It's all coming together for Conant's Altosino
Anthony Altosino had a goal and an assist in Conant's 2-1 overtime win Dec. 28, as the Cougars claimed the championship in the annual Gator Cup over the host team, Crystal Lake South.
He followed that up the next night with a 3-goal, 1-assist performance as the Cougars defeated the co-op CCM Tigers (players from Crystal Lake Central, Dundee-Drown and McHenry) 4-1 in Hoffman Estates.
And then, on Dec. 30, Altosino celebrated his 18th birthday.
“We've been playing really well,” of late, Altosino said modestly.
The Cougars are 17-11-2 overall and 11-2-2 in their last 15 games. Altosino has 25 goals and 15 assists, with a point in 26 of the team's 30 games.
He also had a hat trick this season against Cary-Grove and a 4-point game (1 goal, 3 assists) against the co-op Maine Township.
“I'm just a smart hockey player. I know what to do with the puck, and can control the puck really well,” said Altosino, who lives in Elk Grove Village and is one of the team's co-captains.
Altosino, in his third season on varsity, is one of the team's two centers (with Mike Stanley), which rotates around three sets of wingers.
The co-op Cougars also feature three players who attend Schaumburg.
“In other sports, we're rivals, but this is a good group of kids. We get along and play well together,” said Altosino, one of 14 who attend Conant.
The Cougars advanced to the final eight last season in the Combined Division of the Blackhawk Cup. Altosino wants to go farther in the 2011 state tournament.
And he's not afraid of the combined monster known as Rockford, which has won the state championship 14 consecutive years.
“We have a lot returning (players), so we think we can get back to at least (the final eight), but we really want to get to the state championship (game),” Altosino said.
Can you beat Rockford?
“If we play our game, do what the coaches tell us (and) stay out of the penalty box, then I think we can be successful,” he said.
The Cougars are coached by Matt Turinsky, 22, with help from Matt Szenda, 23, a Conant alum; and Sean Allen, 22, who played at Fremd. All three graduated in 2006 and played together on the Northwest Chargers.
“I think it helps us (having young coaches) because I think we can relate to them better because they are younger,” Altosino said. “They show us a different styles of play, and show us how to be better people (off the ice).”
Altosino also played four years on the Conant golf team, which advanced to the sectionals for the first time in 20 years. He also competed in sectionals as a junior.
Altosino played lacrosse for his first two years at Conant, but quit to focus on his first love: hockey.
After all, he started skating at age 3, when his mom took him to open skating sessions in Rolling Meadows, and he was playing hockey at age 5.
Altosino also is a National Honor Society member, with a 3.6 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale.
“Anthony is a great offensive threat each and every time he touches the ice,” Turinsky said. “His greatest strength is his shot. His shot packs power, along with pinpoint accuracy.”
Added Crystal Lake South coach Rich Perillo: “Altosino is a good skater and is hard to stop when he goes to the net.”
Crystal Lake South sensations: Crystal Lake South is on pace for back-to-back 40-win seasons.
“The strengths this year are our speed and our player experience. We have several strong returning players who know the systems we run and know what our coaches expect from them,” said CLS coach Rich Perillo. “Our defense continues to get stronger and is hitting the midseason in great form.”
The Gators' offense features seniors Kenny Hall, Scottie Stalo, Tyler Bigos, and Bret Graser, plus junior Joey Bower and sophomore Jake Bigos.
Stalo is the captain, “and he always works hard on the ice and gets the other players motivated,” Perillo said. “Kenny has a lot of talent and continues to put the puck in the net. He has worked hard in the weight room during the offseason, which has increased the speed and the release of his shot.
“Joey also is a captain and shows leadership both on and off the ice. He is an offensive threat because of his speed and anticipation (for) where the puck is going. Defensively he is always in the right position and is one of the hardest backchecking players.”
The CLS defense is anchored by senior Mike Kernan and also features seniors Sean Craig, Danny Koopman and Will Davies, junior Jake Theil and freshman Jack Moehling.
“Mike has a great sense of when and when not pinch on the offensive zone,” Perillo said. “Mike is very strong in our defensive zone, and blocks a lot of shots. On the offensive rushes, Mike is always jumping into the play to create an odd-man offensive threat.”
The Gators' goaltending chores are split between juniors Ben Allison and Matt Petlicki.
“Matt plays an unorthodox style of goaltending,” Perillo said. “He works hard during the games and makes some really good saves because he is very flexible.
“Ben has great size and is quick with his lateral movement. Ben has a good work ethic and is very diligent in his style of play. Ben looks forward to the big games and always wants to be in the net. We look forward to having both goalies back next year.”
Christmas Cheer: Fenwick skated away with the championship in the 17th annual Blackhawk Charities Holiday Tournament, held at The Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville.
The Friars skated past Providence 4-3 in the semifinals on Dec. 29, then defeated Rockford 5-3 in the championship game. The Icemen advanced to the title game with a 2-1 overtime win over New Trier Green in the other semifinal.
Northern Lights: The battle for supremacy in Metro North is a three-team race, with a fourth looming close behind. Stevenson (14-3-1) leads the pack with 29 points, followed by St. Viator (13-3-2), Glenbrook North (10-1-6) and Lake Forest (11-4-2).
Stevenson junior Grady Suerth, in his first season on the varsity, is on pace to claim the league's Playmaker Award, as he leads Metro North with 21 assists (and 5 goals) in 18 games played.
Stevenson junior forward Zach Spieler has 14 goals and 3 assists, which puts him tied for second in Metro North in goals scored. The league is led by the Glenbrook South dynamic duo of juniors Billy Savino (17 goals, 13 assists) and Jimmy Philbin (11, 15).
Stevenson's Sam Schmaren is among the top goalies in Metro North with a 1.33 goals-against average in 12 league games.
Wild West: Hinsdale Central skated away with a 5-3 win over York on Dec. 19, behind a hat trick from Hunter Coleman. Scott Callaghan also had a goal and an assist in the key league win, while Sal Fratto had a pair of assists.
Hinsdale Central sits atop Metro West with 27 points (12-2-3), but has no breathing room as York and Waubonsie Valley each have 26 points, Sandburg (11-3-2) has 24 points and Naperville North (10-4-3) has 23.
York senior forward Nick Albergo is running away with the Metro West scoring title (26 goals, 20 assists in 16 games played), while Neuqua Valley senior Jordan Swiderski is second (22 goals, 9 assists) and Naperville Central junior Shawn Nelson is third (17, 14).
York has a pair of sensational goalies in Joe Messerschmidt (2.50 GAA) and Jim O'Halloran (2.29). Bartlett goalie Michael Lively has faced 404 shots in 13 games.
Central side of things: Barrington leads the Metro Central with a 15-0-1 record, followed by Crystal Lake South (12-4-1). Barrington's lone tie was Dec. 11, against the co-op CCM Tigers, 2-2.
The Broncos have six shutouts this season, led by goalie Philip Gilroy. Barrington has outshot its opponents 87-15 through 16 games and is led by seniors Craig Caplin (18 goals, 22 assists), Zach Dulla (15 goals, 15 assists) and Pat McVickers (14 goals, 12 assists).
Rankings: Here are the rankings for Illinois high school teams, as of Jan. 1, as compiled by Ross Forman:
1. Fenwick, 2. Rockford, 3. New Trier Green, 4. Loyola Gold, 5. St. Rita, 6. Glenbrook North, 7. St. Viator, 8. Stevenson, 9. Prairie Ridge, 10. Barrington. Honorable Mention — Providence, Hinsdale Central, York, Marist, Waubonsie Valley.