Boys Hockey: Carmel closing in on a 30-win season
By Bob Gosman Contributor January 24, 2012 10:22AM
Carmel's Joseph Salvi (No. 36) drives to the net during Friday's game against the Icecats at Glacier Ice Arena. Carmel won 4-0. | Michael Jarecki ~ for Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: February 27, 2012 8:41AM
When the seniors on the Carmel Catholic hockey team were freshmen, the varsity won a grand total of two games.
Enough progress was made over the last two years that expectations were raised coming into this season. However, even the players on the team are a little bit surprised with how much they have improved this season.
As Carmel heads into the stretch run, the Corsairs sport a 28-10-4 record.
“We knew we were going to be pretty good, but we didn’t think we would be tying teams like Rockford and losing to (Glenbrook North) the No. 1 ranked team in the state by one goal,” said senior Joe Salvi, who leads the team with 42 goals and 26 assists.
Efficiency and discipline have been two of the biggest reasons for the Corsairs’ success.
“We’re not the most physical team, but we know how to play hockey and how to play smart,” Salvi said.
Salvi said the Corsairs take their cue from coach Mike Rucinski.
“He gives us great practices and brings out the best in us,” Salvi said.
Added senior Cole Olmschenk: “I give him a lot of credit. Even when we have a bad game, he never quits on us. He pushes us to play harder.”
Olmschenk, a defenseman, has played more disciplined near the goal and that has made a major difference in his performance.
“Last year I would focus on the puck and I wouldn’t notice the guy (behind me) and he would get a backdoor goal,” Olmschenk said. “I’m making fewer mistakes in front of the net.”
The Corsairs’ defense was in full force Friday night in a 4-0 victory over the Libertyville/Vernon Hills Icecats.
“We’re a lot more solid,” Olmschenk said. “We’re doing all the little things well.”
Junior Grant Stredler recorded the shutout in goal.
“It was Senior Night and (Icecats) were getting really frustrated,” Olmschenk said. “We tried to take the puck away and let our forwards make plays.”
Carmel’s play snapped a three-game losing streak. The Corsairs fell 2-0 to Barrington on Jan. 12 and 4-1 to Marist on Jan. 17. Salvi scored the lone goal against Marist.
Closing strong: Danny Uhlir has picked the right time to play the best hockey of his career. Uhlir, a defenseman, has been solid down the stretch.
“He’s been playing well,” Olmschenk said. “He’s pretty good at getting the puck out of the zone and he’s not afraid to (challenge) bigger guys.”
Letdown: Carmel’s success this season has not extended to C.M.M, a co-op team featuring players from Crystal Lake Central, Cary Grove and McHenry. The Corsairs fell 5-4 on Saturday, their second loss of the season to the Tigers.
Remarkably, Carmel took about three times as many shots as the Tigers.
“Their goalie played great,” Salvi said.
Bright spot: Sophomore Nick Cutro scored a pair of goals in the loss to C.M.M.
“He went a couple of games without scoring, and he said that was going to spark him to have a great end of the season,” Salvi said. “He’s improving (throughout) the season.”
Cutro is second on the team in scoring with 20 goals and 22 assists.
Honored: Five Corsairs — Preston Beckman, Julien DuBois-Emond, Patrick Gray, Olmschenk and Salvi — were named Metro Central All-Stars.
The first of two all-star games was played on Sunday at West Meadows in Rolling Meadows. Thanks to the play of three Corsairs, Metro Central defeated Metro West 7-2. Salvi had a goal and two assists. Olmschenk had one assist. And DuBois-Emond gave up only one goal and was named goalie MVP.
This coming Sunday, Beckman and Gray will be competing in a second all-star game, which will be held at Seven Bridges at 12 noon.
Carme’s JV all-stars are Joey Bratta and Jared Moore.
Comments Click here to view or make a comment