Conant's Weiner making most of playing time
Conant sophomore Kyle Weiner has logged more playing time this season than, perhaps, any goalie in the state. He's played 43 of the team's 44 games, only missing one due to a suspension.
And he's been named an All-Star in both Metro Central and the Illinois Suburban Hockey League (ISHL), with a combined 21-14-18 record and 7 shutouts. (The Cougars won their lone game without Weiner for their 22nd win).
"It's been a fun season and I certainly have had a lot of playing time, against a lot of good teams," said Weiner, 16, of Elk Grove, in his second season on the varsity. "Having faced so many shots this season has really made me a better goalie.
"I was nervous (coming into the season as the team's lone goalie), but I also was excited. I prefer to be the only goalie (on a team); this way I get to play every game. There was a lot of pressure on me, but that pressure just makes me play better."
Weiner has carried the co-op Conant squad, which includes five Schaumburg students, to a 10-7-5 record in Metro Central and an 8-4-2 mark in the ISHL. The Cougars were ranked fourth in the Combined Division of the Blackhawk Cup (state tournament).
Weiner has faced 1,175 shots and made 1,078 saves. He has a 2.3 goals-against average.
"I'm more consistent this season," said Weiner, who split time as a freshman. "I feel like I'm more into the game this season; I'm not worried about being pulled, as I was last season. Every part of my game has developed. My five-hole has closed up pretty well; my glove hand has gotten quicker; my stick and puck work have improved; my blocker has gotten quicker; and my recovery time has really developed.
"I'm a hybrid goalie, which is a cross between a stand-up and butterfly style goalie. I can go down quickly when need be and can stand up for the high shot."
He also is a skilled passer and his glove hand probably is his strength.
Weiner led Conant to a come-from-behind 2-2 tie against Barrington in December, despite facing 50 shots. "We've been out-shot in a lot of game, some (games) by as many as two times. I just make a lot of saves and try to keep us in the game," he said.
"Kyle is a workhorse; he comes every game and always gives his best effort," said Conant coach Matt Turinsky, 21, who graduated from Fremd. "The thing about Kyle is, he is a very smart player; he knows the ins and outs of the game, which plays a big role in why he is such a great goaltender.
"Kyle is a major reason for our success this year. Not only does he make the saves that he is supposed to, but, he amazes you by making the saves that no one expects a goalie to make. Just when I think I have seen Kyle's best save of the year, I come to another game and he tops it with a bigger save in a crucial moment in the game."
Added former Conant coach John Conenna: "He has been unbelievable. He gives Conant a chance [to win] every night."
Turinsky is joined on the coaching staff by fellow Fremd alum Sean Allen and Conant alum Matt Szenda. All three coaches graduated in 2006.
"The coaching staff has really helped me; I owe a lot of my success to them," Weiner said.
The team spends at least 15 minutes in each practice focusing on whatever Weiner wants or needs to work on.
Weiner also competed on the Conant JV golf team this past fall and is a utility player on the baseball team.
"I think the golf helps my patience in hockey. If there's a shot from the point, for instance, I don't drop down (to my knees) right away," he said. "As a baseball catcher, my hand-to-eye coordination is helped (from hockey)."
So, Kyle, are you tired from all the playing time this season?
"Every now and then I'll get tired and sore, mostly if we have several practices and several games in a week. But when I'm on the ice, that's when I'm ready to go," he said.
Conant faces St. Charles East on Saturday at the Fox Valley Ice Arena.
All-state players: Defending state champion New Trier Green landed six players on the 40-person All-State Team, comprised of all upper-classmen. Green goalie Greg Ogard is joined by forwards Michael Vail, Mark Harris and Greg Smart; and defensemen Alex Wetzel and Brad Mills Rendell.
The All-State Team was selected from coaches' votes, and only five coaches did not submit ballots.
The annual All-State Game is Feb. 8 at The Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, featuring coaches D.J. LaVarre (Loyola Gold), Jeff Nelson (Naperville Central), Paul Novak (Warren) and Brian Noonan (Naperville North).
"The All-State Team is an interesting representation of a lot of different schools. I'm very pleased with this team," said Mike Mullally, president of the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI).
In addition to Ogard, the All-State goalies are Jason Kuzara (York), Troy Carroll (Glenbrook North) and Sean Gerich (St. Rita).
"The goalie who really surprised and impressed me this season was Jason," Mullally said. "I first thought he was just playing behind a good team, but he really is a very good goalie."
The all-state forwards include Austin Bostock (Barrington), Greg Rachke (Stevenson), John Scully (St. Viator), Ken Hall (Crystal Lake South) and Eric Freeburg (Fremd).
