United Center Here They Come: GBN Hockey Will Play In State Final

Fenwick featured a fast, aggressive team and a raucous crowd in a nervy state semifinal, but this was business as usual for Glenbrook North.

That’s because, as GBN coach Mark Brunner says, they are a disciplined hockey team that likes playing in close games. It didn’t matter that Fenwick was the top seed or that a trip to the United Center was on the line. This team had been through it all.

After the Spartans won 3-2 to advance to the Blackhawk Cup final, even typically reserved goalie Troy Carroll couldn’t help but smile.

“I am so excited,” said Carroll, who made 38 saves. “I’ve been going (to the United Center) all my life, of course. I watched my brother play there for the state championship.”

John Boidanis’ deflection midway through the third period turned out to be the game-winner needed to send GBN to Sunday’s state final against New Trier Green at the home of the Blackhawks.

The two teams came out of the gates aggressive in the first period, but ultimately canceled each other out. Senior captain Tommy Washburn broke the deadlock at 15:43 in the second. Washburn had Garrison Sanipass with him on a two-on-one, but Washburn saw an opening and roofed a shot past Fenwick goalie Karl Langhans (19 saves).

“I saw Garrison coming in with me and then the defenseman took Garrison so I saw the open shot and buried it top shelf,” Washburn said.

Fenwick tied it up on a power play with 10:40 left in the period. Matt Crook slid a pass across to Aidan Verbeke, who scored past a helpless Carroll.

With the score still tied at the intermission, Brunner said he wanted his team to come out with a lot of intensity in the first five minutes of the third period. Naturally, the Spartans scored off the opening faceoff. Sanipass scored ten seconds into the period after Jack Day and Washburn took the puck into the zone.

Ryan Fitzgerald had an easy finish less than five minutes later to tie it again. Boidanis’ game-winner came with 8:24 left via a deflection off a Sam Katz slap shot.

The rest of the game Fenwick laid a siege upon Carroll’s goal, but were unable to beat him. The Friars’ student section chanted his name throughout the game, but it didn’t affect the levelheaded Carroll.

“It’s nice to be important,” Carroll quipped after being asked about the chants.

These last two playoff games have shown the team’s resolve. Against Loyola Gold, the Spartans came back from 2-0 down and managed to win in triple overtime despite blowing two third period leads. Against the Friars, blowing two leads seemed like nothing.

“Nothing really phases us,” Washburn said. “Earlier in the season we tied a lot of games. We definitely learned from those games.”

Washburn is one of seven seniors on the team that wanted redemption after early playoff exits the last two years.

Brunner said he was afraid of Fenwick’s speed, but the Spartans played defensively to take Fenwick out of what they like to do. As a result, the Friars nearly doubled GBN’s shot output, but that wasn’t a problem.

“Anybody who’s played the game or coached the game knows that when your goalie plays that well you can take more chances up front,” the coach said. “You’re not as worried about giving up some of those shots.”

GBN handled a short turnaround well after . With only one off day, the Spartans had to recover quickly. To Brunner’s surprise, he said the team had a lot of focus and energy in Sunday’s practice.

The final barrier, New Trier Green, is a team the Spartans haven’t beaten this year. The played to and the Trevians won 2-0 on Jan. 14. The last time GBN won state, in 2008, Green was the final opponent. As usual, the keys will be puck management and discipline.

“Probably one of the most disciplined teams I’ve ever coached are the boys right here in this locker room,” Brunner said. “They don’t give up and really don’t take stupid penalties with any consistency.”