Glenbard rallies to take Winter Classic over PREP
A Winter Classic took place Saturday night.
No, it didn't feature Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin like this year's NHL game on New Year's Day — and it wasn't played at Wrigley Field or Fenway Park like the 2009 and 2010 installments were.
Instead PREP, a team made up of players from Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Elk Grove and Palatine High Schools, faced off against Glenbard — which features players from Glenbard North, South and West on its roster — in an outdoor hockey game at the Watt Ice Center in Glencoe.
Backed by a 3-goal second period, Glenbard erased an early 1-goal deficit and won the game 4-2.
“We were real excited to play the game tonight being outdoors at a great facility,” said Glenbard coach Jason Hawkins. “We said before the game that we would remember it more if we got the win out of it. Once we got the lead, our kids really loosened up, had some fun, and finished off the win.”
Winger Nick Riscossa scored 2 goals in the second period for Glenbard to help spark the offense. His second goal came after an impressive stick-handling series where he worked his was around a PREP defender.
“I tried to put the puck under his stick and get around him, just get it straight to the net and get a goal,” Riscossa said.
Hawkins said it was the event's third year, but it was the first time Glenbard had played in it.
“I was pretty excited,” Riscossa said of playing his first competitive outdoor game. “I'm glad we beat some of my friends on PREP. I can't explain it really.”
PREP played in the game two years ago according to defenseman Jimmy Gately, who scored a goal and attends Prospect.
“I just shot it, and hoped it went in,” Gately said of his goal, which he fired from the point through traffic in front of the net. “I didn't think it would, but it did.”
Rocco Stachowiak and Brandon Kress, who both attend Glenbard North, scored Glenbard's 2 other goals. Tyler Popp, who attends Elk Grove, scored PREP's other goal.
“I honestly think the kids got more comfortable with the environment,” Hawkins said of Glenbard's second-period surge. “I think they were trying to get used to the cold and the wind. I think they were trying to do too much early. We just needed to get pucks deep, and get more pucks to the net. I think in the second period we finally started doing that.”
Spectators were able to stand right up against the glass and feel the boards shake when players and pucks came crashing into them, which only added to the atmosphere.
“I love these outdoor games,” PREP coach Joe Paglia said. “It's a lot of fun. They all want to win, but I treat it as a practice game and just enjoy the moment.”