BGHW hitting its stride
Buffalo Grove/Hersey/Wheeling (BGHW) has dealt with adversity all year, which is one reason for its 7-5-1 record. But things are certainly headed the right direction for the team now.
Entering the Metro Northwest Founders Cup, BGHW had won three of its last five regular-season games, and the team capped a great showing at the Founders Cup with an 8-0 drubbing of Mundelein in the finals.
"We wanted to leave no doubt that we were the best team in the Founders Cup," BGHW coach Bob Wagner said. "I think we accomplished that."
BGHW jumped on the Mustangs early and often, scoring their 5 goals in the first seven minutes of the game.
"To be up 5-0 halfway through the first period was great," Wagner said. "We were able to move kids around a bit and have a little fun."
Junior forward Trace Linhart had a night to remember, scoring 2 goals and adding 2 assists, and junior defenseman Alex Grupe added a goal and 2 assists.
"My guys are starting to come together at the right time," Wagner said. "We're playing well and hopefully we can keep it up."
With the win, BGHW, the No. 1 seed in the Northwest, will play either Oak Park-River Forest or Lincoln-Way East on Sunday night at 6 p.m. at West Meadows Ice Arena.
BGHW advanced to championship by knocking off Conant/Hoffman Estates/Schaumburg (CHS) 4-1 in the semifinal round 4-1. BGHW had split the regular season series 1-1 with CHS, but Wagner and his team came out and got the job done, firing over 30 shots at CHS goaltender Danny McKenzie.
"Our kids came out and gave 100 percent," Wagner said "They wanted to keep playing and this win bought them at least two more games."
BGHW opened up with a 2-0 lead in the first period thanks to goals by sophomore forwards Glen Dismang and Cody Barra. CHS responded with a goal in the second by junior forward Kevin Pollack.
Leading 2-1 going into the third period, BGHW put the Cougars away with 2 goals in the last three minutes.
"It was an awesome game," Wagner said. "It was a great win and the kids really got excited after the win."
Founders Cup
Mundelein 4, PREP 1: An injury-depleted PREP team was unable to stay with a tough Mundelein team that was at full strength.
"I think we only had something like 11 guys," said PREP coach Dave Morgan. "We were missing six guys for various reasons."
PREP took a 1-0 lead early in the first period on senior Danny Pauley's goal. Mundelein tied things at 1-1 heading into the third period.
"We had them tied up going into the third," Morgan said. "But after that we just ran out of gas."
PREP gave up 3 goals in the third period and was knocked out of the Founders Cup.
Blackhawk Cup
PREP 10, Tinley Park 1: PREP dominated Tinley Park in their opening game of the Blackhawk Cup. They outshot the Wolves 36-7 en route to one of their biggest wins of the year.
"We played great," Morgan said. "Our kids worked hard and played some great defense."
PREP advanced to play Guerin in the second round Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at Hoffman Estates Ice Arena.
Fremd: Fremd lost 5-0 Wednesday to Rockford in the Scholastic Cup finals and received the No. 2 seed in the Northwest. Fremd will play Saturday at 8 p.m. at All-Seasons Ice Arena in Aurora. On Tuesday, Fremd will face off against Glenbrook South in its Blackhawk Cup opener at 8:50 p.m. at Glenview Ice Arena.