Marsek nets 4 goals, 2 assists as Ice Cats cruise

The Libertyville/Vernon Hills combined varsity hockey team started 2009 where it left off ... winning.

The Ice Cats shook off the holiday rust and beat Naz-Guerin in Franklin Park 6-3 on Sunday. Co-captain PJ Marsek was the major catalyst, scoring 4 goals and assisting on the team's other 2 tallies.

Marsek opened the scoring on feeds from Tyler Wonderlic and Brad Feinman. Nick Young then scored from Marsek and Stephen Stanis.

Chris Jungmann made it 3-0, stuffing one home from the slot on passes from Marsek and Tommy Tambourine.

Naz/Guerin pulled within 3-1 before Marsek was tripped on a breakaway, resulting in a penalty shot.

Marsek deked left, pulling the goalie over, then softly backhanded the puck into the net. Naz scored on a penalty shot four minutes later.

But Marsek scored on a nice feed from Jungmann to make it 5-2. Naz stayed close, scoring the next goal, before Marsek sealed the game with an empty-net goal.

Ice Cats goalie Erich Held had another solid performance, stopping 19 shots.

Warren skates into Elite Eight: For the first time, the Warren Blue Devils advanced to the Elite Eight in the Blackhawks' annual charity tournament Dec. 26-29 at The Edge in Bensenville.

Warren beat Loyola Maroon (2-1), Bartlett (7-4) and Marist (3-1) before losing to eventual second-place finisher New Trier Green. The Blue Devils got goals from co-captain Michael Schumacher, Alex Lindenman, Murray Hildestad, Myles Nedelka and defenseman Pat Pearson.

Solid defense was provided by co-captain Brad Hauser, Drew Ceckowski, Arthur Weiler and Kyle Burza.

Goaltenders Dan O'Leary and Josh Steisel allowed only 6 goals in Warren's 3 wins.