DHS Hockey Club Varsity Team Wins Veteran's Cup

Submitted by: Susan Jensen

The Deerfield High School Hockey Club, consisting of varsity and junior varsity teams, competed in the Mad City Veteran’s Cup in Madison Wisconsin last weekend. This year the divisions had top teams from Canada, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The varsity team took home the championship after reeling off four consecutive wins.

The varsity team was led by first line captain Shale Mack and assistant captain Eddie Hein, who combined for 12 goals. The Warriors went 4-1, having beaten the 15th ranked Waubonsie Warriors in the semifinals, after losing to them in the round robin portion of the tournament. The Warriors defeated a team from Winnipeg, Canada in the finals scoring a shorthanded goal in route to a 5-1 victory.

The team was anchored by outstanding goaltending by Jack Lutz and Eric Sala. Senior Marc Noeh, junior Nolan Sornson and assistant captain senior Noah Winston contributed to the scoring. Also having excellent games and rounding out the team were Christian DiBenedetto, Ben Edelstein, Tyler Jensen, Issac Jolcover, Will Kepler, Max Libman, Ethan Loewenstein, Evan Lutz, Matthew Polovin, Andrew Toban, Ethan Tornheim and Ethan Wagman.

The varsity team is run by new head coach and hockey director, John Sclafini, who said, “The win was a team effort. Everyone contributed and worked together and all of our lines put pressure on the opposing players,” said John Sclafini, head coach and hockey director of the varsity club.

The Deerfield junior varsity team - led by captain Evan Lutz and assistant captains Andrew Toban and Kevin Block - also put together a win in it’s opening game against Lincolnway High School.

Lutz chipped in four goals, and joined varsity junior Eddie Hein to have Hat Tricks over the weekend. Max Cohn showed strong goaltending and made numerous key saves. Also contributing to the win were, Daniel Adler, Brett Cohn, Tyler Jensen, Tyler Lewis, Ben Levitt, Dylan Platt, Sam Polisner, Nathan Randall and Malcolm Spiers. “The team continues to improve against more experienced competition,” said the junior varsity coach Jason Nemeth.

Skate with the Warriors

Last Monday night the club hosted it’s annual Skate with the Warriors, giving younger players the opportunity to experience a varsity practice and play with the high school players.

“Skate with the Warriors is a really fun experience and great tradition. I remember when I was first starting to play hockey and going to this event,” said varsity captain Shale Mack.

Future is bright

About 30 new players will join the Warriors’ program over the next two years. The team skates out of Twin Rinks in Buffalo Grove.