Saints hockey sends coach out with triple OT win

After 16 years of coaching high school hockey teams -- covering more than 800 games -- Phil Gabrielsen experienced a first earlier this month.

It happened when Gabrielsen's St. Charles East Saints advanced to the semifinals of the Blackhawk Cup White Division State Tournament with a dramatic 3-2, triple-overtime victory over Warren March 7 at The Edge in Bensenville.

"I've been involved in a lot of overtime games before, but that was my first ever triple-overtime game," said Gabrielsen.

Junior Josh Lorusso, the Illinois Scholastic Hockey League's leading scorer this season, naturally notched the game-winning goal off a feed from Mike Jimenez in the third overtime.

The eighth-seeded Saints eventually lost their semifinal clash, 5-2, to No. 5 Deerfield March 10 in what turned out to be Gabrielsen's last as St. Charles East coach.

Gabrielsen, who took over as the Saints' head coach in 2000 after six seasons at Naperville North, officially announced his resignation after the game.

"I just need to get away from it for a while," said Gabrielsen, who began his coaching career at York in 1991-92. "I'm a little burned out."

While there have been many memorable games during both his playing (for coach Jerry Hughes at York) and coaching career, the triple-OT win over top-ranked Warren ranks at or near the top of the list.

"It's something I'll never forget," said Gabrielsen, whose squad finished 30-27-4. "I told the guys after the game that it's something that'll stick in your head for a long time. Years from now, you'll look back at it and say, 'remember when…'

"It was quite an emotional roller coaster ride."

It marked the Saints' second consecutive trip to the White Division semifinals.

"The last couple of years at East we've done well," said Gabrielsen. "Both years we had long winning streaks at the end of the season. And both years we lost to the eventual state champion (Geneva in 2007)."

Considering his background and love for the sport, it wasn't surprising that Gabrielsen became a coach after his playing days had ended and he had graduated from college.

"I actually was running the Elmhurst YMCA ice rink (as hockey director) at the time," he said. "Coming out of college, I got a regular job and was working another side job on the ice crew at the old Chicago Stadium. I was a nut about it (hockey).

"When York first approached me about coaching, I was already thinking about it at the time. Plus, it was my alma mater."

Due to philosophical differences, Gabrielsen left York after two seasons and wound up at Naperville North -- first as JV coach before taking over at the varsity level.

"I helped start their JV program," said Gabrielsen. "I had great success at Naperville (where he was named High School Coach of the Year) and learned a lot under Dan Newrock. He's a huge coach in Illinois hockey annals.

"But I also knew that if Dan ever came back, I would step away."

Six years later, Newrock returned and Gabrielsen left -- looking for another challenge.

For two seasons, Gabrielsen coached a combined St. Charles East/North squad before the teams split -- and numbers went down.

"Since the split, we haven't had a full two squads (varsity/JV)," he said. "We've seen a little bit of an increase lately, from 14 to 19 players, but it's cyclical."

In Illinois, high school hockey is considered a club sport -- one that is not recognized by the Illinois High School Association.

"To be successful, the high school programs have to stay competitive with the travel teams," Gabrielsen said, "and that means increased costs which, in turn, limit the amount of players you get.

"You have to try to make it (schedule) more competitive. That's why we played 61 games this season (from October-March). It's kind of a circle."

Gabrielsen departs St. Charles East with fond memories.

"The memories stick with you," he said. "High school hockey is all about camaraderie, getting the kids together and having school pride.

"I still remember one year at East where we practiced from 5:15-6:15 a.m., then the kids got dressed and went to school. A group of parents would come and serve breakfast to the players. It was great."

This past season, the Saints earned the ISHL's Sportsmanship Award -- the program's third since Gabrielsen's arrival.

"It's a nice note to go out on," he said.

Don't be surprised if Gabrielsen's break from coaching is a short one.

"I'm going to take a month or two before making any decisions at all," he said. "But I still love the game and am a big fan of it.

"It's in my blood."