raiders this season with 11 points, including seven goals and four assists. “Putting together guys from Lake Zurich and guys from Huntley to see what works and what doesn’t.”

In Sunday night’s 7-1 loss to Libertyville at Leafs Ice Centre, Huntley’s lack of roster depth became evident during the second period.

The Raiders (2-15-3) started well, and had played to a 1-1 tie by the end of the first period. Huntley junior Jay Napolitano scored with 1:21 remaining in the first period, and the Raiders matched the Cats (8-6-4) at both ends.

However, with only six players on the Huntley bench, the Raiders’ legs tired by the end of the second period, leading to several Huntley penalties and Libertyville man-advantage goals. The Raiders have been accustomed to testing their endurance throughout the season because most of the teams that they have faced have 12 to 15 players coming off the bench.

“It was hard at the start of the season because we weren’t in great shape as a team,” Huntley senior defenseman Cameron Marzejon said. “But throughout the season we have got stronger and we have improved a lot as a team considering where we started.” 

Huntley, on a one-year trial period, sits in seventh place of the Metro Central National Division and has three games left in the regular season. It will be decided at the end of the season whether the co-op team will continue to operate.

“It’s been a yearlong process trying to meld the players together,” Huntley coach Dean Popovich said. “And even though the score from tonight doesn’t show it, we have come a long way as a team. I’m hoping with the playoffs coming up ... next month that is the right time [for us to] gel.”