BG/Wheeling team has reasons for optimism

Already a few weeks into the high school hockey season, the action has already heated up on the ice.

There are plenty of teams competing in the area, and many of the Mid-Suburban teams participate in the Metro Northwest conference.

Buffalo Grove/Wheeling was second in its conference last year with a 15-6-1 record. An Elite Eight team, BG/Wheeling is back with fourth-year coach Bob Wagner.

Forwards Kevin Pabst and Jeff Tlusty, defenseman Marius Berman and goalie Brett Carey lead the team. Pat Wagner, Cary Iatropoulos, Andrew Pawlak, Peter Koutsopanagos, Chris Rezotko, Brandon Kirchens, Tommy Roboczewski, Anthony Ricciardi and Junior Goalie Lucus Lambert will also contribute to the team.

"We have a nice mix of younger and returning players," said Wagner, whose team jumped out to a 3-0-2 start. "Our returnees should carry us to a top-three finish in Metro Northwest and our freshmen are already contributing. We approach our season with the attitude of playing hard every game and the results will follow. BG/Wheeling has goals from nine different players in our first five games."

Behind third-year coach Bill Martin, Fremd is 3-3-1 overall and 2-0-1 in the league so far.

Outstanding returning players include goalie Pat Fitton, Erik Freeburg, Garrett Ahlgrim, Tim Smith, Matt Marando, Tyler Gregory and Ryan Curtin. Larry Cowick, Dan Walter and Jake Kaiser also add some new talent to the team.

"It looks like a strong year with a lot of depth in goaltending and at forward," Martin said. "The young defensemen must mature. We could be a top 10 team by the end of the year."

Chris Danca, Tim Shannon and Matt Nordstrom lead Conant/Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates, which is 2-2. Bryan Starsynski and Mike Gannon, along with keepers Bryan Lee and Danny McKenzie, should also stand out.

"It should be a fun year," said eighth-year coach John Conenna, whose team finished 9-16 last year. "(We have a) very young team with great work ethic."

PREP, which is composed of Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Elk Grove and Prospect, is a true collaborative effort coached by Bob Sibik in his sixth year with the club.

Brian Kirsten and James Tuccori add some fresh talent to the team.

"We look to really position our team well," Sibik said. "(We have) 15 seniors, (many of which) have been playing together in some capacity for the last 10 years. (This year we're) getting better each game, with outstanding efforts against Rockford, Fremd and Buffalo Grove. All great, close games."

John Redmond, Jim Boruta, Joe Boruta, Ben Brush and Matt DeFilippo come back to Hersey, which is coached by Pat Schey. Joining their ranks are Cody Matchen, Thomas Vamvakos, Bill Solan, Andrew Geisel, Trace Linhart and Brian Ericsson.

"Out of all the years I've been at Hersey, this is probably the most talent across the board," Schey said. "I'm not afraid to put any line out there. I'm hoping we're going to be competitive with every team we play. Our division is pretty competitive.

"The goal is that they become better players and better people throughout the season. We want to win some games -- we've got a real good chance to do that. Every week we're gaining experience and confidence."

So far this season, the Huskies are 1-1-1.

"We're very strong in goaltending," added Schey. "Patrick Butler and Chris James are two outstanding goalies with a lot of experience."

Schey also credits assistant coach Andrew Klawitter as a team's asset.

In the Metro Central conference, Barrington's team is coached by Rob Hutson. So far this season, the Broncos have cumulated a 5-3-2 record, 1-0 in the league.

Maine Township also fields a team in the Metro Central conference.

With everyone's season gearing up, it's the perfect time to go out and check out some of the action club hockey has to offer.