McHenry County stacks playoff ice

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

The last time Crystal Lake South met York on the ice it was not a pretty sight for the Gators.

South lost, 8-1, against the Dukes in its Chicago Metro Hockey League Scholastic Cup playoff game last month.

The Gators (40-15-3) can avenge that loss at 12:50 p.m. Saturday in the AHAI Blackhawk Cup Red Division State Tournament at The Edge in Bensenville. South is the No. 8 seed in the tournament, York is seeded ninth.

It will be a big day for McHenry County teams, as No. 13 Prairie Ridge (25-19-7) meets No. 29 St. Charles North at 4:40 p.m. in a Blackhawk Cup Red Division game.

The Blackhawk Cup Red Division tournament has 16 teams remaining heading into Saturday’s action.

In the Blackhawk Cup White Division tournament, No. 6 Jacobs (25-19-4) faces No. 2 Highland Park at 5:05 p.m. in a semifinal game.

South defeated York, 6-4, in January, then lost the playoff game to the Dukes on the road.

“That was one of those games where we just didn’t show up,” Gators coach Rich Perillo said. “I think we’re ready and we’ll show up and play a strong game.”

South defeated Glenbrook North, 4-3, last weekend in a practice game. The Spartans are the No. 3 seed in the Blackhawk Cup Red Division.

Prairie Ridge hopes this is when its rugged independent schedule really pays dividends. The Wolves did not play in the Metro Central Division this season, choosing to schedule many of the state’s top programs and play in the High School Invitational Tournament, a season-long event with 12 of the state’s top teams. The Wolves finished second in the HIT.

Prairie Ridge had had a longer layoff than South, and Wolves coach Casey Van Damme said that could have an effect early in Saturday’s game.

“Anytime you have a long layoff, its definitely going to affect the team,” Van Damme said. “Especially against a team that has been playing more games lately. I guess time will tell how much of an effect it has, but typically when you have layoffs like the ones we have had it affects your skating, it affects your puckhandling, it affects your timing and it takes a period or so to get that back.”

Van Damme thinks a strong practice Friday should have the Wolves ready to go.

“We have a lot of drive left to get to the next round,” he said.

St. Charles North knocked off the No. 4 seed, St. Viator, in its first-round game.

Jacobs defeated St. Ignatius, 6-4, last Thursday to advance to the semifinals. If the Golden Eagles win, they play for the state championship at 8:35 p.m. Tuesday against Notre Dame or New Trier White.

Metro Central honors: South and Cary-Grove’s hockey teams were among the winners when the Chicago Metropolitan Hockey League Central Division awards were announced Tuesday.

Perillo was Varsity Coach of the Year and Wayne Bower was Junior Varsity Coach of the Year. C-G goalie Matt Rowe was voted Top Goalie and forward Andy Rzeczkowski received the Academic and Community Service Award. Austin Bostock was picked as top forward and the Broncos’ Luke Captain was named top defenseman.

“I was very excited when I heard,” Perillo said. “It makes it a lot easier [to coach] when you have a great group of kids backing you like we do. It’s great for me, Wayne and for South.”

South was 24-2 in Metro Central games and finished second in the division standings.

New Skyhawks fan: Right after Johnsburg defeated Gordon Tech, 57-45, Tuesday in the IHSA Class 3A Vernon Hills Sectional boys basketball tournament, Skyhawks center C.J. Fiedorowicz walked up into the stands and met Bears defensive end Alex Brown.

Brown is business partners with Johnsburg guard Mike Dombrowski’s parents, Kevin and Dana, and lives in Lake Forest, so he came to the game. Fiedorowicz, who is 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, will play tight end at Iowa next season and aspires someday to play in the NFL.

“It was just regular talk,” said Fiedorowicz, when asked what Brown told him. “He asked why I wanted to stay so close to home, probably because he played at Florida. I want my family to be able to see me play.”

Brown was wearing a Florida cap and Florida shirt. Dana Dombrowski said Brown planned to be in the stands cheering for the Skyhawks again Friday night.

• Joe Stevenson covers high school sports for the Northwest Herald. He can be reached at 815-526-4513. He also can be reached by fax at 815-459-5640 or by e-mail at jstevenson@nwherald.com.