BG/Wheeling on a roll; Fremd walks for a cause
The Buffalo Grove/Wheeling boys hockey team is off to its best start in years with a 5-0-2 record.
On Sunday, BG/Wheeling skated past Conant/Hoffman Estates/Schaumburg by a 6-3 decision in a game that was close until the end of the second period.
Leading the way are the Metro Northwest Conference's two top scorers -- Kevin Pabst and Anthony Ricciardi.
Pabst is the league leader with 8 goals that included a 1 goal and 3 assists against Conant.
Ricciardi and teammate Marius Berman each added 2 goals and an assist, and Jeff Tlusty scored.
Goalie Lucas Lambert turned away 18 shots.
For Conant/Hoffman Estates/Schaumburg, Brian Starzynski twice scored game-tying goals.
Earlier, BG/Wheeling blanked Carmel 8-0 that featured seven players scoring goals.
Defenseman Brandon Kirchens notched 2 goals and added an assist.
Pabst and Ricciardi each had a goal and an assist for BG/Wheeling, which netted 2 power-play goals and 2 more when shorthanded.
Goalie Brett Carey recorded the shutout with 13 saves.
"I think the kids are playing great," said BG coach Bob Wagner. "Our team is a nice mix of young and old players. We have goals by 12 different players so far this season. This shows great diversity on the team. We're working to become a better team unit.
"It's nice to have the boys get a good jump start on the season. We have a long season ahead."
Buffalo Grove/Wheeling will face Lake Zurich on Monday at 9:05 p.m. at West Meadows.
Skaters do some walking: On Sunday, Fremd got off the ice and did a lot of good.
The Vikings participated in the 29th annual Ron Santo Walk for Diabetes, sponsored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
In a combined effort of varsity and JV players, Fremd set a goal of raising $100 per player -- which the athletes exceeded.
"These are teenage boys and I was impressed that they were up to the task to raise these funds," said Debby Keelan, a team parent. "They did this on their own and did a great a job."
Almost the entire roster, around 35 Vikings, generated nearly $7,000 for the walk whose proceeds will go to finding a cure for Type 1 or juvenile diabetes. Their effort exceeded the team's goal by 170 percent.
"I think they realized that what they did was for the good of a lot of people," said Keelan, who also serves as the team's registrar and PR person. "When they saw all those people at the walk they were shocked."
The 5K walk drew thousands to Busse Woods in Schaumburg.
"That was a lot of money and a lot of hard work," Keelan said. "That was really an impressive feat. It also raised the level of understanding in this disease."
Three members of the team have families directly affected by diabetes.
On the ice that night, Fremd beat Hersey 7-1, led by Matthew Marando (3 goals) and Eric Freeburg (2).