Gattone sets tone for St. Viator

Playing the off-wing works for Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane, so Ricky Gattone is content in that role too, following their example.

Gattone, 17, a senior at St. Viator, is a left-handed shooting right wing on the team's top line. Christian Divito centers, while Jeremy Linzing plays left wing.

“We're doing really well this season; we've got a great squad; the kids are awesome. We're having a lot of fun and have great chemistry,” said Gattone, who lives in Addison and has a 20- or 30-minute commute twice daily to and from Viator's campus in Arlington Heights.

“Christian is the best linemate I could possibly have; we just find each other on the ice; we have great chemistry.”

The two have been linemates for the past two years.

“Playing the off-wing was a change when I came to Viator because I was a center my whole life,” said Gattone, who attended Driscoll as a freshman and sophomore before it closed. “When I got to Viator, I was playing left wing, but didn't really like it. Playing right wing gives me more opportunities to shoot the puck.”

And many of his shots have been on the mark, or assists. Last year, for instance, he had 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) in 21 Metro North games, which tied for 13th in league overall season points. And in the Catholic League, Gattone had 30 points (9, 21) in 23 games.

So far this fall, Gattone has 8 points (5, 3) in five Metro North games. Overall, he has 8 goals, 8 assists in 12 games – and is the team captain.

“Ricky Gattone is one of those players who you immediately notice on the ice,” said St. Viator coach Evan Poulakidas. “His speed, skill and toughness immediately jumps out at you. He is a great example how a small player can play big. He is absolutely fearless driving to net.

“He is a born leader. His smile, presence and overall optimism impacts anybody whom he comes in contact with. He is just a wonderful player to coach and be a teammate of. There are not many like him.”

The Lions are 10-3-2 overall; 4-1-1 in Metro North and 4-1 in the Catholic League. They kicked off November with a 5-2 win over Notre Dame as Gattone had 1 goal and 2 assists.

“We've been playing good defense and Robert Schmidt has been playing outstanding in net,” Gattone said.

The Lions tied perennial power New Trier Green earlier in the season and lost to powerhouse Loyola Gold by 1 goal a week later. The team is riding a seven-game winning streak.

“We lost a lot (to graduation). We don't have the superstar player; we just have a bunch of hard workers, and that definitely wins you games,” said Gattone, who certainly remembers the Lions' shocking upset loss in their first game of the 2010 Blackhawk Cup.

“That (loss) set in for a lot of kids, and we want to be better than last year.”

And Gattone said the Lions aren't yet playing to their full potential.

“Once we get all four lines going, I think we can be a real threat,” he said.

“That (2010 Blackhawk Cup) loss was really tough on the seniors, and also for us (then-)juniors to see the way the seniors were: truly emotional. That really set in for us and we don't want it to end like that.”

Gattone's game is speed and puck movement. And, if need be, he's not afraid to mix it up to fire the team up … even though he's only 5-foot-6, 145-pounds, at best.

“Our goal this season is to make it further than we did last year in the state tournament. I know we definitely can accomplish more,” he said. “Plus, we want to make it past the second-round of the Catholic League's Kennedy Cup (tournament), which has been our downfall. We also want to advance to the Scholastic Cup in (Metro play).

“And overall, just have a great time.”

As he did this fall on the Viator golf team, becoming the lone Lion to advance to the state finals, held in mid-October in Bloomington. And, on Nov. 3, he was named the golf team's MVP.

“My time is mostly taken up by golf, school or hockey. There's not much else I do, nor have time to do,” said Gattone, who often practices stick-handling and putting at home. “The two sports are kind of opposite. Mentally, each sport helps you stay disciplined, not make stupid choices or get worked up emotionally. Hockey really created a lot of poise in my golf game.”

Gattone's younger sister, Dana, a Viator freshman, also is a golfer. She also qualified for the state tournament.

“I'm really proud of her; she qualified for state as a freshman which is outstanding,” said her big brother.

So who's a better golfer?

“Wow,” Gattone said, laughing. “She has so much potential. Once her mental game and her short game get better, she'll be way better (than me.)”

Wild west: Waubonsie Valey (8-1) is running away with the Metro West lead and also leads the league in goals scored (48).  The team is led by senior forward Joe Storto (4 goals, 9 assists in 7 games played).

Defensively, the Waubonsie strength is the junior tandem of Kyle McCauley and Eric Conway.  Thomas Berk and Josh Adams have split the goaltending chores.

Waubonsie's lone loss in league play was a 5-1 setback to Hinsdale Central.

En Route To The Cougar Cup: Wheaton West is the early-season power in the West Division of the Illinois Suburban Hockey League (ISHL), boasting a 4-1 record, including a division-leading 22 goals for and only 11 goals against.

The Central Division might be the closest battle in the three-division ISHL as Glenbard N/S/W and Lyons Township are leading with 7 points each through four games played, while the Lightning Bolts and AWFG each have five points in three games.

In the South Division, the S.O.R.E. Cobras have a 1-2-2 record (4 points), yet lead the race ahead of Lincoln-Way (1-2).

Northern Notes: Stevenson junior forward Zach Spieler leads Metro North with 9 goals in 6 games played, including 2 power-play and 1 game-winning goal.  Spieler also has 1 assist. Stevenson's Grady Suerth, also a junior, leads the league in assists (12 in 6 games) ... St. Viator's Christian Divito and Warren's Nicholas Scott each have 3 powerplay goals ... Deerfield's Jordan Shirley has faced a league-leading 216 shots, and surrendered 29 goals ... Glenbrook North boasts three talented goalies:  Troy Carroll, Mike Ramsey and Sam Berlin.

Metro Girls: New Trier is the dominant force so far in Metro Girls. The Trevians are 6-0 with 37 goals for and only 3 goals against.  Oak Park-River Forest is second (4-1), followed by Naper Valley (3-1).

OPRF junior Anne Gomolinski leads Metro Girls with 3 goals, 6 assists.  New Trier junior forward Jacquelene Britva is second with 3 goals, 5 assists, followed by Naper Valley senior Halley Baker (6 goals, 1 assist).

Warren news: Adam J. Antell, 26, is the new head coach, replacing veteran Illinois coach Paul Novak. Antell was the team's assistant coach last season, when it went 25-14-10. Antell played one season for Lake Forest College (2002-2003).

“We have a balanced team this year,” Antell said. “We don't have one or two true standout players. Instead, we have 18 guys who work as a team and will do what it takes to get the job done.

“It truly is an unselfish group that gets along on and off the ice. They are very coachable. They listen and are anxious learners they understand that hockey is more than three 15-minute periods; it is about the work ethic, discipline, friendships, and having fun.”

Warren is led by team captain Matt Larsen, “who leads by example and is willing to do the dirty work,” Antell said. Nicholas Scott is the team's assistant captain and is, “the spark behind the offensive charge and power play,” Antell said.

Warren's lineup also features Kyle Burza, Drew Ceckowski and Justin Holstein a solid returning defensive core, all of whom log productive ice time.