It's all adding up for Carmel's Gray

Thomas Gray is a little nervous about his honors computer programming class. It's a new subject for him and, well, he admits he doesn't really like it.

"I think that's the course I'll struggle with the most right now," said Gray, 17, a senior at Carmel and Grayslake resident. "During the first quarter (this school year), I got an A, but (the course) has gotten harder this quarter, so we'll see," what happens.

The programming course is, you see, the main obstacle between Gray and perfection. As in, straight A's. And not just this year, but his entire Carmel career.

He's never even had a B.

Talk about the ultimate student-athlete.

"I've had some good teachers, and have been able to get through without too much stress or problems," said Gray, a co-captain in his fourth year on the Corsairs' varsity hockey team. He admitted English is his least favorite course and math is his easiest to ace. "I don't really ever have to study (for math courses); I usually pick it up pretty quickly in class, and it's my favorite."

The numbers certainly are adding up quite well for Gray and the Corsairs this season. Last year they won only 4 games; they stood at 5-6-4 heading into the Metro Invitational Tournament (MIT) game against New Trier White in Wilmette.

And Gray, who plays center, is the team's leading scorer. He's among the top 10 scorers in Metro National with 8 goals, 3 assists in the team's first eight games, including two power play goals and one game-winning goal.

"We were a young team last year, and it definitely was frustrating," said Gray, a Metro Northwest all-star last season. "Knowing this was my senior season, I wanted to make a big impact and we definitely wanted to improve. So far it's been going well.

"We did a lot over the summer (to improve), and it's paid off. Knowing we were a young team (last year), I knew we'd be better this year.

"But we've done a lot better than I expected. I'm really happy with the season. I think we just have better team chemistry this year. And the sophomores are playing big roles this year."

Such as his younger brother, Patrick, who is the right wing - with left wing Preston Beckman, also a sophomore - on Thomas' line.

"I love playing on the line with Patrick," Thomas said. "It's easy to know what each other is doing since we've been playing together since we were 8 years old."

A crafty stick-handler, Gray has an uncanny nose for the goal. And this season, he's faster on the ice, partially attributed to his work on the school's track team.

"Thomas is the perfect captain, someone who leads by example; I can't say enough good things about Thomas," said Carmel head coach Mike Rucinski, who played briefly in the NHL. "Thomas is the type of person, not just a player, who young people can look up to."

Gray is a volunteer at the Lake Forest-based Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association, which promotes and supports the development and well being of youth and adults who have a primary physical or visual impairment through the provision of inclusive recreational, fitness and competitive sports activities. Gray works with GLASA's sled hockey, floor hockey and swimming.

"I really like doing it. I can't think of a better way to (volunteer)," he said.

Gray was on the school's bowling club last year. He admits he isn't very good, "but it was a lot of fun."

Kind of like Carmel football games, where Gray is among an exclusive group of senior super fans. Yes, Gray is shirtless at football games, regardless of the weather - with his chest painted brown and a yellow letter scrawled on it.

Pumpkin pie and pucks: Thanksgiving weekend is annually one of the biggest hockey periods of the season. Loyola plays host to its 38th annual Thanksgiving Tournament in Wilmette.

Ironically, though, Loyola's arch-rival, New Trier Green, is the tournament's defending champion and the Trevians have dominated the event for the past decade.

The Trevians slipped past Barrington 4-3 in the 2008 championship game. The 16-team tourney features Marist, Neuqua Valley, Naperville Central, Lake Forest, St. Rita, Sandburg, York, Barrington, Fenwick, Prairie Ridge and others. Predicted winner: New Trier Green or Prairie Ridge.

"It's a privilege to be invited to the Loyola Tournament," said Neuqua Valley coach Tom Clarke. "We have New Trier Green on Thanksgiving Day, so we know what's in front of us. We have to solve them, somehow, as every other coach in the state says. Our goal is to get in the Final Four of that tournament."

Stevenson, meanwhile, plays host to a separate 16-team tournament, played at the Twin Rinks Ice Pavilion in Buffalo Grove. Now in its sixth season, the Stevenson Thanksgiving Holiday Tournament should be its best, most competitive ever, particularly with the addition of perennial powers Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South - both schools that previously played in the Loyola event.

The Stevenson field also includes Naperville North, Warren, St. Viator, Evanston, Highland Park and others. Predicted winner: Glenbrook North or Stevenson.

Rivalry Wednesday: One of the biggest games of the season is played annually the day before Thanksgiving in Glenview, pitting arch-rivals Glenbrook North against Glenbrook South. The Spartans are 12-5 and the club is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Northbrook Hockey League with commemorative patches on their jerseys.

The Spartans have won four of their last five games, with their lone setback a 1-0 loss against Stevenson.  Plus, Highland Park clashes with Deerfield in Vernon Hills.  The Giants are led by junior forward Tyler Perlmutter, who scored twice in a 5-4 win Nov. 7 over New Trier Blue.

Winter Classic:  Naperville Central faces Loyola Gold on Saturday, Dec. 19, at the outdoor Watts Ice Arena in Glencoe. The next day, the Redhawks are back indoors, at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge, for the cross-town clash against Naperville North.

The Redhawks are led by senior forward Joe Andalina, who has five multi-goal games in the team's 10 Metro West games (8-2). Sophomore forward Shawn Nelson leads Metro West in assists (11), along with his three goals.

All Hail Hall: Crystal Lake South is having a memorable run in Metro American, thanks to junior forward Ken Hall. He has 9 goals, 8 assists in six league games, including a five-point night in October as the Gators crushed the co-op Maine Township team, 6-0.

The Glenbards:  The co-op Glenbard N/S/W team has grabbed a lead in the North Division of the Illinois Suburban League (ISHL), with a 5-2 league record and a league-high 39 goals scored.  Their biggest divisional challenge this season will be Leyden.  Glenbard defeated previously-undefeated Leyden 3-1 on Nov. 6 in Franklin Park, marking the team's fifth straight win overall.

Junior forward Tyler Schwichtenberg (Glenbard North) has 12 goals, 14 assists in 10 games, including a shorthanded breakaway goal less then 4 minutes into the game against Leyden.  That Schwichtenberg goal was followed 5 seconds later by a Joe Tomasek goal from the red line.

Senior forward Matan Nadler (Glenbard North) has 15 goals, 6 assists in 10 games. Glenbard N/S/W advanced to the final four of the 2009 Blackhawk Cup (combined teams), which was ultimately won for the 13th consecutive season by the co-op Rockford club.

Hi, my name is -: The Naper Valley Warriors (6-1 overall) are the co-op team of players from the Naperville schools: Naperville Central, Naperville North, Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley, along with players from Oswego East, Joliet Catholic and Hinsdale South.  Halley Baker (Neuqua Valley), a junior wing, is an excellent puck-handler with exceptional speed.  "She's an all-around great player," said Warriors coach Tom Clarke.  Senior defenseman Melissa Clarke (Naperville Central), the coach's daughter, is a returning All-State player who has picked up right where she left off.  Junior forward Tala Gallega (Neuqua Valley), "is having a great year," said coach Clarke.  Sophomore forward Stephanie Jackson (Neuqua Valley), "has great hockey sense," Clarke added.