Bostock leading Barrington surge
Barrington hockey coach Rob Hutson, a former Division I player, doesn't mince words when talking about his senior captain: center Austin Bostock.
"He's absolutely the best player in Illinois of my three years at Barrington and, yes, I know that's a bold statement. But it's true," said Hutson, who played at Illinois-Chicago. "Austin has taken his game to another level this season. He works harder than anyone in high school hockey, and it's paying off.
"Austin is a diamond in the rough."
The right-handed shooting Bostock, in his second season on the varsity, is on pace for a record-setting season. He has 27 goals and 19 assists - in the team's first 15 games. He has five hat tricks already this season and, in an 8-5 win over Providence, he finished with a personal-best 8 points (4 goals, 4 assists).
"My coach told me (before the season that) I needed to step up my game and be one of the leaders on the team," said Bostock, one of only four returning players this season. "So I just took it upon myself to lead this team, be a good example on the ice and off, work hard all the time. And my hard work has started to pay off a little bit.
"I think I have a better grasp of the game. I don't think about things too much; I don't over-think it. I just try to make the simple plays. My coach always tells me that the sooner you move the puck, the sooner you'll get it back. So that's what I try to do. And no one is going to beat me; I'm determined to not let them beat me."
Bostock, who lives in Barrington, is joined on the team's top line by right wing Zach Dulla and left wing Chris Towne. Barrington is 8-7 overall and 5-0 in the nine-team, newly-named Metro American League - with 38 goals for and 4 goals against.
"I go out and play the game of hockey because I love it. Hockey has given me so much, and continues to give me; I get experience, leadership and so much more," Bostock said. "I play for the love of the game. There's no substitution for hard work, so, day in and day out, I work as hard as I can.
"I'm really comfortable with my game. I've tweaked things here and there over the past couple of seasons, and now things are just starting to click for me."
As seen by his 3-goal games against Libertyville, Grayslake and others. Bostock leads the Broncos against Guerin on Saturday in Barrington at 6:20 p.m. The Broncos are back in action Sunday at Prairie Ridge, and host Stevenson on Nov. 18.
"If any of my four boys grow up like Austin, I'm doing something right," Hutson said.
After all, he's awesome on the ice and accomplished off. He ranks among the top 15 percent of the Barrington senior class, is taking three advanced placement and two honors classes, and had a 4.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for the first quarter of the school year.
"I'm a really big science geek," he said. "I love physics and calculus and all that kind of stuff."
Plus, he teaches Learn To Skate twice per week and teaches private hockey lessons every week. Bostock also manages a lawn care business, and is a teacher's aide for the in-school day-care for teachers' children, ages 3-5, and they appropriately refer to him as, Mr. Austin.
"It's so much fun," Bostock said.
Just like watching him on the ice.
A big HIT: Defending state champion New Trier Green and St. Rita are the leaders so far in the season-long, 12-team High School Invitational (HIT), each boasting a 3-0 record. The Trevians have scored 14 goals and only allowed two.
Glenbrook North has back-to-back HIT games this weekend at Providence on Saturday and then in Northbrook to host St. Rita on Sunday, which could be a preview of the Blackhawk Cup state finals.
Linhart leads mix: The co-op BGHW team meshes players from Buffalo Grove, Hersey and Wheeling - and the team has been led by senior forward Trace Linhart, who has 8 goals and 5 assists in seven games, including 4 power-play tallies.
Patriots bounce back: Stevenson has rebounded from a slow start in Metro North. The Patriots opened league play with ties against Deerfield and Lake Forest, but has since defeated Warren, New Trier Blue, Glenbrook North and Loyola Maroon.
Stevenson outscored its opponents 23-7 in those wins. Senior forward Greg Rachke had back-to-back 3-point games. He had a goal and 2 assists against the Spartans, then 2 goals and an assist against the Ramblers.
Mustangs breaking away: Mundelein is running away with the newly-named eight-team Metro National conference. The Mustangs are 9-0, with 48 goals for and 11 against.
Mike Marzinelli and Jamie Kleiner are leading the way for the Mustangs, each with 16 points. Rory Garrity has 13 points, while Austin Ozog has 12.
Face-offs: St. Viator senior forward John Scully has 4 goals and 3 assists in his first six Metro North games, including 2 short-handed tallies ... Metro West is one of the best races around, with five points separating the top five teams: Sandburg, Naperville Central, York, Waubonsie and Naperville North ... The top freshman in Illinois may be Sandburg forward Eric Saulters, who had a hat trick against perennial power Naperville Central ... The 14-team, season-long Metro Invitational Tournament features Fremd, Mundelein, Carmel and Lake Forest, yet Deerfield may be the sleeper behind junior forward Sam Rogers ... Warren senior defenseman Lorna Cagann has shown to be an offensive threat too this season, but New Trier and Andrew appear to be the tops in the girls ranks.