By Greg Mrofcza, January 5, 2015
IHSHL Champions
With just 1 month remaining in the regular season the Champions Division of the IHSHL North Central Division is beginning to take shape. As expected, Highland Park and New Trier Blue continue to set the pace for the division. Highland Park sits in first, but New Trier Blue has played 3 fewer games. New Trier Blue took the first meeting of the regular season 3-1 back on December 17, but the hot ticket will be when these two teams face each other on January 14 in Wilmette at 7:50pm. The first game was highlighted by a strong team defensive effort by New Trier Blue and exceptional goaltending by Highland Park. The game on January 14 could be a preview of the IHSHL North Central final. A true IHSHL North Central Division fan will also be interested to catch Maine and BGHW on Saturday January 10 at Twin Rinks at 7:10pm. Maine will look to shut down the league leading scorer, Mike DeSalvo, while BGHW will look to extend a 5 game league winning streak.
IHSHL Sterling
PREP continues to lead the Sterling Division and is undefeated in their last 9 league contests. PREP’s only loss of the regular season so far came back on November 16 at the hands of Libertyville 5-3. Libertyville currently sits in 2nd place, and the two teams will meet each other over the last weekend of the regular season. Both teams boast some excellent firepower as PREP’s, Joe Catalano leads the division with 26 points (12G, 14A) and Libertyville’s, Bennett Furie is second with 24 points (20G, 4A). The Kings, Warren and CFHS continue to be within striking distance of PREP and Libertyville, and with each team having games remaining against each other this race is way too early to call, but should make for some excellent hockey in the month of January.
IHSHL North Central Division at the Holiday Hockey Classic (Ho-Ho Tournament)
Each year AHAI and the Chicago Blackhawks Charities team up to put together the Annual Holiday Hockey Classic Tournament which features some of the best high school hockey in the Chicagoland area. This year the IHSHL North Central Division had two teams invited to this tournament – New Trier Blue and Maine. Both team represented well as each would advance from the field of 20 in-pool play to make it to the knock-out round of 8 teams. New Trier Blue would go 2-1 in round robin play, falling to Glenbrook North but then beating both Notre Dame and Waubonsie Valley. Maine would go 3-0 in round robin play with wins over Glenbard, Saint Viator and Lincoln Way. Maine would fall to the current leader of the Catholic League Providence 6-3, which New Trier Blue would post a victory over storied out of town powerhouse Christian Brother 5-3. To prove they are the real deal, New Trier Blue would then dispatch Providence 2-1 in overtime in the Semi-finals before falling to Glenbrook North in the championship.
Congrats to both teams that represented the IHSHL well in a state wide showcase of high school hockey!
Categories: High School