Ricciardi's recovery key for BG/Wheeling
Coming back from an injury, many athletes take a few games to get back into the swing of things.
But Anthony Ricciardi of Buffalo Grove/Wheeling (BGW) needed just 14 seconds.
That's how quickly Ricciardi put BGW ahead 1-0 of Latin High School on Wednesday night.
BGW went on to win 6-3 in Blackhawk Cup action.
Ricciardi had suffered a severe upper ankle sprain Feb. 6 against Rockford. After the injury, it didn't look good for his return to the ice.
"Everyone thought he was done," said BGW coach Bob Wagner. "But he played a few shifts for his travel team over the weekend and played full shifts for us."
Ricciardi showed no ill effects from the injury. He added 2 more goals, completing a hat trick in his first game back and adding an assist.
After Ricciardi's first goal, BGW fell behind 2-1 before quickly rebounding.
The game was tied 3-3 when freshman defenseman Glen Dismang scored to put BGW up 4-3, a lead it would not lose.
Marius Berman added a late goal to give BGW a 5-3 lead. Kevin Pabst scored the final goal into an empty net.
"He actually scored from our goal line," Wagner said. "It was pretty impressive."
With the win, sixth-seeded BGW advanced to the Blackhawk Cup Elite 8. BGW will play No. 3 Addison Trail/Willowbrook/Fenwick at noon on Saturday, March 8, at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville.
Blackhawk Cup
PREP 2, Bloomington-Normal 1 (2 OTs): Prospect/Rolling Meadows/Elk Grove/Palatine (PREP) lived to play another day by squeaking out a 1-0 win over the Bloomington-Normal Wildcats.
PREP led 1-0 with about 1:30 left when Bloomington notched the tying goal after 2 saves by goalie Matt Snisko (32 saves).
"We just thought we had it in the bag," said PREP coach Bob Sibik. "We let up, and they capitalized."
In the first overtime, Sibik said his team had plenty of chances but couldn't convert.
In the second overtime, PREP sent Carl Roll flying down the ice. Shane Uhle found him with a pass that Roll tipped in for the win.
"It was great to get that win, especially for the 14 seniors we have," Sibik said.
PREP advanced to play Rockford -- a team against which it has had little success -- at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7, at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville.
"We just have to slow them down," Sibik said. "If we're going to beat them, it will have to be a low-scoring game."
Jacobs 6, Carmel 0: Carmel's magic season came to a screeching halt as Jacobs blanked the Corsairs.
"They're a good team," said Corsairs coach Mark Schwartz. "We were just outplayed -- they had out number."
Carmel was hurt when a late scratch forced the Corsairs to switch up all their lines.
"We had three full lines before that scratch," Schwartz said. "That hurt us a little bit."
Despite the ouster, Schwartz said the outlook for next year is very good.
"Over half our team is underclassmen, including our top two scorers," Schwartz said.
Scholastic Cup
Glenbrook North 4, Fremd 2: It was one and done for Fremd, as the Vikings fell 4-2 to top-seed Glenbrook North.
"I thought we played a good game," said Vikings coach Bill Martin. "It was a good loss."
Fremd fell behind in the first period, but some great goaltending by Patrick Fitton kept the Vikings in it.
Fremd was led by goals from forwards Matt Marando and Eric Freeburg.
In its Blackhawk Cup opener, Fremd was scheduled to play Neuqua Valley Friday night.
Other area scores
• Andrew 5, Hersey 4 (OT)
• Maine 11, Wolves 0
• Maine 5, C.O.B.R.A.S. 2