"One (all-state) forward who really impresses me is York's Connor Whitting," Mullally said. "(All-State forward and York teammate) Nick Albergo gets a lot of that team's notoriety, rightfully so, but Connor is really skilled."
Barrington's Lukas Captain and Mundelein's Mike Marzinelli were among 12 All-State defensemen.
"Stevenson's Jack Mannion is one heckuva hockey player," Mullally said. "He's not very flashy, but is quick and a very good transition player. Not many get by him on defense."
Girls got game: The 30-player all-state Girls Team includes two freshmen: Shannon Smith (Neuqua Valley) and Carolyn Hickey (New Trier).
"There are a lot of very talented players on the all-state girls team, including sophomore Stephanie Jackson (Neuqua Valley), senior Melissa Clarke (Naperville Central), senior Katherine O'Malley (New Trier) and sophomore Anne Gomolinski (Fenwick)," Mullally said.
The all-state girls game also is Feb. 8 at The Edge.
Showcase & national championship: The Chicago Showcase has been renamed the USA Hockey America's High School Showcase, and also been relocated to Pittsburgh after being played in the Chicago area for the past 25 years. It will be held April 14-18, and hosted by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL).
The Showcase was - and will continue to be - an all-star tournament with teams and players from across the U.S. Twenty-four boys' teams, representing 43 states, will compete and showcase their talents to scouts from every major hockey institution in the country.
In place of the Showcase, Chicago will host the inaugural National High School Tournament on April 14-18 at The Edge, with state champions from 24 states (or smaller regions) competing for the national championship.
"This is the fever attempt to put high school hockey on a national level, to showcase the talent of select teams," Mullally said.
The National High School Tournament is believed to be the first national tournament for any sport's governing bodies.
The champion of the Red Division from the Blackhawk Cup (state tournament) will be Illinois' representative.
The tournament will feature teams from Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey, among other states.
The Referee: Dan Kremer, an average, stay-at-home defenseman for three seasons at Crystal Lake South who graduated in 2009, has dreams of making it to the NHL - and many of his peers say he has the skills to someday hit the big time.
As a referee, not as a player.
Kremer, 18, of Crystal Lake, has been officiating for four years, and now whistles high school, college club and Junior league games. He's a student at McHenry Community College by day, linesman by night.
"I have not set any officiating goals, but I certainly want to go as far as possible," said Kremer who, as a CLS junior was officiating high school games. "It was nice to get some high-level games, some games that were really fast-paced (while still in high school).
"I wasn't nervous (for those games). Actually, it felt pretty natural to be out there."
Kremer credits longtime Illinois official Joe Prescott for helping his development and professional approach.
"Officiating is the most fun part of my life. It's my job, but I have some of my most enjoyable times (while) officiating games," he said.
Said Jack Raslawski of the AHAI Officiating Committee: "A good, positive attitude towards officiating is essential for development. Those who display a positive attitude tend to develop quickly. A good attitude is shown through hustle, determination and enthusiasm. Dan Kremer has shown these qualities and has moved up to the next level in his officiating career."
For a good cause: The eighth annual District 203/204 Shootout for Cancer, an exhibition, no-check charity game, is set for , Feb. 12, at Ice Centre in Romeoville. The fund-raising goal is $10,000 and will feature Naperville North and Central, Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley.
The event was established in 2003 by Neuqua 's Brian Kenney, an All-State goalie who spent much of his junior year battling testicular cancer. After his recovery, Kenney wanted to find a way to give back to the American Cancer Society.
Since its inception, the Shootout has raised over $125,000 to help fund the fight against cancer. All proceeds raised from the Shootout go to the DuPage chapter of the Cancer Society to help fund cancer research at Illinois medical centers and to provide support services for cancer patients living right in the community.
"Playing in the Shootout For Cancer is a great way to raise money for a great cause," said Naperville Central senior Blake Matthews. "So many of us have lost loved ones to cancer. This event gives us all the opportunity to honor those who have lost their battle with cancer and those who have survived.
"I lost three of my grandparents to cancer and I play in this game to pay tribute to them. I have been a part of this event for the last four years and it is always a great time for everyone."
For more information on the event, contact Jenny Matthews at 630-355-1841.
Hit the sleds: Fremd is hosting a Sled Hockey game against the Chicago Suburban Hornets Sled Hockey Team at 8 p.m. Friday at the Hoffman Estates Ice Rink. The game is a fund-raiser for the Hornets.
Chicagoan J.J. O'Connor is the creator and manager of the Hornets, and has been named the manager of the U.S .Paralympic Sled Hockey team this year at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver .